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The Mighty Hood... the BIG'yin! World Naval Ships Forums Archive

The Mighty Hood... the BIG'yin!

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I thought I'd start this thread to talk about my building a 1/35 scale manned model of HMS Hood. I'm dressing her for how she might have looked circa 1930/1. When finished, she'll be 7.42m in length with a beam of about 1m and with a displacement of... I have absolutely no idea! On completion, her main armament will fire... smoke will issue from her stacks and a Fairey 111F will catapult from her quarterdeck, fly via radio control and land on the water. (I may have come up with a 'cunning plan' to fire off the 12 x 5.5in guns she had- rice projectiles via compressed air... mmmm... should keep those pesky seagulls off). Why did I choose to do this ship (if you get past the 'why' I decided to build a model such as this in the first place) rather than another? Well... I could say that she was arguably the finest representation of British Naval architecture ever. I could say that her ending was ignoble and that she should sail again. I could say many things... what I will say is that, for me she represents an ideal... heroic failure. She was ordered to go up against a modern warship in every respect when, in reality, she was an old lady. In 1920, when she was commisioned, she was allready 'out of date' but, if she had fought a battle then, she would probably have won it. We will never know. Why am I building her? I intend to sail her and raise money for the RNLI and other sea based charities. What do I get out of it? Come on!!! I get to pootle around at Maritime Festivals in my own battle cruiser! It's the ultimate boys toy! Bob is going to post some pictures for me. So far, the build has cost me over £800 and that doesn't include my time. I've built the carcasses of the 15in guns and am currently sitting watching Stargate while I create the factory line for the 12 x 5.5in guns. 1 down, 11 to go... More later.:)

Here are the three pictures Martin sent to me this evening. I will post them on his original introduction thread and let him talk you through what is going to be a large project. "Good luck and over to you Martin." Regards, Bob.
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Martin, Bob, Bob, thank you for the posting. Martin, it look like you are on your way to a Fine model of the Hood. Hope to see the end results. Regards Charles

Thanks for putting them up Bob. The pictures don't give much of an indication of her size but think the length of a bus and its getting there. The first picture shows the bow and mid section of the hull. The next shows all three sections but upside down! The final one shows (mainly) the bow as it approaches the 'start getting detail in!' section of the build. She will be scale above the waterline initially. I will be 'installing' her side armour when I dry-dock (back in the back garden) toward the end of the build- year four- I'm in year two now. This should make her 'reasonably accurate' below the waterline as well- the mechanics of sailing her notwithstanding. Most of the pictures I have (and I have many!!!) show the entire ship, few show the dirty mechanicals so to speak and its those kind of shots I really need. I have essentially three sources for the build... Anatomy of a Warship- a book that uses admiralty plans HMS Hood Association and an AIrfix 1/400 kit! (The latter is NOT terribly helpful - full of inaccuracies). ANY help you guys can give will be most appreciated. Launch day? 15 May 2009 (I hope):) BTW... if you look at the third picture- to the right you can see my dog Murphy- he weighs in at eight and a half stone! Another way to gauge the size!

One of the most misunderstood ships of all time. Because she was officially rated as a "battle cruiser" and because of her dramatic end, people forget that she was the arguably the best-armored ship in the RN when she commissioned.

Totally with you on that Tiornu. People also seem to forget she was 22 years old at the time of her demise.

Just some brief history... She was laid down on on 1st September 1916 and launched on 22nd August 1918. In January 1920, she was transferred to Rosyth for completion and sea trials. She was commisioned on 15th May 1920 (hence my planned launch date!). She went down on the 24th May 1941- 21 years and two weeks of service to her country. Her resting place was discovered in 1989 - exactly 20 years ago. I am hoping to invite someone who served aboard her to launch my poor effort to recreate her in miniature. If anyone knows of a member of the ship's company who would be prepared to do this, please let me know.:) PS I was given a table that was ending its days as a piece of garden furniture. The reason I was given it was that it had been made from the deck planking taken from a pre-dreadnought (I think) battleship broken up in the 1920s. I thought to use it once more for the purpose it was intended... and plank my Hood with it. On one of the legs is a small, stamped metal plate with the original ship's details. I will try and dig it out of my woodpile and share it with you.

