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Can anyone assist, been to the model boat show at Blackpool today, bought a hull and plan for what I thought could be an interesting build, only problem is when I googled the boat.....no feedback, the hull/plan and some superstructure is of a : M.P.C. 85 freelance general purpose corvette built by Vosper, if any help I can post a photo of the hull and superstructure.
Hi Peter, I worked on some Vosper Thornycroft (later BAE Marine Systems) corvette projects in the 90's; Nakhoda Ragam-class corvettes for Brunei (eventually bought by Indonesia after a dispute between VT and Brunei), Qahir class and Khareef class for Oman. Please post the hull and super photos, plus the drawing ID box on the plan, and I might be able to identify your hull! MPC stands for Multi Purpose Corvette. Cheers, Doug 😎
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 Cheers Doug
Sorry Peter, don't recognise that 🤔 Nothing I ever clambered about on. Seems to be an older design than those that I worked on. i suspect that it was not exactly a commercial success.
Actually I was hoping for full profile and plan pics for identification, but at least the 'Atlantic bow' is bit of a give away of the age of the design. Doug 😎
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 Cheers Doug
Hi Doug, will try and photograph a better set of pics of the profile and plans, hope this hull is not a fictitious idea of someone, seems strange no mention of it anywhere.
Hi John, already did that on all the Vosper, Vosper Thornycroft, BAE Systems Surface Ships etc etc sites. Nix! I suspect it may have been a design offered for an Request To Tender but not accepted and never built. Nevertheless, have a go and see if you find something I overlooked👍 MPC 85 means; Multi Purpose Corvette 85m. Cheers, Doug 😎 PS also worked on the VT Mk10 Frigates also shown in your link, the Niteroi Class for Brazil. Niteroi is the name of the town on the other side of the bay from Rio. At the other end of the bridge connecting the two towns is the Brazilian Navy submarine base where I also worked on some Tupi class submarines, German Type 209s. Good times 😉 PPS I'm still suspicious of that curious stern! Never seen anything like that afloat!!
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 Cheers Doug
Cheers Doug Yep I Knew what it meant. You've probably covered what I've added but could be useful if not. Your suspicion re the Request To Tender design would seem reasonable and is very likely correct. It's😎 certainly an odd looking hull. I wonder if the university where they did testing know anything. Was it Leicester? Regards John.
Here again Doug, hopefully with better pics. Could not get full photo length of hull, so two shots with the black cable as a center point, hope that makes sense?😁 There are two photo's showing the F/G foward s/structure and the upper s/structure, which looks like a funnel? Very hard to believe anyone would go to such trouble making a F/G hull and parts for a ship that was never launched. But it's possible😆
Thanks Peter, 👍 I think we're closing in on it. I can see a distinct 'heritage' in the hull shape from the Vosper MK5s built for Iran, except for that peculiar hull slope down!!😲 Could be a later derivative with the heli deck and hangar added on the stern. The MK5 was also further developed into the RN Type 21 frigate.
The guy who made the hull didn't seem to follow the plan too carefully did he! Pic 3 looks like the forward superstructure with bridge and missile platform, forward Sea Dart probably. Pic 4 looks roughly like the aft superstructure and mast/stack base. I'm still digging, more later. Cheers, Doug 😎
Attached Files - Click To View Large
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 Cheers Doug
Hi When you research vosper thornycroft they built many warships for foreign navies, mainly in the Middle East i.e. Oman Malaya etc. if you ok on e bay under vosper you will see photographs of these vessels. It. Islikely that your model is authentic and was built for a foreign, likely middle eastern navy.
20th Oct 2018 22:45
