by Peter O'Donnell
1/400 HMS King George V (Heller)
After a short commisioning ceremony (consisting of me having a glass of Cava) HMS KGV joined my fleet. The Heller KGV is a much better kit than the Heller Hood in that there is much less scratchbuilding required but then the scratchbuilding is the most rewarding part of the build. I had to replace the square HACs Mk5 with scratchbuilt round HACs Mk4 and add the type 271 radar. The paravanes were also scratchbuilt. I decided to open up one hangar door and built an interior to the hangar but the second aircraft hides the detail. I took artistic licence with the length of the anchor chain and I know that a greater length of chain would be required to hold the ship but it would have then needed an enormous base.
My main criticism of the kit is that there are no aircraft roundels or other markings for the aircraft and no draught markings for the ship, these had to be sourced elsewhere. White Ensign's excellent PE was used. This worked out at about £30 for the PE and about £500 for the psychotherapy but I got there in the end. I would have liked accommodation ladders with the PE but for some reason they were not supplied. The ones you see are from the Hood PE.
Roger Chesneau's Ship Craft book was a great reference.
