White Smooth Versatile Plastic
1/600 HMAS Melbourne (1971) Deck Covers
Made by
Print With Shapeways
Choose Your Material
Choose your color and finish
Choose Your Material
$32.32
Choose your color and finish
Have a question about this product?
contact the designerYou must be logged in and verified to contact the designer.
Product Description
The aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne began life as HMS Majestic in April 1943, laid down in Barrow-in-Furness in England, and launched in late February 1945. Her completion was suspended later in the year after the surrender of Germany and Japan, along with the rest of her class. Originally planned as the last six ships of the Colossus class light fleet carriers, approved in 1942 to enhance British naval air power, with an emphasis on fleet defence as opposed to strikes for the regular fleet carriers, the Majestics were a further development of the concept incorporating the evolving technology of the later war years. With the collapse of Germany and the cancellation of Operation Downfall (the invasion of Japan), the ships were rendered surplus to requirements even before completion.
After the end of hostilities, a Royal Australian Navy review suggested the country acquire three carriers as the core for a new post-war fleet, and naturally turned to Britain. However only two were bought due to budget restrictions, and it was opted for the still uncompleted HMS Majestic and her sister Terrible. The ships were however finished to a modified design, construction resuming in 1946 and finishing two years later for Terrible, now renamed HMAS Sydney. Majestic however was not completed until 1955, experiencing massive delays due to labour issues and post-war policies of cutting and redressing manpower.
Taking into account all the lessons learned in wartime, the ship was fitted with an angled flight deck from the start, and made able to operate modern jet aircraft, larger and heavier than the planes she was initially designed to take on board; but due to her origins as a light carrier, she still sported a small flight deck area compared to Cold War era flattops. The flight deck, arrestor cables and lifts were strengthened, and new radar systems installed, making it the only ship in that area of the world to operate aircraft at night or during adverse weather.
HMAS Melbourne (as Majestic had been renamed) served in the Australian Navy from late 1955 until 1982, observing from the sidelines the conflicts in Borneo and Vietnam, and being involved in two collisions with friendly ships during her career.
Interestingly, a replacement for Melbourne was considered as early as 1946, the year in which was acquired: they were all turned down for budget and manpower limitations, as none would be as cheap as Melbourne to run, including another British light fleet carrier (this time a Centaur class, some 25% larger than the Majestics) and an American Essex class unit.
She was put in reserve in 1982 but could be reactivated as a helicopter ASW carrier if the need arose, but this never happened. After the first selling fell through, the ship was finally purchased by a Chinese company which slowly scrapped her, not before the government apparently studied her thoroughly in relation to the development of an indigenous aircraft carrier design. It is still unknown how long the process took, but rumour has it that Melbourne was not fully scrapped until the early 2000s.
After the end of hostilities, a Royal Australian Navy review suggested the country acquire three carriers as the core for a new post-war fleet, and naturally turned to Britain. However only two were bought due to budget restrictions, and it was opted for the still uncompleted HMS Majestic and her sister Terrible. The ships were however finished to a modified design, construction resuming in 1946 and finishing two years later for Terrible, now renamed HMAS Sydney. Majestic however was not completed until 1955, experiencing massive delays due to labour issues and post-war policies of cutting and redressing manpower.
Taking into account all the lessons learned in wartime, the ship was fitted with an angled flight deck from the start, and made able to operate modern jet aircraft, larger and heavier than the planes she was initially designed to take on board; but due to her origins as a light carrier, she still sported a small flight deck area compared to Cold War era flattops. The flight deck, arrestor cables and lifts were strengthened, and new radar systems installed, making it the only ship in that area of the world to operate aircraft at night or during adverse weather.
HMAS Melbourne (as Majestic had been renamed) served in the Australian Navy from late 1955 until 1982, observing from the sidelines the conflicts in Borneo and Vietnam, and being involved in two collisions with friendly ships during her career.
Interestingly, a replacement for Melbourne was considered as early as 1946, the year in which was acquired: they were all turned down for budget and manpower limitations, as none would be as cheap as Melbourne to run, including another British light fleet carrier (this time a Centaur class, some 25% larger than the Majestics) and an American Essex class unit.
She was put in reserve in 1982 but could be reactivated as a helicopter ASW carrier if the need arose, but this never happened. After the first selling fell through, the ship was finally purchased by a Chinese company which slowly scrapped her, not before the government apparently studied her thoroughly in relation to the development of an indigenous aircraft carrier design. It is still unknown how long the process took, but rumour has it that Melbourne was not fully scrapped until the early 2000s.
Details
What's in the box:
1_600_Melbourne_Deck_Covers
Dimensions:
Success Rate:
First To try.
What's this?
Rating:
Mature audiences only.
More From This Shop
$35.92
