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John WIlliams' image gallery
John Williams: a guy who looks like he's always having fun.
Maid of Aberdeen by John Williams
(This model was featured in the December 2016 issue of the Lynx.)
The ship:
Type: Royal Navy auxiliary drifter (minesweeper, antisubmarine)
Flag: Great Britain
Era: WWI - WWII
The model:
Scale: 1:24 Length: unknown
Kit: Mountfleet Models
Built: 2014 - 2018
This is a 1/24 scale model of a British Royal Navy Auxiliary drifter from both the WWI and WW11 periods. These little ships were requisitioned by the hundreds from civilian fishing use in the North Sea and elsewhere around Britain for use in minesweeping, port guarding, and sundry other duties, including anti-submarine operations if nothing more suitable were available.
(continued next slide...)
The ship:
Type: Royal Navy auxiliary drifter (minesweeper, antisubmarine)
Flag: Great Britain
Era: WWI - WWII
The model:
Scale: 1:24 Length: unknown
Kit: Mountfleet Models
Built: 2014 - 2018
This is a 1/24 scale model of a British Royal Navy Auxiliary drifter from both the WWI and WW11 periods. These little ships were requisitioned by the hundreds from civilian fishing use in the North Sea and elsewhere around Britain for use in minesweeping, port guarding, and sundry other duties, including anti-submarine operations if nothing more suitable were available.
(continued next slide...)
Maid of Aberdeen -- overall
(continued from first slide...)
Auxiliary drifters were prized for their seakeeping qualities, being designed for all-weather work in terrible conditions. Hence my trawler is heavily weathered. They're armed with depth charges, complete sweeping gear and a variety of guns--mine has a 6lbr. Hotchkiss gun of WWI vintage. I'm also adding Lewis guns on the theory that in the unlikely event it actually forced a U/Boat to the surface, the crew would need to keep the German crew away from their deck gun as, if it came to a gun for gun duel, the drifter would very likely not remain above the surface for long. If successful in this, the crew could then deploy the main gun to the sub's detriment.
(continued next slide...)
Auxiliary drifters were prized for their seakeeping qualities, being designed for all-weather work in terrible conditions. Hence my trawler is heavily weathered. They're armed with depth charges, complete sweeping gear and a variety of guns--mine has a 6lbr. Hotchkiss gun of WWI vintage. I'm also adding Lewis guns on the theory that in the unlikely event it actually forced a U/Boat to the surface, the crew would need to keep the German crew away from their deck gun as, if it came to a gun for gun duel, the drifter would very likely not remain above the surface for long. If successful in this, the crew could then deploy the main gun to the sub's detriment.
(continued next slide...)
Maid of Aberdeen -- bow
(continued from second slide...)
The build:
The kit is from a UK company called Mountfleet models, which offers a very salty array of models, the vast majority of which pertain to British riverine or coastal traffic. My vessel, which I have christened the "Maid of Aberdeen" in honor of the city where it was designed and built, is radio controlled and will have working lights and a sound system which hopefully will replicate the sound of a coal-fired steam engine. The kit features about 1,000 cast metal fittings, all of which demanded extensive clean-up (and in some cases replacement). Even so, the subject is so unusual and cool that I couldn't resist the build, which is now about 65% complete. If you notice the Scottish flag on the wall of the bridge structure, that's the work of the captain (not yet competed) who I'm imagining is a Scottish nationalist and hunter (note the antlers). A quirky touch in keeping with the overall subject matter.
(continued next slide...)
The build:
The kit is from a UK company called Mountfleet models, which offers a very salty array of models, the vast majority of which pertain to British riverine or coastal traffic. My vessel, which I have christened the "Maid of Aberdeen" in honor of the city where it was designed and built, is radio controlled and will have working lights and a sound system which hopefully will replicate the sound of a coal-fired steam engine. The kit features about 1,000 cast metal fittings, all of which demanded extensive clean-up (and in some cases replacement). Even so, the subject is so unusual and cool that I couldn't resist the build, which is now about 65% complete. If you notice the Scottish flag on the wall of the bridge structure, that's the work of the captain (not yet competed) who I'm imagining is a Scottish nationalist and hunter (note the antlers). A quirky touch in keeping with the overall subject matter.
(continued next slide...)
Maid of Aberdeen -- stern
(continued from third slide...)
NEED SOME COMMENTARY HERE ON THE STERN DETAIL
NEED SOME COMMENTARY HERE ON THE STERN DETAIL
Maid of Aberdeen detail
(continued from fourth slide...)
The bridge detail shots show the folded awning on the "Maid of Aberdeen". I used waxed paper of all things, for the tarp material. Thinned gray paint ran convincingly into the folds, automatically creating shadows and highlights--the effect was better than I'd hoped.
The bridge detail shots show the folded awning on the "Maid of Aberdeen". I used waxed paper of all things, for the tarp material. Thinned gray paint ran convincingly into the folds, automatically creating shadows and highlights--the effect was better than I'd hoped.
Maid of Aberdeen detail
(continued from fifth slide...)
NEED COMMENTARY ON MODELING THE WINCH
NEED COMMENTARY ON MODELING THE WINCH
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