The Big One... Trumpeter 1/200 Bismarck 1940 build

[Perth_shipyard]

those also which yep just as easily leave the part off, but i meant these vents on the Bruno barbette.

[Channell]

I did NOT know about that. Added to my list of things to do!

[Plastic Habit]

Been working on odds and ends. Like you Channel, Ive been working mostly on portholes and the hull. Did some PE runs, but still need to dial some stuff in to look better.

[Wilhelm]

Anton:

I've never seen this image of Bismarck in color. Looks like a rendering from an old colorized post card based on a black/white original photo. It's the kind of thing they used to print in yesteryear. Charming really (I do like the image)...but where's the black boot stripe?

[Wilhelm]

CREW FOR THE 1/200 BISMARCK...AND OTHER THOUGHTS

Most are probably aware that NorthStar Models has released Kriegsmarine figures in 1/144 scale and promises eventual 1/200 KM figures
http://northstarmodels.com/2012/12/krie ... ock-renew/

The available 1/144 scale figures are about 30% oversize for Trumpeter 1/200 Bismarck (not useful). "Z-Scale" model railroad figures are 1/220 scale (only a negligible 10% undersize). The optimal Z-Scale figure set is Preiser Nr. 8850 which provides 160 UNPAINTED figures...including a few useless farm animals. The human figures can be modified and painted as KM crewmen. The already painted Preiser figure sets are prohibitively expensive, and not useful.

While on the thought of "incomplete" pre-Baltic Bismarck models, like Jason's, somebody might want to create a waterline diorama with Bissy being fitted out or provisioned at the quay. Imagine some Z-scale factory buildings, oil storage tanks, gantry cranes, railroad trackage, shops with flickering welding lights, trucks, and shipyard workers. Too much for me, personally, but it could be a breathtaking showstopper at an IPMS meet

[Perth_shipyard]

Anton:

I've never seen this image of Bismarck in color. Looks like a rendering from an old colorized post card based on a black/white original photo. It's the kind of thing they used to print in yesteryear. Charming really (I do like the image)...but where's the black boot stripe?

Hi Wilhelm, yep it's a tinted image of one of the images of Bismarck prior to delivery into the navy.

The missing boot topping could be two things. When launched and still in possession of the shipyard she didn't have a black boot topping and only the anti-fouling. She went into drydock in hamburg so it would have been added then. So the photo, could either be of Bismarck before delivery to the navy and pre-hamburg or... Whoever tinted the image just painted her without the boot topping.

[Guest]

Anton:

I've never seen this image of Bismarck in color. Looks like a rendering from an old colorized post card based on a black/white original photo. It's the kind of thing they used to print in yesteryear. Charming really (I do like the image)...but where's the black boot stripe?

Hi Wilhelm, yep it's a tinted image of one of the images of Bismarck prior to delivery into the navy.

The missing boot topping could be two things. When launched and still in possession of the shipyard she didn't have a black boot topping and only the anti-fouling. She went into drydock in hamburg so it would have been added then. So the photo, could either be of Bismarck before delivery to the navy and pre-hamburg or... Whoever tinted the image just painted her without the boot topping.

Small snippet at Bismarck is that it was one of the few ships not to officially be referred to as a "she". The Kriegsmarine didn't think it appropriate.

[Wilhelm]

Small snippet at Bismarck is that it was one of the few ships not to officially be referred to as a "she". The Kriegsmarine didn't think it appropriate.

Writing in English, it's appropriate to call a ship "she" or "her,"

In German, ships are usually neutral objects as "Das schlachtschiff..." or "Das Schiff..."

Many KM ships were named after famous MEN, Otto von Bismarck being one of their greatest statesmen. Maybe that's why it was called "Der Bismarck...", using the masculine article...and referred to as "Der" (he).

[Goran]

You mean the hood over these vents, right?



I noticed that... it will literally be as easy as just not putting them on I think...

I'm not sure which vents you mean on the barbette though?

Thanks for posting this picture. Here the hull gray and superstructure gray look so close. I am tempted to paint the hull the same colour as the superstructure (I know, heresy). Or maybe mix it just a shade darker (but that would mean using the airbrush!)

