Planking the decks of a 1/350 Bismarck

[Capt652]

Martin,

Great work!

Are you keeping track of the hours?

[MartinJQuinn]

Martin,

Great work!

Are you keeping track of the hours?

Thanks for all the kind words, guys.

Hours? Nah...it's tedious enough as it is. If I start counting hours, it might start to seem like work, not play!

[taskforce48]

Martin,

Your latest pics of your plank work is simply stunning!!!!...I want Trumpy's Prinz Eugen and your work on Bismarck is seriously making me think about giveing it a try!...keep up the great work

Dave

I am with you Dave! Martin, this is simply amazing work! Quick question, I really haven't given it any thought as to a maybe but every time I see someone start planking a deck they always seem to start in the middle or somewhere other than the bow or stern, is there a reason?

Matt

[MartinJQuinn]

Quick question, I really haven't given it any thought as to a maybe but every time I see someone start planking a deck they always seem to start in the middle or somewhere other than the bow or stern, is there a reason?

Matt

From the modelers who's work I'm using as a guide, they always seem to start on the center line, and I thought the section between the superstructure and the Anton turret would be a good place to start....otherwise, no particular reason to start where I did.

[MartinJQuinn]

I didn't realize that I haven't worked on this since last fall, so I've tried to get back this project this week during my lunch hour (instead of starting another project that will just languish for eons). Sometime ago, I cut a group of strips to the proper length, and now I've got the planking done almost up to the bow...

Almost two years in (albeit with a lot of 'down time') and still a lot of deck to go...

[Dave Hill]

That just looks SO cool!!!!!!...lookin' good Martin!

Dave

[MartinJQuinn]

I brought the Bismarck to my local hobby club meeting a few Fridays ago, then brought it home, awaiting the acrylic case I had picked up. I bought this pretty inexpensive case mostly because the 1/350 Tamiya Tirpitz I built is in the same type of case. Figured I'd make them match. I decided to dry fit the parts and sit the ship in the case to see how everything looked so far.

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
Martin,
Stay with it man!
This is one very sweet model!
It's nice to see you finished off the forward most deck area. My instincts were wrong, you were'nt saving that area that looked the most difficult to last.
Something only this pirate would do!
I read, "sink the Bismarck", by William Shirer at least a dozen times when I was a kid. Marie Curie elementary school, San Diego, CA. It's still there and I'm still here in SoCal. My love for this particluar, "war saga", goes even deeper; what with having built all of the 60's era Bismarck kits and having seen the movie, "Sink the Bismarck", many many times. I own this movie now; albeit on VHS. That tells you how long I've had it!
You just keep going bro, and I'll keep watching your hand-work turn out another masterpiece; one of great interest to many I'm sure.
Tony

[Elvis965]

Looks great, Martin!

Is that the Fujimi case?

I own this movie now; albeit on VHS.

C'mon Tony! Get in the 2000's man! I have it DVR'd!

Bob

[MartinJQuinn]

Thanks Guys, appreciate the kind words.

Elvis, the case is from a place called "Cases for Collectibles". I usually buy from Ron at Grandpa's Cabinets, but went for the matching case to Tirpitz this time.

[MartinJQuinn]

Seven months later, I've gotten back to working at this a few times a week at lunch, after mounting the hull in an acrylic gel "seascape" sometime over the summer. Also, work has been unbelievably busy since June of last year, there has been no time to even have lunch, let along build!

I just cut up the last bit of wood I had, gotta order some more so I can try and keep this going.

[Christian Bruer]

Hi Martin,

you did a time consuming but wonderful work, the deck looks great
Keep on doing on your Bismarck

[Dave Hill]

I just can't get over how cool that looks! ...lookin' good Martin!

Dave

[Dan K]

I forgot about this bit of insanity. It is looking very nice. Maybe your vow of not starting any new kits in 2010 has some creedence - this will take close to forever. (this from a guy spending almost 3 years on a bunch of 1/700 DDs).

[navydavesof]

Seven months later, I've gotten back to working at this a few times a week at lunch, after mounting the hull in an acrylic gel "seascape" sometime over the summer. Also, work has been unbelievably busy since June of last year, there has been no time to even have lunch, let along build!

BismarckJan13_001.JPG

BismarckJan13_002.JPG

BismarckJan13_004.JPG

BismarckJan13_005.JPG

I just cut up the last bit of wood I had, gotta order some more so I can try and keep this going.

Martin, these are some very inspirational photos. I have begun planking my battleship bow. I thin it will come out very well. I just want to thank you for the pictures you have so far. Please keep us up on your progress, and keep the project going! We are all really looking forward to new posts and more pictures.

[navydavesof]

So after you have laid all of your wooden planking, do you plan to paint the swastika directly on the wood or do you plan to paint it onto a thin piece of sheet plastic and glue that on top of the wood?

What kind of advice can you give to someone who is just starting to lay wooden decking for the first time?

[Dave Hill]

do you plan to paint the swastika directly on the wood

I think painting the swastika on the wood will add a touch of realism that couldn't be accoplished any other way!

Dave

[MartinJQuinn]

Honestly, I haven't thought that too far ahead yet, but I'd lean towards painting the wood. Had a discussion with some guys at my local hobby club last night - some fellow think I should stain the deck when done. I'll worry about that when the deck is finished.

As for advice, I'm using this as a guide, so I'd recommend that you read that as your starting point.

[navydavesof]

Honestly, I haven't thought that too far ahead yet, but I'd lean towards painting the wood. Had a discussion with some guys at my local hobby club last night - some fellow think I should stain the deck when done. I'll worry about that when the deck is finished.

As for advice, I'm using this as a guide, so I'd recommend that you read that as your starting point.

Thank you for the link. It shed some light for me.

[MartinJQuinn]

Someone asked me about the size of the planks and how small they are. Here's a few shots....