Hi all,
as my knowledge of all things that float is still very limited I would appreciate some help with this kit.
I've just gotten out my Tamiya 1/700 HMAS Vampire from the stash and moved it to the 'to-build' pile. As usual I did a little research on the Vampire and found that it had an eventful, if short, combat career in the Med and later Pacific where it was sunk off Sri Lanka. But an interesting thing I did find was that its wartime weapons fit was very different to whats in the box (see Wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Vampire_%28D68%29 ). This I found a little odd as Tamiya generally do their homework in this area, and the kit was produced to complement the Battle of Malaya collection.
Sourcing any necesary bits from WEM should be easy, providing they get restock of some sold out items ( I'm still wating 6+ months for 1 pack of SeaCat missiles!) So my question is, where would all this extra gear go? Any plans, photo's or even written descriptions would be very helpful!
Cheers
Ste

Stephen I hope this will help you.....Cheers Mark

http://www.google.com.au/imgres?start=150&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1280&bih=823&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=AlK-P0i0c3eGrM:&imgrefurl=http://z11.invisionfree.com/shipbucket/ar/t988.htm&docid=OT8iIYqN9gFmkM&imgurl=http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/dougiemoody/Work%252520In%252520Progress/WIPHMASVendetta.gif&w=1000&h=385&ei=96F2UOigF4yTiQf5_oFI&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=595&vpy=179&dur=10704&hovh=139&hovw=362&tx=96&ty=163&sig=110717201314890679117&page=7&tbnh=76&tbnw=198&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:23,s:150,i:247

Thanks, thats been a big help!
Looking at the profile for Vampire I should be able to adapt the kit parts and use a spare twin 2pdr AA from my spares to make a reasonable representation of Vampire as she looked around the time of the Battle of Malaya. Plus the disruptive cammo looks so much better than Tamiya's suggested all over light grey. I do plan on doing a build log for it, so no doubt I will get more input. Its a real shame there aren't as many photos available to work from, but they had much more important things to do at the time!
So thanks again.

A bit more web searching has turned up this photo. Supposedly taken during the Vampire's deployment in the Far East. My question is what are the two guns circled? Are these the 2-pounder AA guns that were supposed to have been fitted or something bigger?

Stephen,
There was never a twin 2pdr pom-pom gun, onle single, quad(4) and octuple(8) mounts.
The only twin light AA used by RN and Commonwealth Navies (bigger than rifle caliber) in the WW2 era were 20mm Oerlikon cannon and 40mm Bofors.
What your seeing in your posted pic are probably single 2pdr pom-pom guns mounted port and starboard.

Just checked my M J Whitley Destroyer Encyclopedia and it confirms what I thought.
Tom

Cheers Tom.
Yeah I was questioning the twin-2pdr since that post in october of last year. That was based on someone mentioning it on another forum but I haven't been able to back it up with further looking.
Luckily white ensign models stocks Niko's resin single 2pdr's so I'm sorted for those. Just got to wait for next payday to get an order in as I need a few other bits for other projects. What we're talking about is this gun isn't it?

Back to the Vampire, it looks to me like that the raised platform was mounted on what was originally the searchlight platform between the torpedo tubes (this then being moved between the funnels). What isn't clear is if the aft set of torp's was kept or removed and if the 4inch AA gun behind the aft funnel was kept. I would have thought it would have stayed, or re-positioned.
Would you recommend that book? There's a couple of copies on evilbay I'm watching.
Stephen

Stephen,
Yes I would recommend that book. I also have the cruiser encyclopedia, the German Capital Ship book The big boys), German Destroyers (inc. torpedo boats), German coastal forces (A great book, E-boats minesweepers mini-subs)and fraquently open them just for a quick read.
Back to Vampire:
That's the gun in question allright.
armament was 4, 4" (4x1)in A,B,X and Y positions; 2, 2pdr pom-pom (2x1)in place of after TT; 12, .5" mg (3x4) one in each bridge wing and 1 aft of second funnel)
No 4" is mentioned, the RAN ships got a 12pdr AA (3"). It usually replaced the after TT but Vampire got the 2pdrs instead.
Here's a link to some websites I find very useful:

http://www.navweaps.com/

http://www.world-war.co.uk/

If I can help with anything else just post/send message.

Happy modeling

Tom

I've just ordered myself that book. Hopefully it will come in useful for other projects.
Cheers for the help and I'll check out those websites too.

Hello Stephen, et all,

Further progress on your Vampire build? Didn't find it on your photo album, so it's still on the build bench?

Vampire is new to my wish list, and shall order it soon. Hoping to build it straight-out-of-the-box. Reading this thread, that may result in some inaccuracies?

Building a "Fhantom Flotilla" here. Destroyers from all nations lost in action during WWII. Vampire seems a good candidate from HMAS.

Cheers.

Hi Arnie,
Unfortunately it is yet to leave the box let alone my workbench! I'm waiting on some resin 2pdr guns to arrive from White Ensign Models. Once I get them, I can work out the size of the platform. Only been a couple of months now. I'm hoping I get them soon as I have another ship that needs a pair.
From what I can gather the Tamiya kit represents the ship in its inter-war fit and likely the same as it was in WW1! The base kit is pretty good and lends itself to a lot of possibilities. Tamiya would be onto a real winner if they tooled other versions like the Wair-class AA destroyers and the Atlantic escort versions.
You'll have to post plenty of pics of your builds, always interested in seeing what everyone else has on the bench.
Stephen

Hello Stephen,
Not even out of the box? I well appreciate how that goes. Began an IJN DD build, but suspended it in favor of constructing a slipway to display my partially completes. That way they're on display, even as partials. See how easily I'm diverted?

Then along comes Vampire to add to the melee. My thought was to build her out-of-the-box as she went down in action. Possibly not doable now. Here is another image of the Vamp - one you may already have. Very obviously the searchlight has been displaced by the twin gun tubs you talked to above. Too bad. I'm becoming a searchlight freak, and having Vampires' so prominent in the build really got my attention.

Looking forward to seeing images of your Vampire when you get the battle upgrades done. Cheers, Arnie.