SUPER LARGE 1:72 scale radio controlled (RC) HMS ARK ROYAL Aircraft Carrier (AUDACIOUS CLASS)

SUPER LARGE 1:72 scale radio controlled (RC) HMS ARK ROYAL Aircraft Carrier (AUDACIOUS CLASS)
A fantastic large scale replica of the famous aircraft carrier displayed at the International Model Boat Show 2018 which was hosted by Meridienne Exhibitions at the Warwickshire Event Centre. Built by Royal Navy veteran David Fortey over the course of 25 years, this incredible model was created by working from original builders plans direct from the MOD. It is 12.5 ft (3.8m) long and all measurements were converted to 1:72 scale from the original drawings. In total it weighs over 14 stone/90kg and is fully radio-controlled with working parts.
Ark Royal was the sister ship to HMS Eagle, which was initially named HMS Audacious, hence the name of the class. Four Audacious-class ships were laid down, but two (HMS Africa and the original HMS Eagle) were cancelled when World War II ended, and construction of the other two was suspended for several years. Both surviving ships were extensively upgraded throughout their lifetimes.
The contract was placed with Cammell Laird of Birkenhead / Sheffield in 18 March 1942 to build vessel number 1119.[1] The ship was originally designated Irresistible, but was renamed Ark Royal prior to launch. The immediately previous Ark Royal, also an aircraft carrier, was torpedoed off Gibraltar on 14 November 1941 with the loss of one member of the ship's company.
She was launched in 1950, and her completion took five more years.
Full size details:
Name: Ark Royal
Ordered: 18 March 1942
Builder: Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
Laid down: 3 May 1943
Launched: 3 May 1950
Commissioned: 25 February 1955
Decommissioned: 14 February 1979
Struck: February 1979
Homeport: HMNB Devonport
Identification: pennant number: R09
Motto: Desire Does Not Rest
Nickname(s): The Mighty Ark
Fate: Scrapped 1980
Model details:
Scale: 1:72
Overall length: 13 ft
Dry weight: 80kg with water ballast
This amazing model was commenced in 1992. Plank on frame construction. Oak keel with plywood frames, bamboo stringers and1/8" red cedar planking, pinned and glued with Castamite. Exterior coating of West System two part epoxy. Flight deck MDF, island and fittings made from plastic card.
Model is powered by a 12 volt car battery,driving 4 Ford Fiesta blower motors (50p each from scrap yard). Four electronic speed controllers provide independent control of each motor. Radio function is provided by Fleet 7 channel 40 mhz radio control.
Working functions
1. Bow thruster (not a feature of original ship)
2. 8 ballast pumps
3. Two self-warping winches
4. Port anchor raise and lower winch
5. 5 rotating radar aerials
6. Operational forward aircraft lift (temperamental!)
7. Various rotating propellors and rotors on some aircraft
8. Working deck landing lights
9. Operational waist catapult jet blast deflector
The model remains in one piece and is transported within a specially constructed road trailer and box. The box is broken down and built around the secured model. It takes about an hour to stow or unload the model.
The model handles just like the real vessel. That is, poorly in confined waters. Anticipation and forward planning are required to manoeuvre safely.
Ark Royal carried in the region of 34-40 aircraft. The aircraft on the model are depicted as the squadrons were in 1976.
Phantoms F4K (Airfix) each aircraft has the correct call sign number and airframe serial number.
Buccaneers Mk2 (Airfix) these aircraft have correct call sign numbers and some correct serial numbers.
Gannet Mk3 (Scratch /Revel / Aeromodel) These have correct call sign numbers and some correct serial numbers.
Sea King Mk2 (Airfix Mk3 conversion) These have correct call sign number only.
Wessex Mk1 (Revell) these have correct call sign numbers only.
Filmed by Dom Mitchell for the 'Essential RC' KZbin channel using the Panasonic AG-UX180 Pro 4K camcorder at the International Model Boat Show 2018 hosted by Meridienne Exhibitions at the Warwickshire Event Centre.
News, Reviews and Regular FREE Giveaways at / essentialrc
If you enjoy Essential RC then please consider contributing to the improvement of our future projects by visiting / essentialrc

[@EssentialRC]

Don't forget to subscribe for regular 'Essential RC' action using this link > kzbin.info Or join our Facebook group for News, Reviews and FREE Giveaways facebook.com/groups/EssentialRC

[@bigdmac33]

THAT replica is a thing of beauty! Incredible work of love.

[@PKPorthcurno]

That's a beauty! The father of one of our members of staff served on this particular Ark Royal. According to him, on its last voyage, the wardroom piano was loaded on to the catapult and launched!!

[@seafirefr.4751]

The museum that I work at has recently acquired a Royal Navy spec aircraft tug that we use to move exhibits around, it actually served on Ark Royal!

