Hey guys, I recently picked up one of RoG's 1/1200
RMS Titanic models for cheap and since I don't want to build OOB I've decided on a scale-o-rama project. I'll be building her in 1/700 but my question(s) to you guys is what should I do with her???
Here's what I have to work with:
Titanic's actual dimensions: 882.5' x 92'
The 1/1200 kit in 1/700 would equal a real ship with the following dimensions: 514.8' x 53.67'
Her hull form lends itself nicely to any Turn of Century/WWI era merchant ship, many of which served in WWI and some in WWII. I want to depict her in WWII service. I'll be using the base hull but more than likely modifying it heavily and scratch building a lot of it so don't feel like your constrained to her silhouette. The end result will be entirely fictional.
My options so far as are follows:
Passenger-Freighter (IE both in one hull) in a War fit - Lightly armed (couple of 20mms and a deck gun) and painted gray
Passenger-Freighter converted to a Navy Transport (AP/APA/etc...) - More involved conversion, heavier armament, with or without landing craft
Navy Tender/Repair ship - AA armament and extra boats/cranes/derricks/etc...
Navy Airship Tender - Flat after deck with a derrick for Navy Patrol Blimps. Heavy Armament for forward deployment
Aircraft carrier conversion - Similar to
USS Langley and/or
HMS ArgusSeaplane Tender Conversion - Similar to
USS Langley or more of a freighter with a partial flat deck for the planes
Hospital Ship - No guns, large superstructure, a lot of boats, and all white with red crosses and a green stripe
What do you guys think? I'm leaning towards the tender options right now. The carrier ideas are neat but her beam is just too narrow for flight ops I think. Most CVEs of similar lengths were much wider and we all know how dangerous they were to land on. I don't want to modify the hull too drastically save for sanding off the out of scale side plating/port holes to be replaced with appropriate items. I might use the fore and aft deck inserts but the rest will more than likely be scratched.
Feel free to add your own ideas. I'm open to just about anything right now
Any and all thoughts, ideas, comments, etc... are appreciated as always,
-Mike