modeling

Discussion in 'Modelling' started by mrdparkes, Nov 23, 2011.

  1. mrdparkes

    mrdparkes Junior Member

    to those who could or think they can help,my name is andy and im new on here and trying to find out if i can get a model of the HMS rocksand or any other large ww2 landingship.if not does anyone know if there any model plans for these.
     
  2. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Hi Andy and welcome to WW2Talk.
    Having Googled HMS Rocksand she seems to have had an intresting history and was one of the largest of the 'Empire' class Landing Ships at over 7000 tons. I presume you have done some research into the class of ship and know that there were several identical or near identical vessels, a model of any one of which would suit your requirements. Do you have a particular scale in mind?
    I also notice there is a book about the Rocksand available on a couple lf book sites.
    Might be worth trying some American based sites (eg WW2Forum) for info/models/plans of the ship as she was US built. Alternatively you could try looking for dockyard drawings.
    Do you mind if I ask what your interest in her is?

    Good luck with your search, please keep us informed. Don't hesitate to ask if you think we can be of any help.

    Mike
     
  3. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Andy, looked into this a little more and it appears there were as many as 13 sister ships. Amongst the sisters were SS Empire Javelin and possibly HMS Sainfoin.
    Rocksand was built by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California originally as Cape Argos but was completed as Empire Anvil. Some of the same class of ship were taken over by the RN and re-named as HMS... whilst some appear to have remained as Merchant Navy vessels and were known by their older SS Empire... names.
    The giveaway is the GRT (gross registered tonnage) of 7177tons.
    Link to Amazon where the Rocksands book is available:
    Amazon.co.uk: HMS Rocksand (F184)

    The Wiki page for Rocksands includes this picture from 1945. It is a public domain IWM image.
     

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  4. DannyM

    DannyM Member

    Hi Mike,
    The book you linked to may not be all it seems.


    The “publisher” takes wikipedia articles and publish them at various prices.


    Came across this mob when I was looking for a book about a year ago. As they seemed to have a lot of titles about landing craft that I have never heard of I did some digging.


    A couples of links below with information about it. If you google them you get a lot more information. I wonder how many people have been caught out by them ?


    Regards


    Danny


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:PrimeHunter/Alphascript_Publishing_sells_free_articles_as_expensive_books


    http://www.chrisrand.com/blog/index.php/2010/02/27/odd-tale-alphascript-publishing-betascript-publishing/
     
  5. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Hi Danny,
    Thanks very much for providing those links - especially the last one. I will explore the various links/sites with interest - or should it be anger?
    I had noticed the reference to Wiki on the 'book' cover but as you can't see the text of the book on Amazon I didn't think about it too much.
    Won't say too much until I have explored the links but initial thoughts are that this is something Amazon (and similar sites) MUST be aware of but what have they done about it?
    Enough said until I have investigated further.
     
  6. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    OK, had a look at the links and Andy, I think you should do too.
    Don't buy the book, you can find everything on Google and Wiki, as I did.
    Cheers Danny.
    Doesent help with the initial question though - any models or sources out there?
     
  7. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Look what I scored :)

    I was visiting a friend of mine's widow up in NY last week. He passed away about 20 years ago and this Spitfire had been hanging in his garage for longer than that.

    She said she was getting ready to throw out all of his Estes rockets and I told her not to throw out the Spitfire. She said, "You want it? Take it or it's going out."

    Now I just have to figure out how to get 25 years of dust and grime off of it. It's made out of some kind of paper and wood. I tried a feather duster and compressed air but it didn't work very well.

    Pretty happy I was able to get it 900 miles back to Atlanta in the back of the car without breaking it. I'm going to hang it in my garage.

    I don't know what scale it is, but it is big. That is a 12 inch ruler.

    Does anyone know if the markings are correct?
     

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  8. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    You lucky bastard! Enjoy your new treasure.
    1/18 scale?

    With what looks like Japanese kill symbols, it would be a 607 (County of Durham) Squadron (India/Burma) model Dave. Although the camo and roundels are not accurate.
    AF
    Sep 1939 - May 1945
    February 1943
    September 1943
    Hawker Hurricane
    Mk.IIb
    September 1943
    March 1944
    Supermarine Spitfire
    Mk.Vc
    March 1944
    July 1945
    Supermarine Spitfire
    Mk.VIII

    607 joined No. 166 Wing RAF on 25 May 1942, still equipped with Hurricanes. These were replaced with Supermarine Spitfires in September 1943, making the squadron the first unit in SEAC to operate this aircraft. It re-equipped with the Spitfire Mk.VIII in March 1944, and flew these until disbanding on 19 August 1945 at Mingaladon, Burma.

    With the number of kills shown on the aircraft it may be possible to identify the pilot of the aricraft being depicted. Bob Cross, with 136 Sqn., the highest-scoring RAF pilot in South East Asia Command, had a score of 10 Destroyed, 2 Probably Destroyed, and 9 Damaged, all confirmed. Can't find any more on 607 aces.


    afMingdalonBurmaIWMCF660.jpg af.jpg af Mk_8_GB_607Sqn.jpg af article-2219922-13A0005C000005DC-723_634x414.jpg
     
  9. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Nice info.Thanks!

    She flys again!
     

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