by Erik Schroeder
1/600 HMS Dido (Airfix Kitbash)
The Dido in her late Royal Navy-appearance as Ikara-Leander was my first major reconstruction-project ever. I built this model sometime in the early 90īs, shortly after PitRoad (named still Skywave at that time) had released the first "Equipment..."-packages. Photo-etched parts were not available at that time, so I had to do most of the alteration by scratchbuilding.
My main source of information were photographs and own observations during "open ships". I tried to include all alterations of the conversion, i.e. changed masting/antennas, alterations of superstructure etc. Also I tried to correct inaccuracies of the Airfix kit and enhance the details where possible. The shape should be basically correct (though I fear I raised the height of the hangar too much). The colour, especially of the decks, was chosen to blend with my remaining models and is totally non-historic. RN ships of this time had their decks painted dark grey. The painting of the sides is more correct, though the actual shade of grey might have differed from Humbrol No.64. The barrels of the Limbo and the Corvus were light grey - not black. The Seacat missiles on display during open ships were always dark-blue (possibly these were dummies for loading/handling-practice, as there exist photographs with red Seacats from the same period).
The pennant numbers are done with transfer letters for office supply. Though the type is not exactly the correct RN style of the time, I am still very happy with this solution as they still look extremely crisp, and regardless of age there never will be any clear parts of a decal become visible.
The conversion plan was drawn immediately after building the model: red - scratchbuilt, green: spareparts (mostly Skywave) / white: Airfix kit HMS Leander.
The HMS Dido was later sold to New Zealand and became HMNZS Southland. As such she was fitted with triple ASW-torpedo tubes abaft of the hangar and the Corvus was removed. Also she was displaying a red Kiwi on the funnel. So my model cannot the represent the Southland.
