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

[stuckrudder]

FYI a brand new and comprehensive wreck video resource

http://3dhistory.de/wordpress/?page_id=181#prettyPhoto

[Goran]

Hello,

I'm really enjoying following your build. I am going to start my build soon, and I'm already agonising about the colours. I did some searching online and found this scratch build, I really like the pale colours he used and want to do something similar, but like you I dont want to have to use an airbrush.
Which colour did you use for the turret below? I like this shade of light gray.

Thanks

[Channell]

Hello,

I'm really enjoying following your build. I am going to start my build soon, and I'm already agonising about the colours. I did some searching online and found this scratch build, I really like the pale colours he used and want to do something similar, but like you I dont want to have to use an airbrush.
Which colour did you use for the turret below? I like this shade of light gray.

Thanks

Thanks for the comment!

I'm using Testors Model Master Camouflage Grey (rattlecan)

Just so you know, the pictures of the turrets are a bit distorted because of the lighting when I took them, it's not that tan looking in real life. The bonus turret pics show the true color more accurately:



It think it's a fair approximation to the paint the Bismarck was wearing in the very beginning:

[Olaf Held]

... and in the very end...

I like your turret!

Happy modeling ~ Olaf!

[Goran]

thanks! thats useful to know, I forgot that Testors do rattlecans. I was thinking of using Tamiya rattlecans as I have a few, but not all the right colours. I have Tamiya AS-16 Light Gray, but I think that colour really is a little bit tan, I would like it a bit more tingled with blue or just neutral. I was also thinking about Tamiya TS-81 Royal Navy Light Gray, but in some of the pictures online it looks a bit tan too. I really dont want to have to mix my own shade.
Also I looked at online pictures of Tamiya fine gray primer, I may use that as the final deck colour of metal decks, looks close to the colour Peter Beisheim used. Thats the link I forgot to post.

http://www.bismarck-class.dk/shipmodels ... sheim.html

[Channell]

... and in the very end...

I like your turret!

Happy modeling ~ Olaf!

Phew! I thought we were gonna start a 20 page argument over how many tenths of of a percent Testors camo grey is off from the grey Bismarck was painted with on August 5th 1940 and touched up with on November 2nd, not to mention how the color was altered by poop from a flock of seagulls that fed on a whale carcass floating off the coast of Jutland the day before....

Gotta love Bismarck Madness!!!

[Perth_shipyard]

I think that just tends to happen mine hahaha

Mostly my own fault I'm sure

[NigelR32]

... and in the very end...

I like your turret!

Happy modeling ~ Olaf!

Phew! I thought we were gonna start a 20 page argument over how many tenths of of a percent Testors camo grey is off from the grey Bismarck was painted with on August 5th 1940 and touched up with on November 2nd, not to mention how the color was altered by poop from a flock of seagulls that fed on a whale carcass floating off the coast of Jutland the day before....

Gotta love Bismarck Madness!!!

Could you clarify please Jason, The seagulls... how much poop, from how many seagulls. What breed was the whale? If it was a killer whale, the poop would have had a more acidic property, which would have actually faded the colour of the paint over a period of time. We must also consider the weather conditions, if there was rain, it would have helped the acid poo to spread, covering a larger area, but would have had a diluting effect on the poo. I think you'll find the carcass was actually located near Jutland 2 days before?

I cannot believe you atre being so slapdash with your model... fancy just throwing some grey at it without doing some "proper" research!!

[Olaf Held]

I cannot believe you atre being so slapdash with your model... fancy just throwing some grey at it without doing some "proper" research!!

And on top of that, even posting a mirrored Bismarck colour photo...

Phew! I thought we were gonna start a 20 page argument over how many tenths of of a percent Testors camo grey is off from the grey Bismarck was painted with on August 5th 1940 and (...)

So, before you all follow this path, you don't want me to have a go on the Beisheim model to which Goran provided a link in his post?

Happy modelling ~ Olaf!

[Channell]

Meh... I'm pretty sure the Nazis surrendered all their copyrights on VE day. And as for 100% authenticity, my Bismarck already fails because it is made of plastic instead of steel and is only 4 feet long.

I enjoy getting technical with tiny detail but NOT color (trying to perfectly match model colors to real life is decidedly UN-fun for me!), and I doubt any Bismarck model perfectly matches the real ship before it was sunk in ANY of the various paint schemes. If it bothers anyone, they can always view my log in black & white. Otherwise, I aim to make a model that is pleasant to look at and is reasonably accurate. I am a hobbyist, not a Bismarck guru building a model for a museum.

Anyway, I've been doing more than just making testy comments on the forum over the forum's rampant case of "Bismarck Fever".

Over the last couple of weeks I've replaced virtually all the portholes on the superstructure:







Here's my bow after reworking it:



And today a man showed up at my door bearing gifts:



Holy fast delivery, Squadron! Thanks!

I have to say, the KA deck is even more beautiful in reality than in the photos. Any guilt pangs I felt from giving up hand-planking the deck before I even began is totally gone. Now I might actually finish this project before I retire in 30 years!

It hasn't been all kittens and lollypops though; Yesterday I managed to drop my hull, breaking off the lower bow piece. Luckily it was repairable but the string of profanities echoing through the air across the world last night was me. Sorry about that.

