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

[Channell]

Here's yet another quick update...

I've been occupied with catching up on 2 years of deferred maintenance on the house the last couple of week but I did get a chance to sit down and start on the AA guns.



It's slow going; these things plus the KA PE make them each little min-kits in their own right. In case anyone was wondering, here are the parts it takes to make one 37 mm flak gun:



Luckily for me, the Bismarck was a bit poor on AA so it could be worse. God help those who do a 1/200 Tirpitz or Missouri though!

I also ordered another small goodie for the Bismarck:





I got it for the life preservers; thought they would make my life easier. Unfortunately they are crap quality so I'm gonna end up just using the hoops and KA PE... luckily they were cheap. The Paravanes are fairly decent though... maybe I'll do another Bismarck someday and use them then.

I also started to black out the interior with black posterboard:





There's no need to do anything fancy here; just keep the light from passing through from the various portholes and vents.

Finally, I decided to redo the details around the running lights? next to to the docking wings. They are cleaned up and waiting for me to figure out a better way to do them.

[Bissyboat]

Looking good skipper. I like your handy work on the 37 mm AA guns. The Bismarck is coming together nicely.

[Channell]

Still going... only 1 month away 'till the 1 year mark on this build.









I can't believe how many things litter the decks of this ship... definitely not the best idea to build an "organic Bismarck" unless you enjoy being overwhelmed.

I've finished all but the smallest single barrel anti-aircraft guns and got the catapults assembled too.

Still, the end is near...

[LE BOSCO]

hello Jason

the work is magnificent once finished , it'll be extraordinary,!even if it takes two or three years
I waits patiently on my jump seat
cheers
Nicolas

[Channell]

Thanks Nicholas!

[Channell]

It's only a couple days shy of 1 year since I started this log and I unfortunately have to announce that this is the end. Not because I finished (I'd never do that! ) but because I am taking this build in a new direction.



Yep, that's Bismarck #2 ... After giving it lots of thought I've decided to do something very ambitious and borderline insane... I'm going to do an obsessively detailed 1940 Bismarck using all the stuff I learned here and a Bismarck wreck diorama as she appears today. Provided I can pull it off well, the two together would make an unforgettable display!

I'm about 90% finished with this Bismarck but I'm thinking it would be the best candidate for the wreck diorama, (I've polished my skills here and want to go "all out" for accuracy and detail on the new hull). Anyway, I'm halting construction here and moving on to the new hull.

I get the feeling the forum has a serious case of Trumpy Bismarck Burnout so I'm not sure y'all want to see me start over again and it will be a while before I start on the wreck diorama, plus this thread is already forever long. But if anybody is interested I'll start a new log and focus on doing a "how-to" for modifications... just let me know if you want to see it!

Thanks everyone for following along... I learned a lot and I'm excited to take what I've learned and run with it! Until next time!

[freewheelinguy]

Jason,

It's your hobby have a ball.

I for one would like you to start a new log. Never could have enough information. Even though some info gets repeated, there is always new insights and techniques to pick up.

[LE BOSCO]

Hello Jason
Of course I want to see a new Trumpy Bismarck or Bismarck N�2 by Channell (it is not far from No. 5 of Chanel )
you're right,always move forward,and the wreck is a good idea
I can not wait for the start of No. 2
cheers
Nicolas
PS
and then Jason, I'm badly placed to judge people who make twice the same models

[Channell]

Yea Nicholas...it's a shame Coco forgot me when she wrote her will!

I have a hard time finishing anything... but then again, the fun for me is in the building and tinkering anyway. I'll start a new log in the next little bit and try to focus on more on "how-to" ideas, identifying accuracy problems and fixing them rather than a "look what I accomplished this week" approach like I mostly did here. I have quite a few new ideas that I want to try out too...

[Stein Gildberg]

Fantastic and interesting build that I�m watching with great interest, Channell!
I just got my Bismarck 1:200-kit from my supplier. Still lying in rest, it�s time will come � and be sure I�ll bookmark your build as one of my guidelines!!

Stein

[krgf15]

If you want to just send the painted one to me, I will buy a new one and chop it up with a knife and leave the turrets off and send it to you....

[kevin547]

i await your updates

[Channell]

Not sure if I should start a new thread or keep it to myself but I got excited about the soon to be released Pontos advanced set and started another Bismarck. I bought the second kit + pontos and KA basic sets last year, and considering the original subject of this log is literally a wreck now I'm kinda glad I did. Anyway, I'm not great at staying focused on these projects but I figured i might as well share what I do manage to accomplish from time to time.

Anyway, here's some in-progress shots:









I've learned a new skill since the first Bissy, high tolerance dremmel grinding. I'm managing to get the same results I got with my earlier porthole replacing method in 1/4 of the time, so I'll only need to replace the warped portholes on curved surfaces the old way this time around.

I'm also horrible at making perfect tiny little holes for the bar steps so I took the brass guide templates Pontos provided and inletted them right on the hull.

Anyway, I plan to pick up the advanced set when it comes out and throw everything at this beast for an ultimate Bismarck...

[LE BOSCO]

good luck Jasson for your new ultimate "Bissy" ( it is a good start )
cheers
Nicolas

[Goodwood]

Suffering from a bit of Mighty Mo Burnout, eh Jason?

[Channell]

ADD maybe.

Truth be told, I'm having trouble getting a decent seascape for my Missouri... I just don't have the talent for it. Either it ends up looking like the top half of the 'Mo is parked in a millpond and magically disappears underwater or is sitting on a shiny blue textured wall.

I'm seriously thinking about filling the bottom of that hull with resin and doing a waterline shelf display instead.

[Channell]

Thought I'd show what I've been puttering on the last couple of weeks (along with Bissy #1 for a comparison)...

I got excited about the new Pontos set and have been messing with Bismarck #2; all the hull portholes have been replaced and/or ground out from behind and I've been trying to make her a "flat bottom girl" so she can be displayed directly on a flat surface, thereby cheating a little to hide the hull shape errors but still give the impression of a massive and realistic hull instead of the dreaded "canoe look" Trumpeter gives us.



I know the shape itself is not quite accurate per se, but I don't have plans to compare it with and I'm sure getting a 99.9% accurate hull shape would require some major surgery that nobody will appreciate anyway. As it is, getting the ship to sit flat required sanding down over 1/2 the thickness of the kit bottom and 2 tubes of putty.





[/URL

Unlike the real ship, the kit hull does not sit on a flat keel from stem to stern; I personally think just fixing that issue makes a HUGE difference in the look of the hull.


[URL=http://imgur.com/E8YM2hd]



Whatdayathink?

[Timmy C]

Looks great! Very impressive work getting that keel at the stern to look more the part as well.

[Channell]

Dear god, what have I done?

[Fletcher]

That a Scale Shipyard hull?