H.M.S.Manchester and H.M.S Onslow (1942)
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HMS Manchester and HMS Onslow 1/96 scale 1/8" to 1 ft. Manchester is 6ft 3" long.
The original HMS Manchester was a Liverpool class Light Cruiser completed in 1938. She saw service on the China Station and later on the Malta convoys where she was damaged in August of 1942 by one of two Italian torpedo boats, with the loss of 180 lives. The ship was later scuttled by detonating charges onboard. The full history of both ships will appear here later.
These models are dedicated to the memory of the crews who gave their lives in the name of freedom.
All models on this page have been built using the method known as "scratch building" not from kits, but basic plans and photographs, where virtually none of the individual componenents are purchased, but made from sheets of ply varying from .4mm thick upwards, balsa wood, brass and aluminium stock and virtually anything useful down the the actual cap from a glue bottle and shoe eyelets filled with clear silastic for portholes.
The models are all radio controlled using HiTech, JR and Sanwa equipment. The speed controllers are self designed and constructed using home etched circuit boards and based on the old ZN409 servo control chip and banks of 25amp Mosfets, The ZN409 chip is no longer available, luckily I managed to buy the last dozen left from our local source.
The HMS Onslow was constructed in 1991 taking almost a year to build and HMS Manchester has been on the stocks for 3 years and was officially launched in November 2001.
Update August 2004 Currently I am now constructing a 1/72 scale model of the first ship I served on in the Royal Navy in 1952. The anti-submarine Frigate HMS Loch Killisport. Thanks to John Lambert of the UK who was able to locate the original 1943 shipyard plans. Initial framework and hull progress to date shown below - See special dedicated page of the construction of this vessel above, where hull and main superstructure now completed. Now working on the finer details, armament etc. (01 August 04).
The black and white photos are the original shots of the Manchester in 1938 and 1942 and also show the hangers and Walrus Seaplanes. The damage to the HMS Onslow is after her engagement with the German Battle Cruiser "Admiral Hipper" in which the Onslow's Captain, Captain Sherbourne received the Victoria Cross for his action in maintaining control of his ship when almost blinded by injuries.
A project the size of building the model of HMS Manchester could not have been achieved without the assistance of various people, stores and web sites. I wish to thank everyone involved and recommend them as excellent sources of information and or services if you are embarking on a similar exercise. Please give them a look.
To Steve and Bob at Discount Hobby Supplies, Augusta Street, Willeton. Western Australia
Discount Hobby Supplies
To the members of "The Model Ship Society Inc" Western Australia for their assistance and help in getting the mechanics of propellor design together to get the Manchester model up to its 32 scale knots. (And great companionship)
ModelFlags.Com in the UK who supplied the flags. I can thoroughly recommend these people to put the finishing touches to your model ships Please visit their page
Bismark/Tirpitz pages To John Asmussen in Denmark, for his excellent website and information on WWII warships. Plus model warships from around the world.
YOU MAY ALSO FIND THE FOLLOWING PAGES OF INTEREST
Fleet Air Arm Pages For some excellent information, pictures and drawings of the Walrus flying boats.
Model WarshipsLarge collection of model ships from around the world. Well worth a visit to their galleries.
Feel free to download Pictures. Please contact me before adding any links to this page.. Thankyou for visiting
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