My simple cardstock model ship designs.

[Wyvern]

Originally Posted by LouCoatney

What scale are you building them at, Dartlynx? The Hunt Type 1 is probably the best to begin with. Don't overlook the German Raubvogel torpedoboot plan, while it's there. I also have the plan for the Norwegian Sleipner class small destroyers on my www.coatneyhistory.com page.

I've studied the Detroits, Wyvern. Previously, I'd been deterred by the uplifted bridges on tripod superstructures - I would very much like to do Salt Lake City - but Jintsu went pretty well and was encouraging, so they may be in the future. For the Battle of the Kommandorski Islands, I've already got the Bensons done.

I'll watch your thread with interest; thanks for the reply!

Wyvern

[LouCoatney]

I've redone the RNoN Sleipner destroyer plan which is free on my www.coatneyhistory.com webpage.

What I did was join the hull sides to the waterline keel, so you don't have to worry about properly aligning them as separate pieces ... although I've retained that plan below it. You do then have to make pin pricks along the keel longitudinal and transverse bulkhead alignment lines, since the keel piece is now the very bottom of the model and the lines won't be inside to line up the bulkheads now.

I think Wallis Rigby did the same thing in his Naval Craft book, but I don't have it out to verify that.

I've got a lot of models to re-do this way, but I think it's worth it. In some flush deck cases, there may be no reason why I can't attach the deck to one of the hull sides too ... simplifying its alignment greatly as well.

[LouCoatney]

Can you identify these ships? The bad guys are headed east, into Norway's fjords in April 1940.

The cruiser I just finished. It and the smaller ships are at 1:700 scale.

The biggest model in back is the destroyer's design prototype ... about 1:350.



In the second photo, note the German eagle on the top front of the destroyer's bridge. It was clutching a swastika and was the kind of thing that stimulated Norwegian hatred for their Nazi occupiers.



I suspect a better model builder could have done a better job of construction. Each of these was a challenge to design, in its own way.

[Barry]

Roeder class and Koln

[LouCoatney]

Koeln yes, Roeder no, b.

And the others, in the first photo?

[ju52man]

Will these be available any time?

[LouCoatney]

Well, 3 of the 5 are already available free on my webpages. The cruiser and destroyer will be available in the foreseeable future.

How do they look to you?

[ju52man]

I LOVE the Koln, my favorite light cruiser.

[NimitzFan]

Can you identify these ships? The bad guys are headed east, into Norway's fjords in April 1940.

An excellent account of the events in Norway in April 1940 have recently been made available to us who speak English. There is a two volume set by Geirr H. Haarr published by the US Naval Institute. (Disclaimer - I am a long-time member.) They make for fascinating reading, especially the volume on the invasion itself. For example, when told to open fire on German ships, some Norwegian soldiers actually told their officers things like, "Excuse me, Sir, did you know that the cannon is actually loaded?" On the other hand, the Norwegians fought as best they could, in a defensive battle that lasted significantly longer than either that of Poland or France. It included the first amphibious invasion of WW2 using built-for-the-purpose landing craft. Some lessons are timeless, such as the need to choose officers who can get along with each other in command. Another lesson is that tyrannical commanding officers usually get bad results - read about the loss of HMS Glorious and her two escorts and the loss of the cruiser HMS Effingham by running aground.

The biggest risk is that, like me, you'll put down your scoring blade and spend a couple of weeks reading these books.

[Zathros]

I love your website and I love your models. The education I receive from this forum is so satisfying. I also am in awe of people who research and are able to put so much information in one place. Hopefully, by remembering history, we won't keep repeating it, the bad stuff, anyway.