DKM Bl�cher 1940, 1:350 Trumpeter/scratch

[Stein Gildberg]

The whole area around the Main Mast needs to be adressed: There are two large deck houses in Bl�cher not present in Hipper. A lot of detail such as antennas, triangular reinforcement at the mast, a signal lamp, direction/course indicator night etc.
But the most isible and largest change is the signal platform. At this stage, I had already finished this platform in the "Hipper form", so it was nerve-racking to break it appart - but I succeeded without destroying anything important....

So a whole new / altered platform was made of plastic sheets and surplus wooden deck etc with one of the two "Bl�cher-specific" Deck Houses on top. All in all, a much larger signaling platform compared to the Hipper.

[mermaid]

very engaging!
I looked up your other builds. All are very moody and elegant builds, especially Sharnhorst. Bismark is also very elegant. I wish you would post similar reports on those builds too. You mentioned somewhere you did a number of improvements in each case.

[Michael Riddell]

Nice work!

It's good to see the Blucher get some attention.

Mike.

[Stein Gildberg]

Thanks!

Yes, I document all my "projects" and all changes, but it will be too comprehensive to show them all here.
If you intend to build any of these ships, Mermaid, I advice you to do your own studies, and where picture and original documentation is not available to you, use mine - and other models - as a reference. But take care: All model - builders have to make decisions that may prove to be wrong when studied by other modellers that have better ref material and/or knowledge.

Don't be too stressed by this statement, and don't make this more complicated than you need and want yourself.
After all, modelling is not a contest, but for most of us a hobby we want to enjoy!


Well, some more pictures:
- The smokestack has to undergo mods just like the rest of the ship: There is different layout of platform intallations, steampipes, bridge to Admirals bridge and antenna ducting. In the photo you can see two ventilators each side. I spotted this error in time and were able to correct it before final assenbly. There should be only one, the rear one! So cut the foreward one away! The other ventilators (2) in Bl�cher are attached to the main superstructure not to the smoke-stack.
(90 degrees turned backward compared to the aft pair)

- The fortop is almost ready with it's radar FUMO 22 and rangefinder. Final painting of met installations and lanterns not done yet.

- The Arado is finished. Not correct marking for Bl�cher - sourced from a Tirpitz model...

- And finally: The cranes are installed. Quite a lot of work to produce a realistic crane! The plastic is quite rough, and the PE is 2D only, so I had to use the parts bin and make some bit and pieces of my own.
Tha Arado is in place, the changed platforms underneath it and deck houses can clearly be seen. The small ships boat in its "davits", and the ventiilator on the side of the aft superstructure (PE-leftovers) +++.

[Stein Gildberg]

And the last one....

[mermaid]

What a wonderful read!
When I build a model I usually do have a plan and photographs to compare with the model instructions. To compare the steps with some published report is also engaging, especially if I like the published end result.
But currently I am lasily building an IJN model. So in this case I just liked to follow the report simply for amusement.
It was a great read - almost like a detective story. I am voting for the chapter II - Sharnhorst!

[Stein Gildberg]

Well, Bl�cher is almost finished.

- The bow is finished, complete with anchor chains, flagpost and platforms.

- The foreward part of the ship is also finished. Observe the rubber mats/ rubber rings positioned around Turret A (and D). These were there to protect the teak deck from empty, spent cases disposed from the 203mm-turrets.
It was a challenge more then expacted to find suitable material for this, and shape it to correct shape. In the end, I ended up using stretched sprue fastened by small drops of superglue to form it into semicircles.
Also, paravanes (parts bin) and cannisters for claening rods for the main guns (scratch) are in position. Such cannisters were included in Trumperes Prinz Eugen set, but not in this set. I have absolutely no idea why...


- At the rear end you can see the gangway. The support for this was later excanged for a better looking version (from Dragon Scharnhorst), and the small 20mm gun on its platform.
Also note the Kriegsmarine ensign in the small, rear mast om top of the rear rangefinder (B/Wh-photo).

[Stein Gildberg]

Last thing before the ship is finished is rigging. And as always I use stretched sprue - stretched to different thickness and compared to metal tread of known thickness for comparison.
A light coat of color will make the rigging more realistic: Light tan for flag lines, anthracite for antennas and grey for other rigging.

More picture of the finished Bl�cher will be posted in the Gallery:
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

[Dan K]

Just absolutely great.

[Elbe1]

Hi Stein, you have my full respect - outstanding finish.
Which documents have you used for the changes of the hull?

cheers, Daniel

[Stein Gildberg]

Daniel:

Changes to the bow: original drawings, 1:100, scaled down to 1:350

Additional armour: pictures from div books, incl �stby: Blucher. (Text in Eng, Ger and Norwegian). The armour plates are also described in the book as well as in various websites. Actually, you will see the plates clearly in any photo of Hipper/Blucher at the shipyard/ being launched

[JIM BAUMANN]

Very fine work!


