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

[LE BOSCO]

GO Jason !

"the stable" is not very far now!especially if you look rear,in view of what has been done on your "Bisy"
always pleasant to the eye
Nicolas

[Channell]

Jason,

I see that you are a Monster addict as well. My wife gives me ALL sorts of hell for drinking the stuff, but man, I love it. Down one before a run... BEST WORKOUT EVER.

Your 1/200 Bismarck is looking awesome, regardless of how badly you want to set it on fire. Keep it up.

Yep, I do drink too many of those things! I just remind my wife there are far worse things that I could be addicted to than Monsters... and hope that she doesn't remember I'm addicted to some of those things too.

As for my ever-growing Bismarck hate, it's getting harder and harder to resist but I'm hell-bent on actually finishing it even though I have half a dozen other model projects I really want to be doing more than this one. I'm not a Kriegsmarine fan and can now admit I really only embarked on this project because it's a freaking huge, ultra-detailed ship model... the exact kind of thing that pushes my mental happy buttons and confirms that I am entirely insane.

I probably would not have jumped in the Bissy pool had I known the 1/200 Missouri was coming this fall... but then again, come this time next year I'll probably be absolutely sick of the Mo too.

Gotta say I'm fairly happy with how she's turning out though, despite all the work, detours and complications that have come along with this build. It's finally to the point where everything is coming together and if I can brag a little, I think she's gonna be a show-stopper and something I can be proud of. It's gonna be worth it to follow through to the bitter end.

I really do miss the literal crowd of folks who started the same kit last year and hope they come back as well. This is one build that seems to require group therapy to survive; maybe we need to start TBBA (Trumpeter Bismarck Builders Anonymous) with the intent to keep people addicted long enough to finish!

[Channell]

GO Jason !

"the stable" is not very far now!especially if you look rear,in view of what has been done on your "Bisy"
always pleasant to the eye
Nicolas

It's almost time to cue the music!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY3XiM7oGj0

[Channell]

The results of another day's work:







I completed the level around the Admiral's bridge and painted the AA guns. Now Bismarck can toot her horn too.

[marengtech]

Hello Jason, new to this forum. Read/followed your build and would like to say great work. Like you I have my own pains with the Nichimo Yamato which I need to finish before starting my own Bismarck.

[Channell]

Hello Jason, new to this forum. Read/followed your build and would like to say great work. Like you I have my own pains with the Nichimo Yamato which I need to finish before starting my own Bismarck.

Thanks! You are a brave man to take on the Nichimo Yamato... I don't scare easily but that's one 1/200 kit that will never be seen on my workbench.

[Channell]

Time for my weekly update!

Hopefully this isn't getting too repetitive, but this log is really helping me stay motivated and keep up the pace on this very loooong and patience-testing build.

I should mention that my methods are not sane here; rather than focus on a particular section start to finish I have been all over the place adding stuff on whatever area of the ship I felt like working on that particular evening. The effect has been almost organic as the superstructure "grows" in detail, but I wouldn't recommend this approach!

This week I added yet more rails and various PE details, mostly around the Admiral's bridge. Other than the rails on the maindeck I am almost completely done with them!



I also put the masts together and got going on the signal flag platform:







Like all the doorways on the kit, I had to cut the two doorways on the signal platform open as they were molded solid. Those who are building with the KA set should also be warned that I've run into several instruction numbering errors on their parts (especially railings); it's been a bit of a struggle to get everything in the right place. There also seem to be lots of extra parts that aren't listed in the instructions so it will be even more fun trying to incorporate as much as possible onto the model!

The brass KA masts are really something special however; they were fiddly as hell to get put together but are SOOO much better than the kit pieces in every way possible.

Until next time!

[LE BOSCO]

Hello Jason

do not worry this is not repetitive,and motivate you ,it is always plesant for eyes,a real "treat"
keeps rhythm
cheers
Nicolas

[Channell]

Thanks again for the encouragement Nicholas!

[Channell]

Thought I'd add some more pics as I've hit another milestone; getting to the top of the ship! I'm rethinking my strategy though; I've made quite a bit of progress over the last three weeks but a rushed job makes for a lower quality finished project so I suppose I should take my time a little bit more.

I switched photo hosting services too, hopefully keeping the rest of my pics from being held hostage by mafiabucket until I pay up!
















I am doing a late 1940 build so the conning tower rangefinder won't be on the finished product, but I did the third radar screen anyway just for fun. The screens look ridiculously complicated but they actually fold together easily from only 2 pieces of PE.

Still, there's no mistaking that silhouette and I personally think she looks better without it but that's just me. Trumpeter might have botched the bottom of the boat but the proportions and shape of the superstructure appears to be right on the money, minus a couple minor details (I fixed a couple of them on my build already).

I also decided to hold off on the 1/200 Missouri for now; 1 crazy huge and complicated battleship is plenty for the moment and unlike this build I'd like to start a 'Mo with the chance to shop around for the best aftermarket set instead of throwing cash at it whenever something better comes out... again like the Bismarck. Sorry, aftermarket guys, I'll still give you some of my money but my family's gotta eat too!

Anyway, Bismarck burnout is rearing it's ugly head yet again... time to take a break for a bit.

[Timmy C]

Dude, imgur.com.

[Channell]

Let's see:



OK, I do like Imgur better.

