Modern day Q ship. (Finally done!)

[proditor]

Got the kit, the skywave Liberty ship.  Got a lot of bits left over from old kits purchased from the 'bay expressly for chopping into smaller pieces.  Got some styrene and putty.  And I have a vision.

Okay, a liberty ship normally looks like this:
http://smmlonline.com/reviews/models/liberty/skywave_liberty-colour.jpg

Mine is a little different.



Close ups:





And decision time.  Where do I mount the Phalanx? 

Here


Or here


Still to come: Satellite uplinks on the bridge platforms and a lot more GUNS!!!

[Hobbes]

I think the lower position would work better.

But wasn't the point of a Q-ship to have the weapons hidden from view?

[Weaver]

I think the high position would work better, since it's always a good idea to get FC radars as high as possible, but there would have to be enough working space around the thing to re-load it.

[PR19_Kit]

Woe betide any Sumatran pirates who try and take THAT on!

[proditor]

Hmm, one vote for each.  Heh...

As to the hidden bits, all I can say is patience.    I evenhave them doped out in the backstory.

Oh hey, Option 3: Use the top position, but sponson them slightly so there is more room at the back to move around it.

[anthonyp]

Since she's supposed to be a Q-ship, I'd say the higher position for the Phalanx, hidden behind retractable "containers" to hide them.  Same with placing maybe some containers on the fore-deck to hide most of the VLS launchers.

Nice, inspiring build!!!  (yes, you've given me an idea or six) 

[Thorvic]

One of the Pitroard Tawarda class AOEs might do the trick as a basis for a modern Q-Ship, as the hull shape and bridge would probably be more suitable, most modern civilian ships in this scale tend to be massive so to big to be practical as Q-ships or made from resin making conversion much more difficult.

As for the Phalanx i would generally go high, although this then makes it harder to conseal - BTW have you got plenty of the NATO weapons set used in the British ships as thats got a nice selection of 20mm and 30mm guns for the use of 

G

[proditor]

One of the Pitroard Tawarda class AOEs might do the trick as a basis for a modern Q-Ship, as the hull shape and bridge would probably be more suitable, most modern civilian ships in this scale tend to be massive so to big to be practical as Q-ships or made from resin making conversion much more difficult.

As for the Phalanx i would generally go high, although this then makes it harder to conseal - BTW have you got plenty of the NATO weapons set used in the British ships as thats got a nice selection of 20mm and 30mm guns for the use of 

G

I figured the smaller hull is the closest thing to a modern "tramp" steamer.  Smaller, local ship, more likely to be easily grabbed and not over watched.  Hence, good bait. 

To clarify, those VLS looking things are actually the cargo hatches as molded.  I keep thinking about sanding them flat to avoid confusion and serve as a secondary helo pad, but the crane and booms would get in the way I think.

Okay, we'll be going high for the Phalanx, with the droppable sides.  I have a few of the RN modern weapons sprues, but I'm also going to use the actual liberty ship sprue for some pintel mounts around the bridge and deck as well.

I have still been considering an 8 cell VLS for ESSM, but it really seems like overkill when I'm using Phalanx-B with the small anti-mortar capability. 

[proditor]

WOW, there's a lot of dust on this one!  BUT!  There are new pictures.  I got some parts, including two of the new automated 25mm weapon stations from Shapeways, and it got me back into the Q-Ship while watching Breaking Bad.

So three new views.  Added the weaponry fit of 2x Phalanx, 2x Typhoon Weapon Stations, 2x .50 cal MGs, 4 Chaff launchers, 2 Multi spectrum jammers, gun radars, and a 57mm cannon in the snoot.  Also added boats, and decided to see if the Sea Cobra would fit on the aft helipad, and I believe the word would be "easily."

[Captain Canada]

Glad to see her back on the scene ! Hard to spot those new shapeways guns on there.....

The Cobra looks awesome back there...I think you could land 2 or 3 of them !

[Old Wombat]

Just a few ideas I'm throwing at you, proditor;

I would have gone for drop-side containers along the deck with BAe Mk.38 Mod.2 25mm Bushmasters, or Mk.44 30/40mm Bushmaster II turrets, inside (the Typhoons are a good substitute for the Mk.38's).

Phalanx, behind drop-down fake-superstructure panels (probably fibre-glass or carbon fibre), would be, primarily, for self-defence.

You could also go for fake, drop-down container tops over a central VLS for real-war engagement of surface warships, freighters & aircraft.

For the helo, I would have looked at something like the Hughes 500 series, or another civilian-based military aircraft, so the on-deck helo doesn't look as threatening (until the quick-fit weapon packs are attached).

Radar is problematic, a good military system will look out of place on a tramp freighter, so I'd go with standard civilian (looking?) systems on the mast/s with flat-panel Aegis-type embedded in the superstructure for concealment.

I'd camouflage the twin funnels with a single, too.

Brilliant idea you have there, though!

[proditor]

I still have to do the drop down containers.  I'm thinking the Typhoons may be pop-up though (or at least partially).  The 57mm will definitely be in a drop-side box, same with the Phalanx.  I think I'm going to do them in brass as plastic is going to be thick in scale imho.  I may try and disguise the radar, but it's mostly an over-sized surface search, so I might be willing to fudge it.

[proditor]

Huh, only 2 1/12 years for this one...I'm speeding up! 

So I went back and finished basic construction, and threw on a base coat of white. That got us to here:

[proditor]

And then I got out the paints and inks, and after a marathon session with Salem on in  the background, I'm calling this sucker done, baring some warm weather to get on a top coat of matte. 












Final armament fit is:

4 x SRBOC launchers
2 x Typhoon Weapon Stations
2 x 20mm cannons (Wing mounts, bridge)
2 x Phalanx-B
1 x 57mm Cannon

Comprehensive ECM and Jammer fit, Satellite uplink.

Drop down plates for concealment are yellow (Or yellow with Red warning crosses) and the rear pad is for helicopter refueling and rearming. The sited helicopter is a Marine AH-1T Super Cobra

[Hobbes]

I can't see the images, unfortunately.