Ahoy mates. Please take the time to give a big Model Shipwrights welcome to a new vendor, Imperial Hobby Productions. Manufacturer of fine resin and metal kits, Imperial Hobby Productions latest release is the 1/700 French Jeanne D'Arc 1964 Helicopter Carrier . This Apprentice Series 1/700 resin kit is now available at $65.00 plus shipping. As a bit of trivia on this unique ship is that the Jeanne d'Arc was built as La Résolue, as her predecessor, the Jeanne d'Arc, was still in service. She was renamed Jeanne d'Arc in 1964.

The Jeanne d'Arc (R97) is a helicopter cruiser of the French Navy. She is the third vessel of the French Navy named after Joan of Arc ("Jeanne d'Arc", in French), a national heroine of France and saint of the Catholic Church who repelled the English invasion during the Hundred Years' War.
In peace time, the Jeanne d'Arc is used for teaching and training purposes; however, in case of emergency or crisis, she was to become a fully capable helicopter cruiser. This idea is now dropped because of the increasing size and weight of helicopters.

The ship is to be decommissionned before 2011.
In peace time, Jeanne d'Arc is a teaching and training vessel for the naval officers' application academy, and at the same time possesses an aerial group of 2 Aérospatiale Puma helicopters and 2 Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopters of the light aviation of the French Army, as well as two helicopters Alouette III of naval aviation.
Jeanne d'Arc is to go on combat missions, either in anti-submarine warfare with 8 WG 13 Lynx helicopters, either in external missions by carrying Puma or Gazelle helicopters from the light aviation of the French Army. Initially, she was also able to carry landing troops and Sikorsky or Super Frelon helicopters.

Jeanne d'Arc can carry about 10 light or heavy helicopters. She can simultaneously handle the take-off and landing of 3 helicopters.