Conversions for Heller's 1/400 Arromanches/HMS Colossus Class Carrier
The British light fleet of World War II, comprised of the Colossus and the Majestic class aircraft carriers, had long post-war careers serving in the navies of Great Britain, France, Brazil, the Netherlands, Argentina, India, Australia and Canada. The last of these ships, the Minas Gerais served until 2001.
Currently there is only one kit available, the Heller Colossus/Arromanches. The kit is fairly decent to pretty good, according to a review I found online. White Ensign Models and L'Arsenal make a number of accessories including PE details, weapons and aircraft for the kit.
If you are feeling really adventurous though, you could build the various post-war ships of both the Majestic and Colossus classes (Majestic was just an improved Colossus). Here is a break down of some of the models you could build with this kit.
HMS Ocean Suez Crisis 1956: Build the kit as normal. You will need to get decals from Resin Models and WEM's PE set. Air wing is going to be tough. There aren't any 1/400 Sea Furies or Fireflies. However, you can use L'Arsenal's British vehicles as cargo since the Ocean transported vehicles back to Great Britain after the Suez Crisis.
FNS Arromanches 1954 Dien Bien Fu: Build the kit as normal. You will need to get WEM's PE set. Air wing is easy: L'Arsenal makes 1/400 scale F6F's and SB2C Helldivers to replace the blobs of plastic supplied with the kit. However, if you want to go with the extra detail, and can live with the scale difference of about 12 percent, use the recently released DML Hellcats and Trumpeter SB2Cs.
If you want to build the Arromanches during the Suez Crisis, you will need F4U-4s Corsairs and TBM Avengers for the air wing.
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ARA Independencia 1960s: You will need to modify the flight deck so that it has a slight angle to it. You will need to scratch build the landing lights and other details. You will probably need to change out the weaponry so consult your references. The Independencia had F4Us, F9F Cougars, and S2 Trackers on its flight decks. Check after market sources. I know you will be able to find 1/400 Corsairs and S2 Trackers from L'Arsenal.
Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman 1960s: The Dutch used the Karel Doorman until the 1960s as an ASW and attack carrier. There was a conversion for this kit at one time, but it is no longer in production. I am not sure where you could find one. However, on Modelwarships someone started to convert a Colossus into the Karel Doorman, but never finished. You can find their blog here.
As for the air wing, you have other options. During its life, the Karl Doorman carried British Sea Hawks and TBM Avengers attack and airborne early warning planes. L'Arsenal has the TBM Avenger with the radar dome available. You can use that or convert the Trumpeter or DML TBM kits to the 1950s version. WEM used to make a 1/350 Sea Hawk. I am not sure if it is in production anymore. If it isn't, you will need to scratch build everything. One thought could be to use a paper model as a guide for building the kit. There is a paper card model available here.
HMAS Sydney 1960s: The Sydney was used as a fast transport-during Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. A conversion like this would be fairly easy. You would need to modify the hull to match the Majestic class, add davits for a 4 LCM3 landing crafts and scratch build the heavy lift cranes. You could use L'Arsenel's UH-1 Hueys which are in 1/350 scale. You will need to scratch build M113s and M35 trucks and Landrovers.
HMAS Melbourne 1970s: This is another version of the Majestic Class that saw service as an attack and ASW carrier. You will need to scratch build the island and angled deck, as well as other details including the radars. The air wing was comprised of Sea Kings, Wessexs, S2 Trackers and A4 Sky Hawks. Corsair Models makes Sky Hawks with the dorsal hump on it them in 1/350 scale.
An example of what this kit would look like in 1/350 scale is available here.
Currently there is only one kit available, the Heller Colossus/Arromanches. The kit is fairly decent to pretty good, according to a review I found online. White Ensign Models and L'Arsenal make a number of accessories including PE details, weapons and aircraft for the kit.
If you are feeling really adventurous though, you could build the various post-war ships of both the Majestic and Colossus classes (Majestic was just an improved Colossus). Here is a break down of some of the models you could build with this kit.
HMS Ocean Suez Crisis 1956: Build the kit as normal. You will need to get decals from Resin Models and WEM's PE set. Air wing is going to be tough. There aren't any 1/400 Sea Furies or Fireflies. However, you can use L'Arsenal's British vehicles as cargo since the Ocean transported vehicles back to Great Britain after the Suez Crisis.
FNS Arromanches 1954 Dien Bien Fu: Build the kit as normal. You will need to get WEM's PE set. Air wing is easy: L'Arsenal makes 1/400 scale F6F's and SB2C Helldivers to replace the blobs of plastic supplied with the kit. However, if you want to go with the extra detail, and can live with the scale difference of about 12 percent, use the recently released DML Hellcats and Trumpeter SB2Cs.
If you want to build the Arromanches during the Suez Crisis, you will need F4U-4s Corsairs and TBM Avengers for the air wing.
ARA Independencia 1960s: You will need to modify the flight deck so that it has a slight angle to it. You will need to scratch build the landing lights and other details. You will probably need to change out the weaponry so consult your references. The Independencia had F4Us, F9F Cougars, and S2 Trackers on its flight decks. Check after market sources. I know you will be able to find 1/400 Corsairs and S2 Trackers from L'Arsenal.
Hr. Ms. Karel Doorman 1960s: The Dutch used the Karel Doorman until the 1960s as an ASW and attack carrier. There was a conversion for this kit at one time, but it is no longer in production. I am not sure where you could find one. However, on Modelwarships someone started to convert a Colossus into the Karel Doorman, but never finished. You can find their blog here.
As for the air wing, you have other options. During its life, the Karl Doorman carried British Sea Hawks and TBM Avengers attack and airborne early warning planes. L'Arsenal has the TBM Avenger with the radar dome available. You can use that or convert the Trumpeter or DML TBM kits to the 1950s version. WEM used to make a 1/350 Sea Hawk. I am not sure if it is in production anymore. If it isn't, you will need to scratch build everything. One thought could be to use a paper model as a guide for building the kit. There is a paper card model available here.
HMAS Sydney 1960s: The Sydney was used as a fast transport-during Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War. A conversion like this would be fairly easy. You would need to modify the hull to match the Majestic class, add davits for a 4 LCM3 landing crafts and scratch build the heavy lift cranes. You could use L'Arsenel's UH-1 Hueys which are in 1/350 scale. You will need to scratch build M113s and M35 trucks and Landrovers.
HMAS Melbourne 1970s: This is another version of the Majestic Class that saw service as an attack and ASW carrier. You will need to scratch build the island and angled deck, as well as other details including the radars. The air wing was comprised of Sea Kings, Wessexs, S2 Trackers and A4 Sky Hawks. Corsair Models makes Sky Hawks with the dorsal hump on it them in 1/350 scale.
An example of what this kit would look like in 1/350 scale is available here.
INS Vikrant 1990s: India received one Majestic class carrier in the 1950s. To build the Vikrant, you will need to use the same modifications as the HMS Melbourne and you will need to scratch build a Ski Jump. Radars are British in origin so WEM PE sets may be your best source for those. Air wing includes Breagut Alize, Sea Hawks, Harriers FRS 1s and Sea Kings.
Minas Gerais 1990s: This is the last of the Light Fleet. It served the Brazilian Navy until 2001 when it was replaced by the Foch. To build this ship. you will need to build the lower hull per the directions, but will need to scratch build everything from the flight deck up. Armament includes 40mm Bofors, and the air wing comprises of S2 Trackers, Sea Kings, and toward the end of its life, A4K Sky Hawks.
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