I fetched the excellent L'Arsenal kit of Bearn yesterday on a sale (even if 1/400 is not quite my scale, but reasonably close to 1/350), and plan to smuggle it under the christmas tree for myself
I aim to build it as it was in the early to mid 30es, mainly OOB. However, I am searching for some references, photos, plans
Model kit manufacturer and distributor: https://b2b.modellbaudienst.de
Distributor of Very Fire, Snowman, Milania Master Korabel, Falkonet, Microdisign in EU
1:350 HMS Diana 1794 - nearly released
Further kits in preparation.
Hi petros. I too have recently started Bearn. An interesting ship for sure. I would be most interested in reports on your progress here. Currently I am struggling with how to install anchor chains on the foredeck, part #B10. It appears that part C2 has a semi-circular bulkhead that will block the run of the chain. Have you noticed that?
Dear Boys & Girls, can anyone explain why there are so few models of the B�arn in the gallery? The ship herself is fascinating (subjective I know) and L'Arsenal's kit is superb (objective). I cannot think of more a handful of times this kit has been built and displayed anywhere, including......
I had the L'Arsenal kit, but sold it. It was more because it was 1/400 than anything else. If it had been 1/350 I probably would have built it. I know WHY they made it 1/400, but it just didn't fit with the scales (1/350 or 1/700) that I build. I especially like the later war version in the USN dazzle pattern.
Martin
"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." John Wayne
MartinJQuinn wrote:I had the L'Arsenal kit, but sold it. It was more because it was 1/400 than anything else. If it had been 1/350 I probably would have built it. I know WHY they made it 1/400, but it just didn't fit with the scales (1/350 or 1/700) that I build. I especially like the later war version in the USN dazzle pattern.
"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." John Wayne
The coolest and most unique thing about Bearn was the way her elevators functioned. The forward elevator raised up like a dumb waiter, and the center elevator was split in the middle with each section elevating upwards like a drawbridge.
Here are a few notes about how and why B�arn appears nonconformist. B�arn had a double hangar � two levels � but, unlike British and Japanese carriers (where double hangars increased the size of the embarked air group), the function of the two levels was intended to be separated: the upper level was for stowage of operational aircraft and the lower level for maintenance. The upper level (designed to accommodate up to 60 aircraft) was intended to separate embarked aircraft by function: the forward section was for fighters, the central section for torpedo and bombing machines, and the after section for observation and spotting aircraft. The elevators were sized to match (probably not a very good idea!). Each elevator served both levels. To facilitate more continuous operations, rather than using the platform of the elevators as an essential part of the flight deck, the wells were covered by hinged covers that, necessarily, were vertical whenever an elevator was raised to flight deck level (so that they did not obstruct egress from the elevators). The concept was that elevators could move between levels without disrupting flight deck operations. The elevators could strike down aircraft to the upper hangar, or damaged machines to the lower maintenance hangar, and their movement would not prevent continuing operations on the flight deck because the hinged covers would maintain its continuity.
There is quite a bit more information in Francis Dousset: Les Porte-Avions Fran�ais and a book on the ship itself that I cannot locate at the moment in my library (too many titles!).
