After modelling two American supercarriers I felt in need of a change. E-bay came to the rescue when I won the auction for a Fujimi Ark Royal. My original intention was to model a dockyard scene including a couple of British destroyers but I soon discovered that British outline modellers are not as well served as those modelling US or Japanese subjects and unless I was prepared to devote more attention to the escorts than the carrier then a rethink was required. Fortunately Fujimi's 'Kokuyomaru' bears enough of a resemblence to the RFA's Wave Class oilers (albeit with some modifications)to make a refuelling diorama feasible.

Constructionwise neither model was unusual. The carrier is an older kit and needed the most work - filing and filling mainly but I also added a partial hanger deck. The fine details are from GMM's British Carrier Fittings set and the decals are from Hawk Graphics except for the big 'O' which is home made. The crew figures are Eduard

The oiler came with its own photoetch set but I replaced the railings with the surplus from the GMM set. I also omitted the AA guns and modified the bridge area to give it a more 'anglicised' look. The ficticious name 'Wave Defender' on the bow are home made decals. Again the crew are Eduard figures and both ships were painted with a variety of Humbrol, Revell and LifeColor paints - both enamel and acylic.

The sea is a textured art paper finished with white and grey acrylics and the model is housed in a Trumpeter display case. 

This was the real problem area as apart from the Gannets none of the aircraft suppied with the kit were ever on the ship during the period modelled. The Seahawks and Dragonflys are from WEM's Airstrike range. The Skyraiders are Fujimi converted to AEWs and the kit Gannets have props from WEM's aircraft fittings etch. I had hoped for some Sea Venoms but these never arrived so I produced six Wyverns by converting (believe it or not) Trumpeter's Grumman Avengers. Apart from the white'Royal Navy' on the helos and AEWs all the decals were produced using Windows Publisher and printed on to clear or white decal paper.

Altough the project had more than its fair share of problems I'm quite pleased with the end result. I must also be a glutton for punishment as my next project is another British outline carrier - the previous Ark!