1/64 Scale Onboard Model of Hood
Hood is known to have carried a large (@18 feet in length) model of herself for most of her service. The model was housed on the Main Deck in a lobby immediately abaft "Y" turret barbette. It was one of two known onboard models, the other being a smaller (@8 foot) training model housed on the Forecastle deck officer's lobby abaft the main mast. The largest model was put ashore sometime between her 1929-1931 refit and the start of World War Two. It is known to have survived the war and to have been placed in a drill shed of the Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport. Its subsequent fate is currently unknown. Many thanks to Mary Mckeown for providing this photo which was originally published in the Morning News, Wednesday, April 7, 1948.
1/64 Scale So-Called "Builder's Model" of Hood (1938)
This model was created by renowned model makers Bassett-Lowke Ltd. for John Brown & Company shipyards. The exact date it was built is currently in question: some feel that it is the true/original pre 1920 "builders model" that was consulted during the building of the actual ship. Other, more compelling, evidence would indicate that its actually a 1938 build; John Brown & Company is known to have commissioned Basset-Lowke to build a 1/64 scale (3/16"= 1') model of Hood for the Empire Exhibition that year. In our opinion, this model looks very much like the 1938 exhibition model.
Regardless of its actual age, it was built by professional model builders using official plans for Hood's real shipyard. The only model that had a better pedigree than that was the one carried aboard the ship herself (mentioned earlier on this page). Although this is a very accurate model, it should be noted that it depicts the ship as originally approved, not as actually completed. It does not reflect all of the numerous changes which occurred during construction. For example, the forward shelter deck of the model has a planked deck...the actual ship had corticene decks in that area. The model incorrectly features a red bottom whereas the actual ship had a grey bottom. Nevertheless, it is a wonderfully detailed miniature of our ship in its earliest days.
This large and most detailed of Hood miniatures is currently housed in the Museum of Transport in Glasgow, Scotland. As you can see from these photos (taken between 2000 and 2011), it is in very good shape considering it was then over 60 years old! The colour photos are courtesy of Ian Johnston, Bob Adams and John Davis. The black & white photos are courtesy of Paul Harrison & the Museum of Transport. The photos of the model under construction are courtesy of Bryan Cox and Jon Griffin.
1/382 Hood at The Box, Plymouth
This superbly detailed miniature of Hood was built in 1927 by renowned model maker Norman Ough. This is one of two confirmed models of Hood built by Mr Ough. It's a full hull model depicting the ship as she appeared in the mid 1920s (following her famous "Empire Cruise" but before her 1929-1931 refit).
Note the colours used by Mr Ough: he depicts the ship with a black bottom and brown/tan decks (most models have these features wrong/reversed). Black is indeed one of the two colours Hood may have used on her underside during her career (she was never red below the waterline). This model is currently housed/on display at The Box, a museum in Plymouth. If anyone visits the museum, we'd love to see some additional close-ups of this particular model (below waterline as well as the superstructure features).
1/100 Hood at Explosion! Museum, Gosport
This approximately 1/100 scale miniature of Hood is housed in the Gunnery gallery of the excellent Explosion! Museum of Naval Firepower located in the former Priddy's Hard, Gosport. The model is believed to have been scratch-built sometime in the late 1970s. The model does suffer from some detail issues (its superb in some areas and very basic in others and the paint scheme is also not quite right...the grey is too light and the bottom is red instead of grey), but most of the issues are likely due to the fact that plans from the 1970s and 1980s were lacking various details (information which was not discovered until the 2000s). Despite this, the model is an impressive and inspiring rendition of Hood as sunk. You can read another review of this model in the April 2016 edition of Scuttlebutt Magazine (page 63).
1/350 Hood by Silent Thunder Models
This beautiful miniature of Hood was hand-made for William Thomas (who provided these photos) by Silent Thunder Models. It is made of hand-carved mahogany and depicts Hood circa 1932. The red bottom is not correct, but this model was built before the colour was confirmed to have been grey.
Imperial War Museum's 1/192 Scale Model of Hood
This large (55" long) waterline model of Hood is located in the Imperial War Museum in London, UK. It was reportedly made by RWN Harris. It appears to be a representation of Hood as she appeared circa 1933. Its quite accurate, though some of the paint colours are somewhat suspect. Click here to learn more.
Fine Art Models 1/192 Scale Hood
This is a museum quality model of Hood as she appeared in 1931. The first production models reached customers in May 2003. It is without doubt, the most amazing and accurate miniature of Hood as in 1931 yet produced (although we now know Hood actually had a grey bottom rather than red). You can learn more about it by clicking on the image above.
Granville Island Model Ships Museum's Model of Hood
This impressive 13 foot/700 pound miniature is the centrepiece of the now closed Granville Island Model Ships Museum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is a highly detailed representation of the ship circa 1933. The red bottom is not correct, but this model was built before the colour was confirmed to have been grey. This beautiful giant was built by Rodney Henriksen over the course of 20 years. Though largely complete, Rodney was known to periodically add additional details from time to time. We have no word on its current status following the closure of the museum.