[QUOTE]People also seem to forget she was 22 years old at the time of her demise.[/QUOTE] Exactly. Any unmodernized "R" class battleship would have been just as vulnerable to the sort of hit that killed Hood. If Hood had enjoyed a modernization like that given to Queen Elizabeth (the ship) or Warspite, she would have, in all probability, survived the hit and continued the battle.

A couple more pictures of Martin's enormous project. Bob.
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I would just like to express a sentiment that I am sure is implicit in every reply here, but has not quite been said : how much I admire MartinH-K for his commitment to this wonderfully eccentric, totally over-the-top project - and his plan to put it to charitable uses. When it comes to fruition, and he has built the boat trailer that will be required to tote this 'bus-length' working model of HMS [I]Hood[/I] about, I am sure it will become famous throughout the length and breadth of Britain. A new part of the national estate. Good luck to you in every way with it Martin. I'll fly up there and have a look after she's launched. Wouldn't miss it :)

Who needs a Boston Whaler when you can SAIL your own HOOD??! WOW! Good luck, that is a HUGE project! DFO :)

Brilliant project Martin, hats off to you for taking it on, and thanks for keeping the forum updated with your progress. I shouldn't mention it, but I've just started a Bismarck model. I don't however think it would be any match for your Hood, being a 1:350 scale out of a packet!

Aw... shucks! Thanks guys. Sometimes I look at it... and how much work is still to be done and think... God! Why did I start this. It's nice getting some encouragement. KC, I have a friend (in Dunfirmline I think) who has a 31ft HMS Invincible - the aircraft carrier. If you're interested, I can find out when and where he's sailing her in the next few months. :)

Thirty-one feet long! Where does he keep/moor it??

I do feel I need to make a point though... This is essentially a cross between a working boat and a scale representation. There is NO way it would ever be museum quality. There is an expectation that, the bigger you get, the more detail you can show. The bigger you get, the less detail you build in because there is more that can break, would be closer to the truth. I have seen r/c models of Hood at 1/200 that have working turrets and four engines. Can you imagine me trying to manage four engines at 1/35?! I am not a fine art modeller. I have neither the time nor the financial resources to build this the way I would like to. I am however going to do the best I can to build the world's biggest scale model of the Hood. And, from a distance, if you screw up your eyes, she just might look something like the original.;)

If you go to; [url]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Manned_Model_Ships_International/[/url] and then to new photos and/or gallery, you will find a number of nutters like me. We have a sort of plan to go to Weymouth Maritime Festival, en masse this year. That would feature, HMS Invincible (31ft), HMS King George V (25ft), HMS Hood (7.42m), a Leander class frigate (15ft?) and a nuclear submarine (15ft?) and possibly more that I don't know about yet. Can you imagine dawn breaking over Weymouth harbour. Out of the gently rising mist comes a flotilla of manned model warships... :D

All I can say is "Bravo". This kind of model shipbuilding is growing faster than most people think. If only I had the time and resources!! Your endeavor to build one of the most famous ship's in nautical history is in my book very admirable and show's talent that some only dream of. Your desire to share your building of the Hood put's some of us in waitting to see the Hood completed in all her glory! Regards Charles

Thanks Charles... that all helps. If you google... Portsmouth Model Boat Display team... they are total LUNATICS! :) By the way... I am building in three sections that bolt together at two bulkheads. It will make transporting in a converted horsebox quite simple- racking! It also makes it easier to lift... downside is that she will take about an hour to dress for the water... just like a woman! lol

When you bolt the two sections together at the bulkhead, do you have a rubber gasket prevent water intrusion? Also what type of ballast is used, Lead? I did visit the web site you suggested and WOO! What a way to preserve our Maritime History. With the Man type's is the person the ballast for the ship? Now that would be a thrill! Regards Charles

