I have been a member of Task Force 72 since about 1996 and I have enjoyed building quiet a few 1:72nd scale warship models in that time. Most of these models have been of smaller ships associated with Australia in some way. The smallest 1:72nd scale model ship in my fleet is a 50 foot Harbour Tug and the largest is an ANZAC Frigate. I am starting to get a bit of a collection but there is always another ship that I would like to build. Most of these models are radio controlled and sail reasonable well although some of the really small models are not as successful as I had hoped. My models are all scratch built, generally using a fiberglass and plastic for the decks superstructures and fittings. I have made wooden plugs and fiberglass moulds for most of my models and many have had several hulls made for friends etc.
My Completed Warship Models
Below are photos of my completed 1:72 scale warship models and a little about each one:
HMAS Wollongong (I) J172 (1941 – 1946) is an Australian Bathurst Class Corvette from WW11. There were 56 of these corvettes built for the Royal Australian Navy in the early 1940’s. After being paid off, this ship served with the Royal Netherlands Navy and then in 1950 became part of the Indonesian Navy where she served until being broken up in 1968. The model is 788 mm long with a beam of 131 mm.
HMAS Wollongong (II) 206 (1981 – 2006) is an Australian Fremantle Class Patrol Boat (FCPB). There were fifteen FCPB’s built for the Royal Australian Navy in the early 1980’s. All have now been decommissioned and replaced by the Armidale Class Patrol Boats. The model is built on a fiberglass hull with styrene deck and superstructure. It is 583 mm long with a beam of 100 mm.
HMAS Wollongong (III) 92 – Is an Armidale Class Patrol Boat (2007 – still in service) 14 of these ships have been ordered to replace the aging Fremantle Class Patrol Boats. The new Patrol Boats are a vast improvement in technology and capability and will improve the Royal Australian Navy’s ability to intercept and apprehend illegal vessels around the Australian coastline.
HMAS Brunei L127 (1973 – 2014) is an Australian Landing Craft Heavy (LCH). There were six of these craft built and all are still in active service with the Royal Australian Navy. The model is 618 mm long with a beam of 140 mm.
HMAS Rushcutter M80 (1986 – 2003) is an Australian Mine Hunter Catamaran. Two prototype ships were built from glass reinforced plastic and high density foam. An additional four ships were originally planned but were never ordered. The model is 429 mm long with a beam of 125 mm.
HMAS Norman 84 (2000 – still in service) is an Australian Huon Class Mine Hunter. Six of these ships were built for the Royal Australian Navy. The hulls are made from fiber reinforced plastic and are designed to flex inwards if an undersea explosion occurs nearby. The hull for the model is also made from fiberglass with the deck and upper works made from styrene. The model is 730 mm long with a beam of 138 mm.
HMAS Ballarat 155 (2002- still in service) Is an ANZAC Class Frigate. Eight of these ships have been built for the Royal Australian Navy and another two have been built for the Royal New Zealand Navy. ANZAC ships are long range frigates capable of air defence, surface and underwater warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance and interdiction. The model is built on a fiberglass hull with the deck and upper works constructed from styrene. The model is 1640 mm long with a beam of 205 mm. Still lots of fittings etc to be made for this model but it is starting to take shape.
HMAS Otway (1968 – 1994) Is an Oberon Class Submarine of the Royal Australian Navy. The casing and fin from Otway are on display in a park at Holbrook not far from my home in Wagga Wagga NSW.
PSS President H.I. Remeliik 001 (1996 – still in service) is a Pacific Forum Class Patrol Boat operated by the Pacific nation of Palau. Between 1987 and 1997, 22 of these Patrol Boats were constructed in Australia and were given to 12 Pacific Nations by the Australian Government. The Australian Government still provide financial and technical support for these ships. The model is 438 mm long with a beam of 113 mm.
Currawong HTS 502 (1969 – still in service) is an Australian Harbour Tug. Four of these tugs were built for the Royal Australian Navy. One tug was transferred to Papua New Guinea in 1974. The three remaining tugs are now operated by Defence Maritime Services. The model is 211 mm long with a beam of 63 mm.
HMAS Attack 90 (1967 – 1985) is an Australian Attack Class Patrol Boat. Twenty of these ships were built for the Royal Australian Navy in the late 1960’s. HMAS Attack was the first ship of this class to be commissioned. and was eventually transferred to the Indonesian Navy. The model is 455 mm long with a beam of 85 mm.
Cape Nelson ABFC 50 (2014 – still in service) is a Cape Class Patrol Boat Eight of these ships were originally built for the Australian Boarder Force. Another two were then built and lease to the Royal Australian Navy. An additional six ships have now been ordered for the Navy. The model is 803mm long.
MV Sycamore (2017 – still in service) is a Multirole Aviation Training Vessel used in support of the Royal Australian Navy. The ship is used for a variety of training roles including training Navy helicopter pilots to land on a flight deck. The model is 1305mm long.