Richard Gardner is the first
of our Cygnets Model Boat Club members to be featured in our new
“Members Gallery“section. Richard has been model boating for around ten
years, and can certainly produce boats to the highest standard. To
help put his boat into context, if this were a car show; we would
find Richard in the concourse section.
Richard was inspired to produce this working model of HMS King
George V because of his interest in the King George V’s during
WW2.
It was pleasing to catch up with Richard at the Mote on the day in
question, as this was his maiden voyage, so there were fingers
crossed! At a little over 48” long, she took to the water well,
with no hiccups. As you look at the pictures of Richards’s
handiwork, bear in mind that all three turrets work, and at scale
speed. (These were purchased from Midway Models of Lancaster along
with the hull) The craft is propelled by 4x MFA Torpedo 400’s as
shown in the third photograph.
When asked what the all up cost was likely to have been, Richard
could tell us to the nearest penny, but thought broadcasting this to
Mrs Gardner might not be the best idea. I managed to convince him
that it would be great for all to know, and that we will help him
keep the Cygnets web site a secret at home. £920 was the answer!
And that’s without labour costs.
The original KING GEORGE V Class
battleship was ordered on 29th July 1936 under 1936 build programme
from Vickers Armstrong shipyard at Newcastle and laid down on 1st January 1937. She was launched on 21st February
1939 as the second major RN ship to carry this name, previously
carried by a 1911 battleship sold in 1926. Six minor warships had
been named KING GEORGE one being a trawler hired during WW1. Build
was completed on 11th December 1941. Following a successful WARSHIP
WEEK National Savings campaign in November 1941 this ship was
adopted by the civil community of the city of Birmingham.
HMS KING GEORGE V remained in the
Far East as part of the Pacific Fleet after the surrender. During the
immediate post war period the ship was deployed in support of the
allied forces in
Japan
and visited Melbourne for an R&R period in late 1945. She took passage to
UK from Hobart in January 1946 with a call at Cape Town the next month. After
arrival at Portsmouth on 6th March she became Flagship of the Home Fleet until 1950 when
placed in Reserve. Laid up in the Gareloch she was never
re-commissioned and was placed on the Disposal List in 1957. Sold to
BISCO for demolition by Arnott Young she was towed to Dalmuir on the
Clyde to be de-equipped on 20th January 1958. Demolition was completed at
Troon where she arrived during May 1959.
Thanks to Matt Mock
for the great write up and photographs.
