Damon,
As Doug has said, if you reach out, someone will reach back. So... like Doug and others, I am a ways away . but more than willing to help where I can. The more information, and the more specific you can be, will make helping you that much more easier.
In a related vein, depending upon which Lion you are building, there have been serveral beautiful builds done and posted on another British site. I am not sure if it is appropriate for me to link it here, so I'll wait to get clearance before I do so.
Please don't hesitate to ask questions.
Jonathan

Hi Damon,
This site is amazing. I refuse to use social media.
This site and the individuals participating is such a positive experience I have become quite addicted😁😁😁
Trev

Hallo Damon,
A heart wrenching story. Very sorry to hear that you lost your good friend Bill as well.
This situation reminds me very much of the Car SOS TV series where Tim and Fuzz, and their crew, help people who, through no fault of their own, are no longer able to fulfil their dream of restoring their classic cars. So consider us as 'Model Ship SOS' 👍
I'm sure that there are many members of this Forum who would be only too happy to help you. Especially fellow WW2 warship addicts like Scratchbuilder (Bill) and myself. If only we did not live so far from London. I am in Munich🤔
I hope that some of our members in and around London are able to respond.
I agree with Rick; try to find a Model Boat Club near you whose members can stand by you 'on site' so to speak.

Even so; YOU ARE NOT ALONE, YOU ARE NOW OUR CREWMATE😀 WELCOME ABOARD👍
maybe some of us can still help remotely😉 with advice, tips and tricks from our own experience and models?
Some of us with drawing programs on our PCs may be able to help with scaling the plans for instance. So question 1:-
Are the plans you have on paper or as computer files?
If PC files Ron (in Canada) or myself may be able to help scaling the plans for you, if you can post them here as pdf or other image files.
If only on paper (or even as files on a memory stick) your best bet is to take them to a Print Shop (must be several in London) and get them to scale and print them for you. Get 2 or 3 sets printed so that you always have one Master Plan for reference and one or two for use as templates and making notes on etc.
Question 2:- Which HMS Lion are you building?
Assuming the 'modern era' (20th century) is it the Lion Class Battlecruiser from 1910, see pics 1&2 from the right, or the post war modified Tiger class Light cruiser C34? Pic 3.
Once we know that and the EXACT length of your hull we can work out the scale you need for your plans.😉 Then we can get started😀
Wishing you all the best and 🤞 for your project.
Cheers, Doug 😎
PS we would love to see some photos of the hull and any other parts of the ship already built.

Thank you so much for your encouragement, still today I am surprised at how selfish people can be when they're doing the usual day to day life so that you begin to feel so alone, but then once you entered a group of peeps with similar interests, but obviously vary varied skill levels... we may never have met one another but the support is so obvious it actually removes the fear and isolation of the so-called, 'normal' I hope that my

Damon, it's good that you want to do this in his memory, and I'm sure that it will also help you.
There are a few members on here from your area, and I'm sure you will get the help you need.
Carry on shipmate, cheers Colin.

Good for you to want to carry on with the build. Suggest you look if there is a model boat club near you. Contact them. Maybe if you can meet with them. Most builders would love to help or know someone who can help.
Rick