Each of us have different methods... it's virgin territory after all.:) Below the waterline are lever catches- a bit like what you get on some guitar cases for example but heavy duty- they came from ammo boxes! Above that waterline... a LONG way above the waterline, the sections are bolted all the way through. I'm a belt a braces kind of guy so also below the water-line will be up to five lengths of steel tubing that will provide a further connection, some ballast, stability and protection against grounding and underwater obstructions. Due to the material used in the construction, she will be VERY light so will need ballasting. I have a choice... I could use compartmentalised concrete but I'd have to lift them in and out. What I will probably do is use 50 gallon plastic water containers which I can carry empty and fill before sailing. One of the first tasks during the sea trials will be to see what her displacement level is and work out both how much ballast is needed and where it should sit so she rides in the water properly. I have done it this way for several reasons but principally ease of transporting... its easier to lift a 2.5m section three times than a 7.5m section once. Also, if one hull should lose its integrity, the other two sections should be enough to keep me afloat. Safety is paramount in a build like this- fast exit must be factored in. My Hood will be able to accommodate up to three people though two will be the norm... can be done with one but then... who'd fly the aeroplane?:) Ballast will be adjusted by taking on water in the relevant compartment. Stability is also a serious factor. She's flat bottomed with a three vestigial keels but I'm concious that, even though the upper works are light, they could act like a sail so I am including two parallel angled drop stabilising keels- a little like the drop boards used in sailing dingies only shorter. The bow contains bouyancy, ballast and batteries (mostly). The midships are where the two crew sit. Due to the design of the Hood's upperworks, I plan to make some use of CCTV to allow me greater vision... it also means I don't have to disguise my view ports as much. The stern will contain the two engines plus fuel. Exhuast will vent through the stern most funnel... both funnels will be fed 'smoke' from a professional disco smoke machine with the a.c. transformer removed. The main 15in batteries will have two modes... the first mode will be the 'bang/flash' where a standard thunderflash will be ignited within the turret and expell through the barrels. Mode two will enable the guns to fire (using different barrels) potato 'chunks' via compressed air. Eight giant 'spud' guns if you will...:D I also have an idea about the 12 x 5.5in guns and some rice... Need some way of keeping the seagulls from crapping on my decks! You may have gathered by now that a lot of thought has gone into this... I'm in my second year of building but she was nearly three years in the design! I know... I should get out more. Really happy to answer ANY questions folk might have... if I can...;)

It's sounds like to me that your idea's of Water ballast is one that I never would of thought of. That makes sense! As for the construction I think you have it well in hand on the method's used. You have a good plan for the hull's interior! What light weight materials are used for the hull since that will bear the weight sort of speak? The turret idea is spot on! The motor for the ship is it close to those RC type motors? Is there a fuel/oil mix or just straight fuel? Regards Charles

I toyed with the idea of using twin 80lb thrust electric engines but cost (think how many batteries!)... The plus side would be little in the way of vibration and that could be crucial. I am also considering straight fuel outboards (they would still be unseen but there are issues with this as well so, while I don't have to make a decision yet, I won't... the design allows both options. As far as the construction is concerned... I have used standard 3/8 builders ply for the base and bulkheads and used 3/16 ply around a frame for the sides. The frame gives it strength... it's built a bit like a pram dingy! The difference between builders and marine ply is mainly a quality one. Marine ply is a higher spec though made in the same way. The spec 'promises' less/no open spaces in the core sheet. The thing is, if the surfaces are properly sealed and painted, the core need not be an issue. Also, all seams are fibreglassed. As far as general construction is concerned... the base goes down first, then the frame is built on to it, then the bulkheads go in and finally the sides. Side bracing and then 3/8 ply decking completes the gross build. Most of the hull has been primed, undercoated and, so far had three coats of grey gloss. I will be adding at least another three coats, then spraying the whole thing with a nitro-celulose varnish before the hull goes to a friend who owns a car body shop repair centre. He is going to spray both undercoat and top coat before baking it in his oven. The formula he will use is designed for VERY hard wear. The final coat will be a matt/dull gloss battleship grey as used in the Mediteranean during the 1930s. He will also open all access panels and 'mud' spray the interior- this is a system designed to fill cracks and holes that are either all but invicible or hard to reach by conventional means. Side panel in the hull will then be injected with cavity wall insulation which is essentially expanded polystyrene for general bouyancy and safety.:)