Good methodology and a sharp result!

Jim Baumann

[Dan Banks]

Your model is really stunning, I will have to attempt this. A couple of questions, I just got the new German Camo book in the mail yesterday from John Assmusen and Eric Leon. It is a must for KM fans and modelers. The section on Blucher shows her B and C turrets with three each small boxes on the turret tops between the rangefinder hoods. Does any of your information show this? Also I am trying to compile a list of the extra's you used. I have the Lion Roar and WEM etch sets, also Veteren Models KM detail parts. What thickness plastic sheet did you use for the additional plating at the bow and some plastic and metal rod and tube sizes for masts, stauntions, etc?
Thanks Dan Banks

[Olaf Held]

Three boxes? Hmmm ... I don't have enough Bl�cher photos, but I can spot two or four, depending on the angle of view. At least one onboard-photo in �stby's book shows four on turret B ...

It could be that these were containers for stowing extra life-saving equipment? I bet Stein can answer this question better than I can.

Happy modelling ~ Olaf!

[Dan Banks]

Sorry: I rechecked the picture and there are six boxes on B & C turrets. Four across the turret with one on each range finder hood and two between them. There are two more as you move towards the guns, on the flat, right before it slopes down to the guns. Looked thru what I could find on Blucher and couldn't find any photo's of this, but Mr. Leon is usually very perceptive about these details.

[Stein Gildberg]

Dan:
You are absolutely right regarding the six "boxes". They are, I have read - and belive- rafts.

In Mr �stbys book, they are quite clarly shown in several photos in the time before April 9th, although not all six at the same time as the photos are taken from below.
The rafts are also drawn in the color illustrations of Bl�cher in the same book.

But NO RAFTS in the "final" photo dated April 8th (the one were the turrets are being painted). May be the rafts were taken down as the painting was carried out?Were they ever put back in place? I don't know...
Repositioned to more suitable locations? (just guessing).

Mr Alf R Jacobsen in his book "Krysseren Bl�cher" states that Bl�cher were given 10 (not 12) rafts and lots of life wests (still not enough by far) before Weser�bung. No position of the rafts is given.

My conclusion:
The "boxes" are most likely rafts. 6 each on B and C-turret. 4 in line across the turrrets from side to side where tha rangefinder boxes are, the other 2 in front of these.
So you can "safely" position rafts up there! I have a lot of surplus Trumperet rafts in my "parts-bin". I tried to put them up there, found them to be a bit "untidy", so I decided NOT to include them in my "9th April Bl�cher".

To mark the presece of rafts however, I positioned 4 rafts rear of the Signals Platform, a quite likely place for rafts - I think...
The space used to be occupied by small boat(s), later repositioned to new position in special davit - as in my model (and also a nice place for covering the fixing of the wooden deck needed to be carried out as a result of the mods of the Signals Platform itself ).

Boxes for Lifessaving Equipment/Wests: I have (in accordance with photos) positioned 2 such boxes each side, close to the rearmost 20mm AA-guns. Photo show them to be of a different shape to the ones on the turrets,- and probably same boxes as you will find in Dragons Scharnhorst 1943.

Life-Wests in Bl�cher: According to Mr Jacobsen, these were tied to the railing on both sides of the ships rear superstructure. These, he writes, fell "victim" to the fire that broke loose after the shelling from the shore batteries.
I have not seen any picture proving any of this, but have no indication to prove it wrong either.

Yes: One more thing: Plastic sheets: As thin as possible... ( I used 0.1 mm, but surely you can go up a bit if 0.1 is not available to you).
I always try to remember that everything must be multiplied by 350 => 0.1 mm give as thickness of 3,5 cm - which probably is at least twice the actual thichness of these plates....

Stein

[Olaf Held]

If you want it thinner, try paper infused with superglue... works fine too for additional bulwarks and splinter shields...

Happy modelling ~ Olaf!

[Stein Gildberg]

Agreed Olaf - good idea!
Especially for those of you that build in the 1:700-scale and need real thin material.

I have some times used painted, thin paper for the same purpose as you mentioned. The disadvantage with this is that you need to take caution not to "crunch" or bend the paper later on.
Soaked with superglue - I need to try it out!

For canvas covering railings, tarpaulins etc, painted aluminium foil (very thin) is a quite suitable material.

Stein

[Guchi]

Some things never change whatever the language:

"pusse-sparkle-pusse". - Putty - sand - putty!!

[Stein Gildberg]

Close Guchi, but only close.
Anyhow: your understanding is 100% correct, but next time - the other way around, please:
Pusse= sanding
Sparkle= putting on putty