This is my model of the INS Vikramaditya made from what was originally the Trumpeter 1/550 Kiev aviation cruiser. The Indian Navy is the latest protégé of the Royal Navy [RN] that is making a world class reputation for itself and India is the only nation on earth that has an ocean named after it. India received the ex-Soviet Aviation Cruiser Admiral Gorshkov for free and only has to pay for the cost of a complete refit/overhaul. Not a bad deal when you think of it. The vessel is to be named INS Vikramaditya, after a famous king from the Gupta Dynasty. The model was easy and fun to build. The island was almost made to be cut down to the right size for the vessel. The deck was harder but I just cut down everything in the way, then laid down three layers of sheet styrene cut to the right outline for the vessel. I then propped up the forward ski-jump to 15º with some spare parts and then filled in the gaps with paper clay. I made the phased array radar and other protrusions from the parts supplied with the kit and pieces from the spare parts box. Definitely when she comes in to service she will be a fine ship and I hope Trumpeter, Heller or someone comes out with a proper kit of INS Vikramaditya preferably in 1/350-550 scale.

Model created by Kieran Griffith - Images © Kieran Griffith

Special Thanks to Timothy Dike - Model Warships.Com