[Olaf Held]

Oh, it's not about painting a model with the 100% perfect colour. In my opinion, modelbuilding is about fooling the eye, and the overall effect of a model plays an important role. I'm not saying 'use paint X for this and paint Y for that' (well, I do sometimes, but that's a different story), but the (cor-)relation between the two should be right, and this is what I'm missing on that model over there. Apart from this, it's great, and his 350 as well, in my opinion even better.

I don't belong to the paint police, paint your model your way, if it looks good to you, then it's good.

Happy painting ~ Olaf!

[BobaFettSlave_1]

Your model is coming along great Channell, really loving the new port holes. You guys really have me on the fence with just caving in and buying the KA kit, or at least the deck and mast portion of it, lol. Cant wait to see your boat get some paint.

[Perth_shipyard]

Looking brilliant Jason!

Ah you've come to the dark side! you won't be disappointed my friend. Anything that KA have missed can easily be scratch built so there's still plenty of fun left

[Timmy C]

You guys have seen what Pontos is putting in their set, right? Rifled main barrels are just the beginning...

[Perth_shipyard]

They're just groved but not rifled properly. Cool effect but the cost of producing it will effect the price I don't believe will be worth it at such a small scale. The 44 pipes they're adding to the funnel, I've done it with stretched sprue and brass rod. Now if the have resin pieces for the anchor hoops and a replacement conning tower etc... Cool, it'll be easier for the novice to correct the kit.
While I love playing with this PE stuff - its new to me - what happened to modeling and scratch building like Jason has done? I think what Jason is doing with his model is more modeling than added PE.

Again great stuff Jason! Can't wait to see more

[Channell]

Thanks for your kind words Anton! You are doing a great Bismarck and I look up to you!

I guess everyone gets something different out of modeling; I just happen to get more of a kick out of re-engineering and modifying kits than by just gluing them together. My 1/72 gato is a good example...after I was done with scratchbuilding the pressure hull and deck (i.e., modding the kit) I completely lost interest (though if you want to know a deep, dark secret... I am actually afraid to paint it now! )

Anyway, I know more complete PE sets are coming but the KA set is NOT bad by any means and the price has finally come down to semi-realistic levels. The deck in particular is a piece of art; there is little chance I could have done a deck by hand that looked as good and remained sane or gainfully employed in the process . Plus, I'm sure plenty more bits and pieces will come out that I can use later on... not everything in the aftermarket comes in gigantic pricy sets.

I am interested in seeing the results of an all-encompassing Bismarck set but I personally wouldn't have half the fun if everything was already done for me.

And to those dubious of rattle-cans, don't be. In the dark ages before airbrushes we had ways of doing great paint jobs too.. and my Arizona didn't turn out too shabby using the same techniques (though I hope to improve on them here!).

viewtopic.php?f=60&t=104054

[NigelR32]

I still haven't got my set yet Jason, I can't wait to see it though!! Your bissy is looking good, gotta love those portholes!!

To add to your statements about colours... I once got involved in a discussion surrounding accurate german colours. I just happened to have RLM 66 in my paint stocks from Vallejo, Humbrol, Xtracrylix, Tamiya, lifecolor and Gunze. They are all different... by a mile, and none match the RLM 66 Eduard give you in their PE sets for aircraft!!

Which one is correct? Any of them?

[Perth_shipyard]

Jason - wow thank you, thats a huge complement
I get what you mean, it's a hobby and no right or wrong way for anything as along as we're having fun. As for painting... Just take a deep breath and press the trigger

Nigel - Lifecolor for 1/48, tamiya for 1/35, eduard for .... Just kidding I have no idea.

I don't think any will match perfectly for scale mate. They either attempt to scale down paints but then for which scale or like WEM they're actual perfect match paints but too dark for a model of any scale. I mix my own to get something I think looks right... Yet I'm sure it's still not correct. Just use what looks right to you.

[Wilhelm]

Hi folks! I'm brand new to the Forum, writing from New Mexico, USA...landlocked snd the world's biggest sandbox! But, I'm not at all new to Bismarcks, having built several over forty years. I've bought the new Trumpy 1/200 kit and am in the process of note-making, upgrade item collecting, and repeat research before I build. I really appreciate the many helpful comments in this Forum!

Since there has been recent paint color discussion, anyone looking at original photos will note the lighter gray superstructure color and slightly darker hull color. These were named Hellgrau (RAL 7038) and Mittelgrau (mix of RAL 7001 and RAL 7036). The color distinctions are important to me, so I purchased enough of the new Lifecolor Kriegsmarine Set 1 to (hopefully) do the job. The Lifecolor Paint solution is simple, and accurate...but NOT inexpensive for such a BIG model! Modelmaking is an individual enterprise which should give pleasure to the builder, first! Different modelers face different constraints of time, interest, skills, and budgets.

I am curious to see good photos of the KA Mark 1 models wood deck. Does the Mk 1 correct the errors in the Trumpy molded deck?

My approach to the portholes may be different. Rather than drill all of them out, I may, at some point, fill the background with a dark gray paint, overlaid with a tiny micro-punched, clear acetate disk. The disks could be cemented in varying slightly oblique positions which follow the bow and stern curvatures.

[Olaf Held]

Hi Bill ~ Please share your findings and notes on the kit with us, maybe in a separate build log here?

With regard to your choice of colours... let me put it this way: I would use them as I think they are good "scale-200-paints* of those they really used on the actual ship(s)...

Your idea of inserting discs into the portholes sounds interesting. Micro punch... hmmm... will have to look for that... sounds like an expensive tool...

Happy punching ~ Olaf!