[@allgood6760]

Awesome build... my mate flew Sea Hawks from HMS Ark Royal.. thanks from NZ 👍🇳🇿

[@KenBlackRifleAmerica]

What an absolutely stunning RC Model of the HMS Ark Royal. I had no idea she had F-4's on board? LOVE IT, thanks for sharing this awesome ship!!!

[@tractorcorleone]

There is a lot work on the aircraft carrier, well done and very nice detailed !

[@stevensaviationolderaccoun5289]

That is a nice super large scale aircraft carrier.

[@dogmadogma5398]

Amazing!

[@markhesselgreaves]

What can i say but WWWWOOWWWWWW! Absolute and TOTAL attention to detail in every way!

[@bearnicholas3830]

Amazing detail!!!!!

[@huntr10112]

this absolutely fantastic great craftsmanship love the details thank you for sharing, would love to be able to build something like this

[@brucemaclennan9879]

Magnificent! - I want it in my living room! Pity about the wobbly nosecone on the Gannet-I'm sure it could be fixed with a little more work.

[@benstormbadass1936]

Amazing 🇬🇧👍🏻✅

[@ChrissiRC]

Very cool! 👍

[@antonio-tt7js]

Excelente trabajo, felicitaciones!! 👏👏👏👏👏👍👍

[@seafirefr.4751]

It’s a shame you can’t buy models in this size, it would look great in my display room and I’d be able to put my Royal Navy aircraft on it and make space for more models in my cabinet.

[@Shenordak]

Absolutely fantastic. The build and detail is incredible. I'm just a little surprised that not more care has gone into the painting. High gloss flat colour, no highlights, no shading, no weathering etc. A better paint job would really have brought it to the next level.

[@sotirismiaris421]

nice work very good

[@markhesselgreaves]

And the thing is, Ark Royal was not a supersized aircraft carrier like the USNavy ones, but it was large enough for their intentions! Not long after, the Invincible class was launched which was smaller than Ark Royal. The QE is getting back to Ark Royal size and larger but still not as large as the US Navy carriers!

[@whome7004]

The Cost Gard comeing up on to deck yes that very one Cool

[@whome7004]

I will be watching I can't stop I got to no what I'm Dreaming about☺👍

[@adamkane9414]

🤯🧐😲😯😮That is definitely bad ass awesome.it's uh must have got to get me one of those things..🤔 bad ass!!

[@donlaight5943]

adam kane yep, I heard a story that they were flown on in the South China Sea during the evacuation of S Vietnam. Don't know how true that is. My dad served on her at different stages of his navy career, and has related several stories about what the carrier would get up to, he left the service in 1970.

[@troyw5832]

WOW.😆 ☺😊😀😁😂5 SMILE'S

[@whome7004]

Down to the last detail! Wow Mr. Dom I see you fly almost Daily!Q. Do you have time to just go fly for the fun of it I've haven't seen anything you can't fly and fly well. What do you fly on your fun fly Ser?

[@EssentialRC]

Flying a new C-130 on Saturday Charlie! Look out for the video later this weekend. Cheers Dom (Essential RC)

[@brianmaplin1236]

This is the previous Ark Royal as I went on this one a few times at Navy Days in Plymouth in the 1970s...Amazing model! Always had a thing about Gannets - has anyone made a contra rotating prop RC? en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ark_Royal_(R09)

[@EssentialRC]

Thanks very much for the correction Brian. I've updated the description. Cheers Dom (Essential RC)

[@didactylos4diddy474]

Nice model. It won't fit in my pond though :D

[@hezekielcute6708]

Hey man how much is that is it expensive

[@EssentialRC]

It was built from scratch. Not everything can be brought at Walmart 🙄

[@theoccupier1652]

Reckoned he did it from actual plans from the MOD … apparently took 20 odd years, there are so many faults and mistakes in that model, way too many to name here … nice try but not at all impressed with the research or the final model … nice but ….. Ex flight deck crew member (twice)

[@EssentialRC]

Might not be super accurate scale. I don't think that matters personally. Impressive piece of modelling and would look spectacular on the water.

[@theoccupier1652]

Yep that's true … lets say it's a good representation of the Mighty Ark :)

[@kougerat5388]

@@EssentialRC I agree completely. It is a superb build nothing less, I think the occupier is being overcritical and misses the point of an RC model and seems to be judging it as a precision replica model which would sit in a glass cabinet ! this is truly an amazing working model that has a whole heap of extra mechanical functions that work very smoothly. even the rotating parts are timed correctly. As far as the more intricate detail goes, for an RC boat it's excellent, once it is afloat and just a few metres away any further detail would be pointless as you wouldn't be able to notice it anyway. Do you know if this Ark has been afloat? I have been searching for some footage but to no avail.