by David Smith
1/700 HMS Endurance (Scratchbuilt)
This was one of the first ships to be involved in the Falklands war; unfortunately I have once again been unable to find any plans
So I have downloaded photos and looked in various books etc and from this together with some guesswork I have come up some plans.
The boat started life as the MV Anita Dan and was converted by Harland Wolff in Belfast into HMS Endurance. (1976)
HMS Endurance was involved from the start and actually landed marines in the defence of South Georgia; this was to provide a British presence on the island prior to the Invasion by Argentina.
This vessel has now been replaced.
Nickname Red Plum
Length 93m
Beam 14m
Draught 5m
Speed 14.5knots
Crew 124 (13 officers, 106 crew + marines 9+1)
Armament 2 x 20mm guns (Oerlikons)
She carried 2 Wasp helicopters.
Construction would use a balsa hull lined with 20 thou plastic card, decks and superstructure would also be plastic card.
A balsa block measuring 18mm x 140mm x 2mm was cut out and shaped.
Sides were added from plastic card and the stern was shaped from filler.
A lead insert was added to the underside. I am not really happy about the shape of the bow, but I will live with it and continue construction.
Superstructure was made from a series of boxes made up and glued in place. Detail was added from overlays of 10 thou plastic card.
Boats were scratch built from plastic card..
Masts and boat hoists are plastic card and rod. Some little details also added from spares box.
Funnel is from balsa.
Cannot find any information as to where the guns were located, probably either on the front superstructure or the hangar? I have not put any guns on as I am not sure of the location.
Undercoated with Halfords white primer and then painted.
I used Humbrol no 153 for the hull and this was brush painted, the new Humbrol paints seem to have limited covering power. 5 coats were applied, rubbing down between each coat.
The white was also brush painted with care. I am not sure of the deck colours so I will use darkish grey for the helicopter landing deck.
Details painted in with a brush and white lines with a mapping pen.
