PLEASE NOTE: The Spring 2017 price changes that Shapeways introduced for Frosted Detail printed items increased the price of this model enormously. Rather than remove it altogether, I have placed it in the LEGACY section of my shop. I will introduce a new version in other materials and at a lower price as soon as I can . I do have a number of models to work through however, so please bear with me. Message me if you would like to know when the new model is likely to be available.
By 1916 the British Admiralty were persuaded that they had to have large rigid airships, but production was slow and the North Sea Class was introduced in 1917 as a stop-gap. These large non-rigids were initially beset with propeller drive shaft problems. But a change of engines and development efforts by the airshipmen themselves saw them evolve into what were perhaps the finest 'ships of their type in the world at the time.
14 North Seas flew and this model is of NS 11 which in February 1919 established a world endurance record when she flew 4,000 miles in 100 hours and 15 minutes on a mine-hunting patrol. That same year, in company with NS 12, she made the first airship flight to Norway. For the NS11 story and lots of other information on the type, please go to http://www.ns11.org
The book "Coastal Patrol: Royal Navy Airship Operations During the Great War 1914-1918" by Brian J Turpin gives a brilliant insight into the lives of the airship men and their machines. The British RNAS successfully countered the U-Boat threat from Germany and the sheer size and efficiency of their fleet of non-rigids has been understated too often by most historians and chroniclers of the war.
The North Sea Class carried a crew of ten in two five-man watches. They were armed with up to five machine guns including one on the gun platform on top of the hull. They could also carry up to six 230 lb bombs.
The North Seas carried a crew of ten in two five-man watches. They were armed with up to five machine guns including one on the gun platform on top of the hull. They could also carry up to six 230 lb bombs.
NOTE THAT THIS IS THE
UNMARKED MODEL. For the model version with engraved markings for
NS 11 please click
here.
This airship is also available in 1/1250th and 1/700th scales. These are not simple re-scales of a standard file. Each version of the model is a separate design including the maximum amount of detail that the printing process will allow at that size.
Click here to go to CLASSIC AIRSHIPS front page.