HMS Queen Elizabeth

My daughter and I got up at 3:30 am to drive down to Portsmouth to view the entry of HMS Queen Elizabeth into her home port.. Here are a few photos. The event will be featured in a Gallery in Model Boats Magazine.

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 16/08/2017 18:52:57

Colin. You are so keen:

​I was going to say what other country would comission an aircraft carrier with no aircraft, or the prospect of any reasonable amount of aircraft for many years, but I wont. It is too painful a subject.

​Ashley. 

Edited By ashley needham on 16/08/2017 19:10:13

Edited By ashley needham on 16/08/2017 19:10:26

Edited By ashley needham on 16/08/2017 19:10:45

Edited By ashley needham on 16/08/2017 19:10:52

Well, it's supposed to have a 40 year service life so there is scope to compensate for culpable political inadequacies.

I must say that having watched previous carriers being towed away for demolition it was nice to see one coming the other way at last.

Big flat tops will always come in useful.

Colin

Well, it's supposed to have a 40 year service life

The Top Brass were talking about 50 years this morning.....but that's inflation for you.

Big flat tops will always come in useful.

Especially this type.....

Gonna get me one o' they some time soon....

DM

I was in Portsmouth last week for 3 days but just couldn't extend my stay . Great shots Colin and I would have loved to have been there .I'll have to wait till QE comes to Liverpool . I just wonder how long it will be before we see a working model or static model .

Good photographs Colin.

David,

A 1:350 scale, commissioned model was produced by plastic kit manufacturer Airfix back in 2014 -

**LINK**

I read this item from 2014 and apparently it was released as a kit, but caused some upset as there were no aircraft -

**LINK**

The latest news says the company aren't in a rush to produce a model which will appear in the shops -

**LINK**

There was also a 1:200 scale model of the carrier back in 2008 -

**LINK**

Hi Tony yes I recall taking a few pictures of the Airfix model of QE at the IPMS Scale Model World Telford .back in 2013. I asked then if such a model was on the cards ,the reply was possibly but only when the full size vessel is commissioned. With Gerry Hitch of Jecabin no longer producing good working modellers draughts of RN warships that does limit the availability of a good representative drawings . I do hope there is some one out their ready to have a go but Gerry Hitch was a past master and even with the limited information of the hull form could turn to a produce a drawing which was hard to beat. Jecabin drawings of course are still available.

Hello Colin

We should all thank you and your daughter for making the long drive and securing some very useful photographs. I hope that you can claim the fuel back as a business expense.

Hello Ashley

Even though I think that this ship is one of the best examples of current maritime design I have to agree that without operational aircraft it is something of a white elephant but I'm sure the Royal Navy will make the best use of both ships with helicopters and existing fixed wing aircraft.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but which idiot thought that it would be a good idea to commission the building of two aircraft carriers without ordering a few planes as well. Its not as if it is a difficult decision....after all the clue is in the name Aircraft Carrier.

Hello David

I am sure that, even as we discuss this matter, someone somewhere is toiling over a CAD screen producing a set of drawings for the model enthusiast. Its a good job that people like yourself and Colin are so diligent in taking detailed photographs as they can be an invaluable source of information for whomever might be undertaking the task.

I would imagine that the final scale might be a matter of debate given the huge size of the ship, should the scale be large enough so the the model builder might use 'Airfix' type models as deck ornamentation or should the model be small enough to fit into a family car?

Perhaps the issue of scale might be discussed here as I am sure that many people will have an opinion.

Paul

There are two issues with aircraft carrier models.

First is having planes to populate the deck with. Its what carriers are all about. I have yet to see small enough F35B models to suit, although it may be possible to mould your own at this small size.....leading on to...

Secondly the size. As big as possible really but what is a car sized model??? about 5 foot long in my car and of course bearing in mind the width of the thing. Any larger and there are serious transport issues.

​A 5 foot model would be about 15 inches wide?? I think that's about right.. A very reasonable "presence" on the pond.

​Ashley

Ashley

The model can always be built in sections and assembled at the lakeside, or transported on a trailer.

Paul