by Dennis Vella
1/192 HMS Andromeda (Scratchbuilt)
The model is of HMS Andromeda, a batch 3 broad beam leander class frigate which was developed and improved from the previous Whitby and Rothesay classes of frigates . The leanders were sturdy ships with very good seakeeping quality and armaments. They proved so successful that they were by far the largest class of warships built for the post-war R.N; securing a number of overseas sales. HMS Andromeda was the last ship built at HM Dockyard Portsmouth. She was laid down on 25/4/66 and commissioned on 02/12/68 and throughout her career participated in various naval operations including 2 Cod wars, where she was slightly damaged; the Falklands war of 1982 and various other humanitarian campaigns. The ship was sold in 1995 to the Indian Navy and renamed INS Krishna.
I obtained the scale plans for this ship from Jecobin Plans and rechecked as many items as I could with various other publications, mainly "Leander Class" by Cdr Meyers and various photographs from numerous collections. My favourite will always be the 4.5 gunned ships and the Andromeda is no exception. I modelled the ship as she was in 1974. As usual in my case, all my models follow my established method of construction. The model is entirely scratch built in wood for the hull and superstructure, with small details including gun barrels, radars, Limbos and seacats, railings bollards built and soldered in brass. The model took 150 hours to complete My only disappointment is the overall Humbrol varnish coats which to my horror yellowed overnight but which I hope to repaint over with a better quality varnish in the near future. The ship now forms part of my modern RN warship collection; three of which have already been displayed on this site.