I would say the hull is strong enough. It's alway's nice to a friend who can spray paint in a shop where it can be done safety. As for the motor,electric would rechargable Nicads be of any use? But you are smart to the have options built in. Await your next post! Regards Charles

The electric engines are the big, comercial outboards used to power proper boats and use batteries not unlike car batteries. They cost about £200 each plus about £50 per battery so I'd be looking at about £600!:-(

Martin: You are not alone... I happened on this ... American guy who has built 1:20 model of the [I]Graf Spee[/I]. It is on a site called 'Lost Weekend' [url]http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.lostweekend.tv/admiralgrafspeeterra01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.lostweekend.tv/2007/09/&usg=__8V-kLXenzhugSoHvLWQbNF-S6R4=&h=301&w=440&sz=35&hl=en&start=277&tbnid=asQmiLaCmHVjuM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwar%2Bbride%2Bships%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D260[/url] and here's his story, as reported on that site: [I]Bored American William Terra has just completed a six year project that has seen him build a 1:20 scale "model" of German Second World War pocket battleship the Admiral Graf Spee, a ship famous for both its comparative success and, conversely, its scuttling in the first year of the war. A man with too much time on his hands i.e. he hasn't got a girlfriend, William has spent over £5000 pounds over the years, building the giant toy/tiny ship from scratch using wood, fibreglass and metal. The ship runs on 15hp outboard engine, can Carry two people and even has a built in sound system on which he apparently "likes to listen to Wagner". William has also admitted that he'd like to see other people build similar models, presumably for reenactments. Now I'm worried he's just looking for a tiny version of Europe to conquer...[/I] and continued best wishes for your project. K.
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Congratulations Martin on your attempt to build HMS HOOD and the purpose you are intending to use her for. When I was 12 I read her life history in a book by??? Bradford (I think) and was hooked, and now had a lifetime interest in shipping. I will look forward to seeing the photos and narrative of your achievements and seeing the completed project When is the event in Weymouth?? I hope I can rangle th time to go down and see it

Hi David Weymouth is on from 4-12 July. Nothing confirmed yet though... The Bristol Harbour Festival is from 31 July to 2 August and I'm planning to be at that one!!! Thank you for the nice words. Martin :)

I do hope you will CONTINUE to show us your progress with photos as you go forward. Truly an amazing effort, best of luck! DFO :D

Of course... if there's anyone out there who doesn't live too far away and wants to help or even crew...:D

I mentioned earlier in this thread that I'd come across a table (teak) that was being thrown out... I've now found the piece with the plaque on it. It reads... "Made by The Hughes Bolckow Shipbreaking Company Ltd, Blyth, Northumberland from TEAK TAKEN FROM HMS Powerful" :) Would anyone like to tell us about her?;) I can tell you that she's VERY famous... 1895-1929. The Naval gun competition held at Earls Court commemorates the Naval Brigade from HMS Powerful (1907). I have a REAL bit of history here...

Here are the latest pictures from Martin with his accompaying note:- Hi Bpb Here are some more showing how I gor on up to an hour ago... Pictures include one of the 8 barreled pom poms (another to build). Made from... one cd container base and assorted bic pen barrels, a bit of lego and the trees from an old airfix model! The other pics are of the ship... thank you for doing this. More on 2nd mail... Martin Bob.
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Thanks for putting them up. Yes... I know the pom poms are not very accurate (come to think of it- they weren't in real life either...) but my plans were not very good either. When I have time, I will rebuild them. They have 'improved' a bit- more bits added since the photo was taken. They will look better in place and... why am I making excuses???:confused::o