[Channell]

Small snippet at Bismarck is that it was one of the few ships not to officially be referred to as a "she". The Kriegsmarine didn't think it appropriate.

Considering what the Kriegsmarine (under Hitler) thought was appropriate, I'd say it's entirely appropriate to call Bismarck a "she" today! They had too many "Heils" and too few frauleins back then, me thinks...

Plus, she's a sexy boat... No man has those kind of curves.

[Channell]

Thanks for posting this picture. Here the hull gray and superstructure gray look so close. I am tempted to paint the hull the same colour as the superstructure (I know, heresy). Or maybe mix it just a shade darker (but that would mean using the airbrush!)

I never realized it before but now I can see the slight difference. It looks a million times better on my model too, so I'd say an appropriate 2-tone grey paintjob is a must.

[Channell]

Been working on odds and ends. Like you Channel, Ive been working mostly on portholes and the hull. Did some PE runs, but still need to dial some stuff in to look better.

Your PE is looking fantastic! That's just not a skill I have, though I'd like to learn someday. Keep us updated with your progress!

[LE BOSCO]

Channell,this is a good job of "hunting and correcting of errors" that you do
congrats
Nicolas

[Wilhelm]

Jason:

I admire your courage and skill in cutting, modifying, and sanding plastic! I'm not up to that level of performance, so I seek a "safer," but effective approach.

First, what is a "porthole" or "sidescuttle"? It is a heavily framed circular opening, holding glass up to 2 inches thick, that can be opened or closed, (to admit light and/or air) and sometimes covered by a circular steel storm plate (shutter).

I believe that the Trumpy kit portholes can be "worked" to an acceptable artistic degree by careful backfilling with clear acrylic cement covered by a flat acetate disk. The discs are produced with a micro punch and die set. Waldron sets have been popular for years to build model aircraft instrument lenses, but, as I understand it Waldron is now out of business. I just purchased a used Waldron set in E-bay for $49. Another source of these micro punch and die sets is Micromark http://www.micromark.com/Micro-Punch-Set,8603.html

If my shortcut works, it would save a ton of body work. One would only need to drill open and thin the plastic for a few open portholes. Bismarck on the high seas or in battle may have been heavily shuttered against seawater or shell splinters. But, I've never seen a shuttered Bismarck model or painting.

[Goran]

Bill, thanks for posting the link, that is a excellent solution. I will definitely do it this way. I'm too scared to cut the hull.

[BobaFettSlave_1]

You're correct Jason, as delivered she didn't have any rangefinders fitted but the aft and center were added in December 1940. She still had no stripes and just her normal german two-tone colouring. One thing you will also have to change is the aft most vents on the Bruno barbette - port side closest to the superstructure. On the kit the vents face aft. These were changed in Kiel as when built they faced directly out and where effected by weather. The two vents on the front of Bruno barbette also didn't have the hood which covered the open vents. This is on the kit but a seperate part do you can easily leave them off but will have to make the actual vent grills.

This pic shows the Bruno barbette port side and you can see the vent which is closest to the forward superstructure faces out and the next two- forward on the barbette doesn't have the hood over them.

You mean the hood over these vents, right?



I noticed that... it will literally be as easy as just not putting them on I think...

I'm not sure which vents you mean on the barbette though?

Not sure, It looks to me as though you're going to have to cut the upper half of that part off as the bottom is still there.

[Plastic Habit]

Well, in between sanding and more porthole work, I managed to get a piece of PE done. Its the small bridge between the funnel catwalk and the admirals bridge.

[Goran]

that looks amazing, which PE set is it from?

[Channell]

that looks amazing, which PE set is it from?

I think he's making his own PE? It does look good! Plastic Habit, you really should do a build log of your own so we can admire all your work in 1 place!

[Olaf Held]

I think he's making his own PE? It does look good! Plastic Habit, you really should do a build log of your own so we can admire all your work in 1 place!

Second that!


Happy modelling ~ Olaf!