The Ship Model Forum

Hello! I am new to this forum and am in need of a few opinions I have been building the 1:200 scale Aeronaut Bismarck since 2008 and am 99 % finished. I need to find..
1> Is there crewmen available in any form close to 1:200 scale?

2> What fabric can I use to create the cowlings over the rifles to cover the openings to the gunhouse

I have around 45 pics that I can from beginning to present that I will share when this healthy obsession is brought to a close.

Thanks much!

Philip Baney

1. Try looking at model railroad hobby materials on-line dealers. HO/00 = 1:87.086. UK in particular N gauge refers to a 1:148
Z scale (1:220) is one of the smallest commercially available model railway scales. So, it would seem that N-scale figures are your best bet.

2. I would think a fine weave fabric with some body. cotton from an old dress shirt might work. You could either saturate with a wood glue, form the blast bags in place and paint when dry. or do them without the glue. Painting them without the glue would still stiffen them. By the way, we usually refer to them as "blast bags" or "bloomers"

If the gun mounts are not attached yet, you could also use some of the other methods shown in this forum, but I'm thinking that at 1/200 you might be looking for a more fabric look. but to get an idea, use the search button at the top right of the page and search the terms I quoted. You will find many, many hits

Russ

Preiser makes 1/200 figures, or if you do an ebay serch for 1/200 figures, huge lots of assorted civilian fiigures come up for pretty cheap. Form what I have heard (going to try it on my yamato when i am finished) they are easy to make look like sailors by just repainting them.

If you do not need to be able to move the gun barrels, I would suggest children's air -dry modeling clay for the blast bags, I used it for my 1/200 yamato and I think it looks great. it is really easy and forgiving if you mess up.

_________________
Enlisted men are stupid, but very cunning and deceitful and bear considerable watching." - Marine Corps Officers Manual, 1894

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