Hello all,
This thread is lacking progress again. We are currently busy preparing for our piano concert, so we have to practise a lot. But actually, this build was put to a temporary halt, due to heavy loss of Eduard PE. When we have the chance to purchase another set, we'll continue making progress again. But anyway we did make something over the past few weeks.
We discovered yet another mistake Tamiya made - the screws. Kit manufacturers usually switch the screws, right handed to left-handed, and vice versa. This can be simply switched back. This time Tamiya included two right handed screws and one left handed, instead of the correct two left, one right...unfixable. Plus, the instruction is a complete mess! It indicates the left handed one be put on the center shaft and the other two right handed on each side.
Luckily, we have another kit that serves as spare parts (after realising how many errors there are, and how much nicer Revell kit is). The two left handed screws, one from each kit, will be placed on the left and centre shafts, and one of the two right hands on the right shaft.
Incorrect arrangement:
Corrected:
As Eduard did not include it in the set, the night speed indicator on the main mast was scratch-built using leftover PE and its sprue.
The model is depicted as of July - November 1944, by which time the previous paint scheme K (March - July) swastika was painted over with light grey of scheme L.
http://www.bismarck-class.dk/tirpitz/paint_schemes/paint_tirpitz_1944.html And we guess the paint should be weathered and chipped quite a bit at the time of the sinking, so the swastika has to be painted before being covered with faded, weathered and chipping paint.
Tirpitz carried out her last exercises at sea in July - August, so the spray on the bow might do some effect, but we really don't know for sure. A little bit of swastika appearing from spot to spot, roughly revealing its form is what we are expecting. Some advice on how much, and in what manner the paint on the swastika would weather would be very appreciated. It is just an interesting symbol that is common to german ships and would be historically accurate, so we'd like to have it on the model, nothing political.
Here are some photos of the painting process. John Asmussen's drawings helped us a lot in locating it. Lots of masking and touch ups!
John's drawing printed on adhesive paper:
Tamiya XF-2 flat white painted:
The result; one can guess how effective sticker paper is at masking!:
Lots of touch ups were neccessary, and the most difficult is getting the thing to look like a perfect circle. It's not, obviously, but is much better, considering it's hand painted, after a bad masking:
Swastika mask made of Tamiya masking tape, with black over:
Much better than the paper thing. Very few touch-ups were needed. Final result:
The doubling wood decks on the bow affect the shape quite a bit, so next time we'll paint the plastic deck, but not Tamiya's raised planking ones, though.
This is how the ship looks like, main parts dryfitted, on the shelf, waiting the day to proceed construction:
Still have lots of things to improve, but it's just a learning build anyway. Comments, critiques, and advice are welcome!
Aop & Aur
Login
Register
FAQ
) to re-record our performances, as the camera ran out of memory on the concert day. When this is done, we will post some Youtube links for some of you here that may like Classical music.... 
