Australia: Task Force 72 on Display

While there were dozens of large warships in and around Garden Island during the International Fleet Review (IFR), there was also a sizable fleet of 1:72 scale models on display.

Jim Warren from Adelaide, who served in the Navy from 1967-87, had his model of the Daring-class destroyer HMAS Vampire on display.

Mr Warren, the state representative for Task Force 72, so named because of the scale of its ships, said the association’s display tent was very well attended by IFR visitors.

“We have about 160 members nationally with some being ex-Navy but quite a few civvies also,” he said.

“They come from Sydney, Melbourne, Wagga, Western Australia, all over Australia actually.”

It took Mr Warren three years to complete his Vampire model.

“They’re all scratch-built, there are no kits used,” he said.

“They are basically an exact replica of the actual vessel. And what often blows people away is they are all fully-operational radio controlled models.”

The association’s motto is, “He who dies with the most toys, wins”.

[mappress]
Press Release, October 15, 2013; Image: Australian Navy