The Ship Model Forum

Colossus class operated Sea Otters until 1950, so I figured I'd better do one....

Need advice on the Arromanches in the 1951-1956 period, specifically of the port stern landing mirror and sponson, if she had them during that time. Otherwise, how close was she to her original fit as Colossus?

I've seen some photos in the time period in question with a landing sight. Need an expert on the ship to walk me through some details.

A fascinating little Dutch Navy film about the aircraft carrier Karel Doorman R81 (ex. H.M.S. Venerable R63):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSQiG07PGPk&t=14s

I never knew the Dutch had had an aircraft carrier.

Or that it was her that went on to become Argentina's Veinticinco de Mayo of Falklands War era. She certainly had a long and varied career.

Mike

The plans from AAMM for Arromanches at the end of 1954 (which I did offer to work with you to make them available to you for this project) do not show any landing light or sponson for one.

Maurice

Interesting short video by Mark Felton about the Royal Navy's attempts to sink the Argentine aircraft carrier Veinticinco de Mayo at the time of the Falklands war in 1982:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvvLxC1rvrQ

The Musée National de la Marine has some photos online of their model of Arromanches from their collection:

https://mnm.webmuseo.com/ws/musee-national-marine/app/collection/record/31802?vc=ePkH4LF7w6yelGA1iKEpqKYiPoXoE53kUgKAFqBWpkYWRmi1rqGlObwOh6snGHUA_WBGlQ$$

According to the description text their model is of her in her 1954 fit, upon her return from IndoChina. It also says the model was built in 1956 so one would assume they had the real ship for reference. Might be of use for reference?

A lot of research for the 1/700 kits has resulted in this: maybe the first documented comparison of all the Colossus-class ships' deck markings in the wartime/postwar period. And it doesn't include a couple of others I'm still working on.

That's a very useful overview of the deck markings! Thanks for this.

A few surprises for me:
To my knowledge HMS Venerable had her deck letter 'V' already applied in 1946. She still had it when transfered to the Dutch navy in 1948, and even wore it in 1950 when she was already christened 'Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman' by the Dutch. refer to http://www.vlaggeschipsmaldeel5.nl/html/scheepsfoto_s_1.html She wore the 'V' at least until 1955, when she was taking into the shipyard for modification with an angle flight deck, new island and sensor systems. After this reconstruction the deck letter was replaced by 'D'.

The other surprise are the missing elevator markings on Colossus and Venerable. As they surely had elevators, no doubt about that, they should have had at least some markings, however minimal though.

_________________
"I've heard there's a wicked war a-blazing, and the taste of war I know so very well
Even now I see the foreign flag a-raising, their guns on fire as we sail into hell"
Roger Whittaker +9/13/2023

I wasn't able to find any instance of Colossus or Venerable in 1945 having the deck edge markings in any photos or films I could find. I also thought it odd. But there it is.

It was a challenge keeping everything straight for each ship when it came to air wings, paint schemes (aircraft and ships), deck markings and physical differences, to keep within a time period for representing and marketing the specific ship as a kit, but we have 8 Colossus class kits that are all different in some way or another. With this class, a year or even a few months can make a difference. For example, when Warrior went to Canada in 1946, she had one set of deck markings, and the RCN changed them after they got the ship. Our kit represents the latter, but we did both sets of markings. Maybe one day, we'll do an even more comprehensive list!

Mike Bartel

Good source for Venerable pictures is this online page: https://www.maritimequest.com/warship_d ... ble_16.htm
Cann't see it very well but she seems to have had a deck letter B or deck number 8 for some time.
Photos don't show elevator markings. However there is one which seems to indicate she had some at some point. See related material, James Macaulay Collection, page 5, second photo on online page mentioned aboove.

Regards,

Berend.

Those were some of the photos I looked at when I was doing my research, and they are pretty common photos. Date year is 1945, and other photos I found that are dated as late as 1947 don't show them, either.

Mike Bartel

This book arrived in the post yesterday and has a decent few photos of Arromanches, though it is French Language only. I've no connection with the publisher other than having bought the book:

https://www.avions-bateaux.com/produit/recherche/4396

PDF extract visible here:
https://www.avions-bateaux.com/uploads/attachment/produit//produit_4396_cc59b76456f705150374a8e293a1e973.pdf

She had quite a variety of air wings throughout her career, from IndoChina to Suez to her later life as a Helicopter Carrier. And they all look well. A difficult decision as to which one to model! Might have to do more than one.

1/700 HMCS Warrior 1946 fit coming from IHP...this one has caused a bit of a stir on our social media pages

Some photos of the French Modèle 1951 Bofors Mount that Arromanches (ex H.M.S. Colossus) would have carried post-1955, along with her Boffins and some older MkIII mounts:

http://netmarine.net/f/armes/40mm/index.htm

Photos re-posted for ease of viewing, copyright rests with original owner:

Completed HMS Triumph from the box in 1/700 scale

Completed HMS Glory from the box in 1/700 scale (didn't do the side camo yet)

Mike,

Looking over the Colossus kit I have of yours, will you be making the 1945 markings available?

TIA
Matt

_________________
In the yards right now:
USS Utah AG-16
On Hold
1/350 USS Portland CA-33 1942
1/350 Trumpeter Texas with a twist

No, but if you need an extra sheet for something, email me.

Mike Bartel

Hi Mike

So lucky to find you here.

I recently bought IHP's 1/700 Colossus (a very nice quality kit with amazing details) and have some questions regarding the light AA weapon configuration.

I have no issue with Pom-Pom, but not sure about 40mm guns.

We know in July 1945, all Colossus' Oerlikon 20 mm guns were replaced by Bofors 40 mm guns.

Norman Friedman's research puts the approved 40mm total in Sept 1945 as 10 Boffins (replacing twin 20mm) plus 11 Mk.III.

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/sh ... Review.htm

1. I think Part #D68 of your kit represents single Bofors, I counted 8 on the right and 11 on the left, totalling 19. There were also a further pair on each quarter of the stern at quarterdeck level as per Friedman, but I don't seem to find it.

2. Also I'm not sure what AA configuration Part #D82 represents.

3. Do we have any QF 3-pounder Vickers in the kit too?

If you could shed some light on this topic, it is much appreciated!