[Bissyboat]

I�m very taken by your work on the Bismarck. Gone through the whole thread to follow closely on your progress step by step. The detailing looks amazing and the planking on the deck sheets add to the look. I�m intrigued that you decided to go for the 1940 look. Is the colour scheme based on the ship�s early trial runs? Looking forward to see more developments in your shipyard.

[Channell]

I�m very taken by your work on the Bismarck. Gone through the whole thread to follow closely on your progress step by step. The detailing looks amazing and the planking on the deck sheets add to the look. I�m intrigued that you decided to go for the 1940 look. Is the colour scheme based on the ship�s early trial runs? Looking forward to see more developments in your shipyard.

Thanks!

On the color scheme...I don't claim to be an expert, but after learning all I could about the Bismarck for this build I'm thinking all those dark grey Bismarck models out there are wrong!

It seems the Bismarck started roughtly in this color, got the Baltic camo stripes/false bow waves/dark grey ends on top of it, then more dark grey horizontal areas (like the turret tops) w/stripes later painted out but the main light grey colored superstructure/middle grey hull stayed the same until the day she sank. You can see how light the grey paint is on the wreck where it has survived the sinking; some will argue the Mir lights wash it out but the color and quality on the latest videos is simply amazing so I'm not convinced that's the case.

(For example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2JaiJC1 ... UeuaneW-oQ @5:40, look at the AA gun shields!)

Otherwise, I picked this particular time to portray the Bismarck because she was new, beautiful, didn't have giant swazticas all over her and had not been responsible for 4000 deaths yet.

[Bissyboat]

On the color scheme...I don't claim to be an expert, but after learning all I could about the Bismarck for this build I'm thinking all those dark grey Bismarck models out there are wrong!

You're bang on the colourscheme. I made my mistake as a beginner to paint my 1/350 Tamiya Bismarck in dark grey on the superstructure. By studying the colour guides on this site I have learnt how to distinguish the different types. http://www.kbismarck.com/drawings.html

Otherwise, I picked this particular time to portray the Bismarck because she was new, beautiful, didn't have giant swazticas all over her and had not been responsible for 4000 deaths yet.

I don't mean to knit pick, but the figures on the casualties are slightly exaggerated. I'm sure you're just having a little laugh to make her merits look better. As I recall the Bismarck claimed 1418 (some would say 1416) lives when sinking the Hood . I don't know the casualties from the POW, but I'm sure the total can't be more than 1600 lives all together. (an educated guess, as I lack the evidence). Keen to know though.

[Channell]

On the color scheme...I don't claim to be an expert, but after learning all I could about the Bismarck for this build I'm thinking all those dark grey Bismarck models out there are wrong!

You're bang on the colourscheme. I made my mistake as a beginner to paint my 1/350 Tamiya Bismarck in dark grey on the superstructure. By studying the colour guides on this site I have learnt how to distinguish the different types. http://www.kbismarck.com/drawings.html

Otherwise, I picked this particular time to portray the Bismarck because she was new, beautiful, didn't have giant swazticas all over her and had not been responsible for 4000 deaths yet.

I don't mean to knit pick, but the figures on the casualties are slightly exaggerated. I'm sure you're just having a little laugh to make her merits look better. As I recall the Bismarck claimed 1418 (some would say 1416) lives when sinking the Hood . I don't know the casualties from the POW, but I'm sure the total can't be more than 1600 lives all together. (an educated guess, as I lack the evidence). Keen to know though.

Well, the Hood went down with 1415, Prince of Wales lost 14 at the same time and the Bismarck eventually took about 2200 with her to the bottom, so the total lives lost because of this machine were around 3600. If anything, the Bismarck's crew were victims too, being mostly young guys enchanted by the reich and under the command of leaders aching for action, not to mention poorly planning and executing Operation Rhineburg in general.

[sgtryan13]

Awesome work in every aspect! I mean that, detailed, clean, artistic and crisp. Very well done!

[Channell]

Awesome work in every aspect! I mean that, detailed, clean, artistic and crisp. Very well done!

Thanks again!

I really do LOVE being showered with compliments (don't we all! ) but I do have one request at this point in the build for everyone... give me (constructive) criticism!

Even if it seems petty, I'd like to get some feedback on what is wrong or can be done better. I promise I won't be offended! The superstructure is still not glued and can be easily broken down into smaller pieces for manipulation/changes without risking most of what's already done.

I might not act on it all, but I'd love to up the ante on this build from "great" to "award winning".

Here are a couple of my gripes which I intent to work on still:

The deck... it doesn't look realistic. I'm thinking about cutting out and replacing a few darker grained planks to break up the long lines and have some extra pieces to try to do it. I should also weather it, though I'm honestly scared to do so.

I know the double decker "splash guards" (not sure what they should be called) above the central secondary turrets are wrong for late 1940 (as near as I can tell, they would have been added in '41, when the rangefinders were removed from turret Anton). I'm still not sure if I want to change them this late into the build.

There are a million smaller details that aren't addressed by the aftermarket, such as the skylight covers; I'm still not sure if I want to tackle them.

Anyway, help me out by taking your best shot at my work in the name of improvement! Bonus points if you make me cry!

[Channell]

I made some more progress last weekend, geting the docking bridges in as well as the maindeck skylights (still need some touchup though!:







I got distracted again too so I suppose this particular "big push" is officially over:





More to come when more gets done!

[Dan K]

Nice work, and I can't believe you've already picked up the 1/32 B-17.