On China Station 1926; Chuck's HMS Hermes in 1/700th *Fini*

[Chuck Finley]

My Flyhawk Models HMS Hermes arrived just in time for the build. Instead of building her as sunk in 1942, I plan on backdating her to how she appeared on October 27, 1926 when serving on China Station at Hong Kong. The most visible change will be leaving off the pom poms, replacing the kit Swordfish with Fairey IIIF floatplanes as operated by 440 flight, and painting her in AP507c vertical surfaces and AP507A flight deck, She will make a nice companion to my 1938 USS Enterprise.

[splash]

This looks like a nice kit, I just found one on eBay and nearly bought it, so I will watch your build with interest before hitting the buy now button

Regards Splash

[Chuck Finley]

This looks like a nice kit, I just found one on eBay and nearly bought it, so I will watch your build with interest before hitting the buy now button

Regards Splash

It is a very nice kit and is cheaper than the HP Models resin kit and is better detailed than the Aoshima kit. Flyhawk Models is on a roll. I have their HMS Aurora and HMS Niaid kits and they all look very good.

[Cameronian]

I'll be following with interest, thanks for posting it.

[Chuck Finley]

Started pre-painting the model. After conferring with many knowledgeable sources on Steelnavy.com, I decided to change the colors to more accurately reflect her period on China Station. So now, the hull is white, the island and mast are AP507C light grey and the flight deck is AP507A dark grey. In addition, the kit has some detail in the hangar. I now plan on leaving the aft hangar door open and the aft elevator lowered. That was I can place some of my Fairey IIIfs in the hangar. (Trumpeter gives 12 in the pack, which should allow me to model the entire 440 Flight). In addition, the kit supplied .50 cal Vickers AA mounts, 2pdr pom poms, and radar will also stay in the box. The Vickers machine guns were apparently added in a 1934 refit so would not be present in 1926.

[PaulBradley]

Good start!

[Chuck Finley]

I had to repaint the upper works AP507B Medium Grey, which is a closer color to the grey used on the ships assigned to China Station. So far, the hull and flight deck are finished as are the Fairey IIIFs. I also decided to replaced the pontoons with wheeled landing gear (courtesy of White Ensign Models photo-etch). So, the air wing now consists of five Fairiey IIIFs on wheels and five with floats.

completed hull with aircraft in hangar. Rear hangar door will be open with aft lift lowered



The remaining Fairey IIIFs of 440 Flight, ready to come aboard once the ship is fitted out.

[Saxon]

In the black and white photo towards the bow, what is that trampoline looking thing?

[Chuck Finley]

In the black and white photo towards the bow, what is that trampoline looking thing?

It's a sun shade.

[Chuck Finley]

Attached flight deck and island to hull. Now, on to adding the nets along the flight deck and touching up the paint.

[iggie]

Excellent! That's a really good build Chuck and very nicely set as well

[JohnRatzenberger]

I am intrigued by the Fairey IIIF's - they look great even at 1/700 !

In the above, doesn't appear that the deck and hull aren't square/level ? Or is it just camera angle ?

[Chuck Finley]

I am intrigued by the Fairey IIIF's - they look great even at 1/700 !


In the above, doesn't appear that the deck and hull aren't square/level ? Or is it just camera angle ?

Actually I noticed that right after posting the pictures. I did correct that the following day so the flight deck is pretty straight.

The Fairey IIIFs came from a Trumpeter aircraft set that came out right around the same time as they did the 1931 HMS Hood. If you have access to the WEM aircraft photo-etch, you should be able to make at least five with a wheeled landing gear and you also get some photo etch struts, should you go that route. In any case, they will definitely compliment the H-P Model's Courageous and Glorious. should you desire to build a tween wars version.

[Chuck Finley]

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present HMS Hermes as she appeared on China Station in 1926. On her flight deck are seven Fairey IIIFs, five with wheeled landing gear and two on floats.
















For a size comparison, I have the first HMS Hermes aircraft carrier with the more recent HMS Hermes from the Falklands in 1982.





or how about the first two purpose built aircraft carriers; Hermes and Hosho, both from the 1920s.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Excellent work !!