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My dad served 24 years in the Royal Navy as a communications officer, many of those years on the Belfast. He was on the North Atlantic convoys as an escort ship, later as part of the peace keeping forces in the far East and finally the Korean war. After Korea he spent some time in Japan and wanted to stay when his posting ended but mum didn't want to go.
He took me on a very personal guided tour of the Belfast, I got to see parts of the ship not normally accessible and dad's first hand knowledge.
I'm very interested in the Belfast, lots of books and online stuff and I've just finished building a 1:600 scale model. A few photos below.
I'm now looking for information on HMS Pandora, a WW2 submarine dad briefly served on during the North Atlantic convoys. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190505/8dae7d17247796566720b0388af1a7a1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190505/e2859e837e945f6bb3d6c53c7f6f58b6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190505/88a3486a75052514a0a11df480264815.jpg
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Very interesting Ian. Thanks for sharing.
HMS Belfast is 80 years old this year but was almost lost within months of her launch. She was torpedoed near Iceland and sustained huge damage but it was decided to repair her as she was so new. She is a Town class cruiser armed with 12 6" guns plus machine guns and depth charges. She was fast too being able to steam at 32 knots, quick in her time.
I thoroughly recommend taking a look around her if you get the chance.
This photo is of my dad on the crane deck whilst moored in the Sea of Japan. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190508/35a899996d253cd514938d7d11ad277a.jpg
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Must be proud of him Ian. Always a good look round on the Belfast, must go again soon.
What era is the camouflage pattern Ian?
I went on the tour round her once, sometime in the early 1980s I think.
What era is the camouflage pattern Ian?
I went on the tour round her once, sometime in the early 1980s I think.
I'm not entirely sure of the pattern Martin, it looks like the Atlantic pattern but the colours are wrong. I followed the guide that came with the kit but I can change colours if the guide proves to be wrong. It was a fiddly bugger to make, I think the moulds are quite worn as there was a lot of excess plastic to clean off. There is another model from Japan that is a lot bigger, I might have a go at that next......while listening to music of course. :D
It's disruptive camouflage pattern.
Lawrence001
08-05-2019, 18:53
Some detail on the exact colours for HMS Belfast in here:
https://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk/pages/british-royal-navy-colour-schemes
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Audio Al
08-05-2019, 19:00
She was fast too being able to steam at 32 knots, quick in her time.
Blimey :eek: that is quick , My Hardy does 26 knots , I thought that was fast but obviously not :(
Lawrence001
08-05-2019, 19:01
My dad served 24 years in the Royal Navy as a communications officer, many of those years on the Belfast. He was on the North Atlantic convoys as an escort ship, later as part of the peace keeping forces in the far East and finally the Korean war. After Korea he spent some time in Japan and wanted to stay when his posting ended but mum didn't want to go.
He took me on a very personal guided tour of the Belfast, I got to see parts of the ship not normally accessible and dad's first hand knowledge.
I'm very interested in the Belfast, lots of books and online stuff and I've just finished building a 1:600 scale model. A few photos below.
I'm now looking for information on HMS Pandora, a WW2 submarine dad briefly served on during the North Atlantic convoys. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190505/8dae7d17247796566720b0388af1a7a1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190505/e2859e837e945f6bb3d6c53c7f6f58b6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190505/88a3486a75052514a0a11df480264815.jpg
Sent from my SM-G920F using TapatalkSounds like he was lucky not to be on board HMS Pandora in 1942...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Pandora_(N42)
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She was fast too being able to steam at 32 knots, quick in her time.
Blimey :eek: that is quick , My Hardy does 26 knots , I thought that was fast but obviously not :(
She was designed to chase down other ships but stability wasn't so good. I remember dad saying it took him a few days to settle as she did roll a bit. He used to take himself on deck by a funnel with a loaf of bread. I wish he was still with us, I'd love to hear his stories now.
An old nate of mine was on the destroyers during ww2. Mostly Russian convoys in second half.
He missed his ship as he caught something and was hospitalised.
His ship hit a mine and went down with most hands.
A second time he was transferred to another ship and the one he just came off got torpedoed and blew up..
Someone was watchng over him or he was jinx lol
Sounds like he was lucky not to be on board HMS Pandora in 1942...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Pandora_(N42)
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Yes your right Lawrence, I read that yesterday. He never really went into detail about his naval career but what I can remember is interesting. He fell in love with Japan but came home for mum, he never did go back sadly.
Went on the HMS Belfast in February with the family - they weren't especially keen, but we all found it incredibly interesting, so much that we're planning another visit. Unbelievable conditions compared to our comfortable lives today but the camaraderie must have been incredible. Respect to your Dad, Ian, and great model.
Spectral Morn
08-05-2019, 23:20
I'm not entirely sure of the pattern Martin, it looks like the Atlantic pattern but the colours are wrong. I followed the guide that came with the kit but I can change colours if the guide proves to be wrong. It was a fiddly bugger to make, I think the moulds are quite worn as there was a lot of excess plastic to clean off. There is another model from Japan that is a lot bigger, I might have a go at that next......while listening to music of course. :D
Looks like it might be from the old AirFix mold. I have a 1 72 scale Flower Class Corvette sitting in the roofspace that I should build someday, big kit though. Havent built a midel in at least 7 years.
Spectral Morn
08-05-2019, 23:22
Went on the HMS Belfast in February with the family - they weren't especially keen, but we all found it incredibly interesting, so much that we're planning another visit. Unbelievable conditions compared to our comfortable lives today but the camaraderie must have been incredible. Respect to your Dad, Ian, and great model.
Yes indeed. Hello stranger :) :cool:
Lawrence001
09-05-2019, 06:26
Looks like it might be from the old AirFix mold. I have a 1 72 scale Flower Class Corvette sitting in the roofspace that I should build someday, big kit though. Havent built a midel in at least 7 years.Reminds me of The Cruel Sea, one of my favourite films.
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Spectral Morn
09-05-2019, 07:56
Reminds me of The Cruel Sea, one of my favourite films.
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Yes one of mine as well. As is In Which We Serve also. The kit I have is the matchbox one, bit of a collectable now.
Looks like it might be from the old AirFix mold. I have a 1 72 scale Flower Class Corvette sitting in the roofspace that I should build someday, big kit though.
By a strange coincidence, so do I (though mine's in the wardrobe). I bought it to make for my father, who served on Flower Class corvettes during WWII, but sadly he died shortly after I bought it, and I haven't been able to face building it.
By a strange coincidence, so do I (though mine's in the wardrobe). I bought it to make for my father, who served on Flower Class corvettes during WWII, but sadly he died shortly after I bought it, and I haven't been able to face building it.
I'm very sorry for your loss and I really do understand what you mean. All the time I was building the model I kept thinking about my dad and what he and his crewmates must have gone through. I hope you do build your model someday.
Looks like it might be from the old AirFix mold. I have a 1 72 scale Flower Class Corvette sitting in the roofspace that I should build someday, big kit though. Havent built a midel in at least 7 years.
Spot on Neil, it is the old Airfix mould. I've no idea how old it is but it must be really worn what with the amount of leakage around the parts. I'm going to treat myself to the Trumpeter 1:350 model, reading the reviews it is an excellent model, very detailed and top quality. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00CIH25TC?pf_rd_p=330fbd82-d4fe-42e5-9c16-d4b886747c64&pf_rd_r=V99DEKFDGVXP241ZB1C6
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