1/72 Bismarck

Kiwimedic · Post by **Kiwimedic** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 2:17 pm

HI All
I am sorry for not posting more often.
I have been very busy with work and with Bismarck.
I started work on the deck planking about a year ago now and are getting towards the end.
I have spent almost every hour when at home working on the deck, around 12-14 hrs a day..
The planks are 2mm wide and 60mm long.
The ship is 222 planks wide by approx 3.5 metres long.
These planks are "Joggled" in at each end so you may realise the amount of work in the deck.
The photos attached are the deck in the "Rough" and under all that with a bit of luck should be a fairly good deck.
I have done other things in the mean time.
The Lions Share of the Funnel and hangars has been done.
There are sheets, and sheets of "Photo-Etch" with loads of detail for the rest of the ship.
I have completed all fittings for the main deck.
The main turrets have been started. They are in etch also.
This facilitates the rivet detail on the turret. They are getting towards 300mm long.
I will be finished after about another months work.
Then it is onward and upward.
The build will accelerate very quickly from there.

Kiwimedic · Post by **Kiwimedic** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 2:22 pm

A few more pics.

ALBERTO · Post by **ALBERTO** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 2:41 pm

maravilloso! wonderfull model my congratulations!

ozpirate · Post by **ozpirate** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 4:08 pm

WOW Now there's patients!!!
Good work and look forward to more.
Keep up the great work.

Reid · Post by **Reid** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:36 pm

OH MY GOD! that is crazy! GREAT JOB!! it looks FANTASTIC!

oneslim · Post by **oneslim** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:58 pm

Amazing!!! Love the nibbled planks.

Bob W

Guido · Post by **Guido** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 2:19 am

Excellent!
I say that every one of these longer hours pays off nicely!
Cheers,
Guido

bismarck builder · Post by **bismarck builder** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:22 am

Post by **Dave Wooley** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:10 pm

Hi Phil Well I did suggest that you post again!!!

Dave Wooley

aleccap · Post by **aleccap** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 4:32 pm

Now that everything is slowly coming together, the sheer hard work is shining through, the decking is 1st class, and I wouldn't mind that in my living room, the superstructure is now appeared and looking like a battleship being built (like the real thing) outstanding work

ozpirate · Post by **ozpirate** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:06 pm

Wow your deck is very well done. Thank god my current model doesn't have a wooden deck but I can really appreciate your workmanship here. Since this is a working model, how do you plan to protect your deck from the elements?

Kiwimedic · Post by **Kiwimedic** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 8:36 am

Hi Mick

It is not like down home and the sun is not an enemy.
When I plane it down to height and shape etc, I will give it 2 coats of clear Shellac or clear Eurathane.

It will be well thinned out so as not to put any visible build up on the surface.
The appearance will be matt.
I will not alter the colour at all ............... Keith Jewell (Modelling Timbers) very kindly, has given me a very good assortment of coloured woods to give a more realistic effect.
I am lucky with Bismarck as there were not any visible means of holding the planks to the deck apparent so there will not be a build up of Shelac in these areas.

Regards
Phil

GTDEATH13 · Post by **GTDEATH13** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:12 pm

This is a very impressive build to say the least... The deck is a masterpiece... And all the work on the superstructure... I wish I reach these standards someday...

Has any work been done on the main and secondary armament? Will it be a complete scratchbuild?

BobaFettSlave_1 · Post by **BobaFettSlave_1** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:54 am

just joined up cause of this thread. this is an amazing build. i hope to be able to buy one of the hulls some day to start one of these my self. PM sent!!!

Kiwimedic · Post by **Kiwimedic** » Wed May 20, 2009 5:35 pm

Hi All
It is a long time since I have posted.
10 minutes ago I laid the last plank on the Bismarck.

It is in the rough and there is a lot of planing and sanding to do.
This is the end of a very long journey. I think i have been on the deck continually for 18 months.
It is the most soul destroying task but the most gratifying in the end.

I will take some photos of it tomorrow in the rough and some photos when it is shaped and planed up.

Regards
Philip.

Reid · Post by **Reid** » Wed May 20, 2009 6:08 pm

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

can't wait to see the pics!

desron48 · Post by **desron48** » Thu May 21, 2009 1:02 am

i too am looking forward.......

......joe

Post by **Dave Wooley** » Thu May 21, 2009 3:52 am

AT LAST well done Phil . I know it has been a labour of love , with some sweat and tears but your deck is really one of the best I have ever seen .
Dave Wooley

Kiwimedic · Post by **Kiwimedic** » Thu May 21, 2009 6:52 am

Good morning All

I have taken a few shots of the deck.
The planks are 1.8mm wide by a max. of 60mm long. This gives the approximate sizes I have calculated from photos.
There are thousands of them. They are joggled into position.
All lines of deck start with a joggling and end with a joggling.
(A joggling is a term used by many to describe the act of cutting chamfer into the plank as well as the margin plank to make a perect join.)
This was done to stop the planks twisting if the angle of cut is too great. Cut off point is around 45 degrees.

anyway that is 18 months work.
Full time it equivalates to around 9 months of full time work 10 hour days ......... 7 days a week. (Christmas day off!)