Hi Martin, HMS Hood being my favourite ship of all time, I will endeavour to make it to Weymouth in July. What is the location of the venue, regards, Bob

Weymouth is still in the hands of someone else at the moment. I'll let you now here when I have more details. I am going to be at the Harbour Festival at the end of July in Bristol however...:D

Today before I carried on with some more gray paint!:) .... if you look closely at the bridge section, you may notice a fairly significant error!!! Fixable but irritating! I keep saying to myself... "measure twice, cut once!" My problem is that I'm working from Anatomy of a Warship plans (in a variety of scales) and largely based on Hood when she sank, and a 1/400 scale airfix model that is also circa 1941. Trouble is, I'm building her as she looked ten years earlier in 1931 so I'm having to rely on photo's and 'best guesses'! I may have to put up with some 'comments' when she sails from those who get 'pissy' about detail. Guys, I'm doin' the best I can with little or no money.
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I thought some piccies from the end of today's work might be in order...:)
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You never know... by the time she launches, I might have made flag rank here...:D

Martin, You have made some serious progress! As for the mistake, you can correct it i would assume. As for the POM POM mount, you have given it your best effort. Can it be or are you going to re-make one? All in all you have got a winner in my book! Good Job! Cheers Charles

Thanks Charlie I think I'll leave it be for the moment- other fish to fry! After I've got her 'wet', I'll attend to those and other little details. More pictures at the end of tomorrow.:)

Well... Saturday is over (as far as boat building is concerned) and I have a few more piccies (let me know when you get bored:o). The major part of today has been spent in working on the main bridge super-structure. Why did they have to make it so bloody complicated?:confused: Anyway, when I got bored I did LOTS of filling, sanding, priming and repainting. In one of the pics, you can see one of the proto 5.5in guns. Construction constraints mean that not all of the twelve5.5in guns she carried will rotate. You can also see (looking past the gun turrets), where the crew will be.:rolleyes:
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I sure hope her "scale armor belt" and "decks" don't cause her to SUBmerge!!!! Keep up the fine work; look forward to seeing her in the water! DFO ;):D:D

To be honest, for the moment, she won't have an armour belt. That's on the list for next year. I will be adding it as a 'cosmetic'. She will have two drop boards for stability/anti roll anyway but the armour belt will be blue foam overlaid with fibreglass. It will be part of the 'let's get this bugger fully 'glassed', phase. As a 'flatty' she will be quite stable in the water anyway but I will be adding four lengths of tubular steel under the hull both for additional stability and ballast. An added bonus is that they will also provide further rigidity and connectivity for the seperate hulls.:)

Hi! Martin, Sorry I have taken so long to get back to you about the location of your article on the HMS Hood project.( have been a little busy) I have taken the time to find it and see the photos, Like everyone I am amazed at the size of your Model, it looks as though you will be needing a Maratime insurance certificate before you can take it to sea " LLoyds is not a bad idea", Look forward to it's completion photo. Kindest regards Bill

Check it out!!! Awesome! [url]http://olli.freeweb.hu/hd.html[/url]

Martin, I would agree it's truely a awesome ship. Amazing..... Regards Charles

Hi Martin Keep up the good work. You and all the other model-makers must have the patients of a saint building these ships. Here are some I took photos of at the Explosion Museum. The weather stopped them from sailing that day unfortunately. Alan
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From this weekend's work... 'Railings 3' was NOT an outstanding success but... it's fixable. They are made with soft iron nails. I have tapped the shaft and made three groves. I then used craft wire... I cut myself! <:( As they are nails, they have no groove so... I inserted the head end into my drill and slowly screwed them in that way. %% I put the wire on afterwards! The effect is quite pleasing I think...
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Martin, Nice work on the railings! The ship is coming together nicely! Cheers Charles

A couple of new shots... note the new gun barrels!!! and all sorts of other bits!:)
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Took all the sections apart today and turned the midships upside down. I then glassed the seams with fast glass and P40. Should be dry tomorrow and ready for... another layer! It all came apart (properly, not falling apart) in about 15 minutes.:)

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