1/700 HMAS Vampire (Tamiya)
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by Bill Keough |
The Ship
Designed and built in Britain during WWI, the Vampire first served with the British Royal Navy before being transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in 1933. After serving in the Mediterranean, she joined the British Navy's Force Z at Singapore, and together with the Prince of Wales, Repulse, and 3 other destroyers, sortied on December 8, 1941. The ships were spotted, and in the ensuing attack by Japanese planes both the Prince of Wales and Repulse were sunk, with the destroyers left to rescue survivors. After this incident, the HMAS Vampire continued to operate in the Indian Ocean until April 9, 1942, when she was sunk off Ceylon along with the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes by Japanese carrier planes. The modern version of HMAS Vampire lays at anchor in Sydney as part of the National Maritime Museum.
The Model
This is the Tamiya 1/700 scale HMS Vampire painted with Humbrol Enamels
and Tamiya Acrylics. I do not have the skill of a Jim Baumann at 1/700,
so she is built OOB. Weathering was achieved with the use of pastel chalk.
The portholes and various windows were highlighted with a very sharp HB
pencil. The anchor chains were likewise highlighted with the same pencil.
The sea base is made from gel medium and painted with various acrylics.
Overall a fun build in which to dedicate to my late colleague on this site.
The Dedication
Werner Lee Stunkel was a moderator and regular contributor to the various fora on the MW.com Board. Werner was a man with great wit and insight which he shared with everyone on the Board. Werner had a particular interest in the Royal Australian Navy of the Second World War and I dedicate this build to the fine memory of my colleague.
Comments and critiques as usual via
the Board.
