The Ship Model Forum

As far as I know only the Tamiya and Academy. They are the same kit, but reboxed/sprued. Both not really good.

Ciao all,

I think it is mandatory to know what is available out there, so modelers will not throw away their money, especially if they are going to buy Photo Etched kits which are expensive as well.

The worst kit is Miny-Hobby,.. out of that kit is the really poor version, the hull is vary bad,.. pieces quality very bad,..I have received one Tirpitz kit as a gift,...it is still on his box,..every time I open it,... I close it again .

Second comes the Academy,.. better,..but still a lot inferior to Tamiya as quality, there are also dimensional differences,.. that you will realize using the photo etched parts you will need to adjust quite a lot,... especially the decks,.. the bow is not as sharp and beautiful as the Tamiya latest version kit.

Top quality in molding and quality and the best looking is the Tamiya of course,.. perfect for every photo etched kit,.. as they are all done on this kit dimensions, ... so it is the best and the most easy to work with,... the price difference will be nothing when you will realize how much you need to work on the others to reach this base quality results,.. the bow is superb they surely worked well on the mold.

So make the right evaluations before spending your money .......

Ciao Antonio

One more detail on the builder's model that was not with Bismarck: The rangefinders ("ears") of main turret #1 were not present on Bismarck or Tirpitz (removed after Bismarck's sea trials and never installed on Tirpitz).

Rumor has it that Trumpeter is going to scale up their very nice 1/700 Bismark and Tirpitz kits to 1/350.

Hopefully they get the 105mm AA armament correct if they do. As Jorit pointed out when these kits were released, the 1/700 weapons sprues for these kits have the correct number of 105mm SK-C/37 and 105mm SK-C/33 guns (4 each) for Bismark only. That leaves you four short of the required number of 105mm SK-C/37 guns for Tirpitz.

Whenever I get around to building my Trumpeter 1/700 Tirpitz, I'm going to do her circa July 1942, during Operation Rösselsprung. My grandiose plan is to put her in a dio with an HP Hipper, HP Hans Lody and an HP T-19 torpedo boat (which will be built as T-15, which took part in the operation). I have all the kits, I just have to find the (elusive) time...

First, I have to figure out how to get the correct number of SK-C/37 105mm for Tirpitz. I could always buy a 2nd Trumpy Tirpitz, pilfer the guns and then let me 6 year old build it. He won't know the difference!

_________________
Martin

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." John Wayne

Ship Model Gallery

Is it true that the small cross-shaped mast located atop the aft gun director remained in a fixed position even as the director itself rotated? I've seen several models showing this while the gun director was trained to the side.

I think that if that mast was to move it would pull all the antenna lines along with it. I'm no expert on radio wave but whenever I move my little FM antenna line I loose the signal.

Hope this helps a bit!

Cheers

_________________
Ventis Secundis

There are minor errors in the instructions of the Trumpeter/ Pit Road Bismarck kit. Though minor, these cannot be ignored:

This part applies only to those who wish to build a full hull model, waterline modellers can ignore this part.

The error comes with the propeller placement: It calls for the placement of two clockwise rotating props (G23), and one counter-clockwise rotating prop (G24). This is wrong. There should be two counter-clockwise props (G24 center and port), and only one clockwise prop (G23 starboard).

Afterwards to make the model more accurate, you guys should also apply an angle to the rudders, they should not point straight down when viewed from behind. Check out reference photos or drawings for the proper angles required (be careful or you might break the delicate connections).

Ciao all,

May 27th, 1941, ..... the battleship Bismarck sinks, .. her myth begins.

Blood and Iron ... the Iron Chancellor Bismarck tradition.

R.I.P. brave crew.

Ciao Antonio

what is the best place to get some decent plans for Tirpitz ?

White Ensign Models sells this set: Tirpitz Plan Roll, for £27.50

_________________
Martin

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." John Wayne

Ship Model Gallery

ok next question

Does anyone know if there are any images of the anti-sub/torp nets that were protecting the Tirpitz at the time of the x-craft attack? Or does anyone know what the nets looked like ie were they the squares as depicted in the film (which look like the ones used by the allies), or were they the circular chain mail like ones I have seen pictures of?

Rob

Ciao all.

Circular is the answer for Tirpitz netz , not squared.


...forget films and movies,..only full of mistakes,..very often.. poor quality jobs,...rookies


Ciao Antonio

The best plans are probably the Hans Gally planset, near impossible to find. But, offering a far superior bang for buck and of excellent quality are the drawings included with the polish AJ press books on Bismarck and Tirpitz.

Ciao all

I fully agree with EJ Foeth ......

Mr Hans Gally drawings and you cannot find so far anything better,..everybody else just copy from those,..with different capabilities to understand sometimes,...

Try here :

http://www.kbismarck.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=484

and follow thru,...


..if you need any help on my LOVELY QUEEN, .. just ask me,.. and I will help you, .. as Tirpitz is my favourite ship....


Ciao Antonio

Some says a good source of plans for BISMARCK is Nick Fox, Australia...... see some references.....

http://wmunderway.8m.com/gallery43/gallery43.htm

http://www.foxcad.com.au/Drawings/Bismarck.htm


Nice regards: Jimmy

That's mainly a just copy of the Gally Planset.

i am looking for a web site that has a good drawing of the rigging on bismarck. i also would like to know where the ship's bell is located. please help, thanks!

I don't know about the rigging but the ship's bell was located on the funnel ( the portion facing aft of the ship). There is a small square platform higher than the Signal lamp platform on the funnel. If my memory serves right, the platform is centered on the funnel.

Hope this helps a bit!

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Ventis Secundis

I've looked but can not find a picture where I can tell what the differences are. Anyone have a picture or link of the 2 side by side so I can understand the differences in the deck layouts and the armament are?

Do the 1/700 Trumpy Bismark & Tirpitz show these differences or are they the same ship w/ different markings?

TIA,
Jeff


EDIT-TO-ADD
Ukay I've learned more since the beginning of my post. I understand the differences fo the 2 ships but do the Trumpy 1/700 ships depict these differences or is it the same kit claiming to be each ship???

The twin 4.1 AA guns, are there a total of 8 identical turrets on these kits or are they 4 of the older & 4 of the newer?

Bismarck review

Tirpitz review

from the second review it sounds and looks like the Bismarck in a Tirptiz box

_________________
-Abram
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