The Ship Model Forum

Hi all,

My first attempt at designing a ship in CAD. It's a German H class battleship, the 1939 design to be exact.

I am working on the superstructure first and all the small parts. To make sure I don't lose interest or miss anything, the hull will be done last. The upperworks and parts are about 70% complete as you see them here. I still need some information on the structure at the funnel bases, and some other bridge levels. Hopefully, someone can help?

Feedback is welcome. The ships were not built, so I can take some license here and there, but I am attempting to get it as 'accurate' as possible. This is for a future 1:700 IHP kit, possibly in plastic.

http://ihphobby.tripod.com/shipimages/test01.jpg
http://ihphobby.tripod.com/shipimages/test02.jpg
http://ihphobby.tripod.com/shipimages/test03.jpg
http://ihphobby.tripod.com/shipimages/test04.jpg

Mike Bartel
IHP
http://ihphobby.tripod.com

Mike@IHP wrote:This is for a future 1:700 IHP kit, possibly in plastic.

Plastic he says, PLASTIC???!!! Be still my heart! Please do if possible sir, PLEASE!

The CAD models look top notch! First attempt, really? It doesn't show It will be perfect for some builds I have planned. Do you a ballpark on the release yet? Is 2013 inside the realm of possibility or will it closer to 2014?

Can't wait for this one!!

Cliffy B wrote:

Mike@IHP wrote:This is for a future 1:700 IHP kit, possibly in plastic.

Plastic he says, PLASTIC???!!! Be still my heart! Please do if possible sir, PLEASE!

The CAD models look top notch! First attempt, really? It doesn't show It will be perfect for some builds I have planned. Do you a ballpark on the release yet? Is 2013 inside the realm of possibility or will it closer to 2014?

Can't wait for this one!!

Hi Cliff,

It's way too early to speculate on any release date or any other details right now. We are working on our first injected plastic project in China now for HO scale, and when that is done, we are thinking about a ship. The H could be the first one, but there are one or two other possibilities being considered as well and I will be creating CAD for them when the H is done, but no final decision has been made yet. In any case, this one needs to be finished properly. The German archive drawings would help, if anyone has those! Meanwhile, please nitpick, for never-were fans, this is your chance to help a manufacturer get it right!

Mike Bartel
IHP
http://ihphobby.tripod.com

If you're ever up for doing an O Project, Sean Hert scanned some drawings found by the US Technical Mission at war's end here: viewtopic.php?f=67&t=88203

Timmy C wrote:If you're ever up for doing an O Project, Sean Hert scanned some drawings found by the US Technical Mission at war's end here: viewtopic.php?f=67&t=88203

Thanks for that Tim, I did see that topic. All this great new never-were stuff coming out over the last decade, I wish I had access to it 20 years ago!

Mike Bartel

Hi all,

I have updated the photos of the H class BB as the work has progressed. The superstructure is basically complete except for some fine tuning and detailing, and I have begun engineering everything for injection tooling.

http://ihphobby.tripod.com/shipimages/test01.jpg
http://ihphobby.tripod.com/shipimages/test02.jpg
http://ihphobby.tripod.com/shipimages/test03.jpg
http://ihphobby.tripod.com/shipimages/test04.jpg

Thanks!

Mike Bartel
IHP
http://ihphobby.tripod.com

Mike, the one thing I would suggest is to remove the rangefinder from Turret Anton. Based on operating experience with the Scharnhorst and Bismarck classes, that mod would likely have been incorporated in the H class well before completion. (And unlike the earlier classes, the turret side should probably be smooth - no blank-off plate where the R/F would have been.)

Mike..

Wow! That is beautiful work!

I know it takes a lot of work to get the planking patterns worked into the model (been there, earned the headache). However I have one suggestion that would take this from "stellar" to "knockout". If the plank butts aren't already set in stone, you may want to consider doing a five room stagger or a four room stagger.

Every shipyard had a different standard OP when it came to these, however, I've noticed that the Bismark decks were originally laid with the "three butt" (four room stagger)system. I.E. the plank butts matched every four planks. Most US ships had this originally as well, although it can be hard to find on the museum ships now, as the planks have been replaced so may times.

If you look closely at the deck I did for Nautilus, you can see the five room (four plank but) stagger, mirrored over the centerline. One of the renders in the tenth or so post down in that thread shows it well. I've attached a quick reference sketch I worked up.

Again, as is, this looks to be an awesome kit! looking forward to seeing the rest of it!

Thanks for the feedback, guys. I'll have to ask some folks about some details, but I think Dick is right about the rangefinders. They were deleted even on the Hipper class cruisers as I recall. Fritz, the deck planking can indeed still be changed, which plank pattern would you recommend for the H class BB? Also, what pattern would you recommend for the wood decks of a USN Montana class BB? I plan to start CAD for that one next.

Thanks!

Mike Bartel
IHP
http://ihphobby.tripod.com

Hi Mike

For Montana, I'd go by a contemporary like New Jersey. If you go to the Navsource page for her, then to the 1944 page: scroll down to
Japanese prisoners of war are bathed, clipped, "deloused," and issued GI clothing as soon as they are taken aboard the New Jersey (BB-62), December 1944.

This photo shows the plank butts on her original deck matching every fourth row, so the second pattern in the sketch would be appropriate.

For the H-class, again going by a contemporary like Bismark: looking at "Battleship Bismark" by Elfrath and Herzog, Looking at pages 41 and 43, shows the plank butts matching every five planks. So for her, I'd go with the first pattern on the sketch.

HTH

Thanks Fritz. One other question that has come up is in the midship shelter deck area, so I hope there are folks looking at this that are familiar with the H Klasse that can help. There is a small pillbox-shapted twin turret mounted on the edge of the boat deck. I have seen one set of plans with the support arrangement shown in the photo below. What kind of turret is this and could this support arrangement be correct?

http://ihphobby.tripod.com/shipimages/h ... idship.jpg

Thanks!

Mike Bartel

That's a 37mm turret. I haven't seen more of it than the one on the general arrangement of the H-class. This concealed turret probably gives the crew a very wide view of the action

With the apparent success of the Amagi/Akagi CB never-were kitss, a plastic H-class might be a real winner. Good luck! You might consider so-called "soft" mold tooling, and scanning/re-engineering to pick up dimensions from existing DKM kits, if prints aren't there. Both might help with costs for relatively low-run production.

Again, good luck with this, hope it comes to fruition!

-AH3000mk1

i just like to throw a crazy idea out there that i am going to do with my hipper , i am going to buy me a mist maker and some charcoal black dye and install it into the hull of my ship to add a realism effect of the ship steaming away , or i would use just plain glycerine to give it that smoking effect from the exhaust . Back to the topic would there be any alteration parts in the kit ? ?

In the real world we would occasionally "blow tubes" to clean soot from the boilers and smoke pipes. This was ususally done at night because the result was a cloud of black soot coming out of the smoke pipes (funnels, stacks). However, in a busy port the results of all the ships blowng pipes were obvious the next morning - a layer of soot all over everything topside.

One of the first "evolutions" in the morning was for the deck force to wash down everything topside to clean up the mess.

Keep this in mind when you plan your smoke system. Anything you blow out of the stacks will settle on your model and create a layer of crud that you will have to wash off.

One type of "smoke" system just produces water vapor - it is white but it doesn't leave a film of crud.

Model railroads use hot oil or wax to create "smoke" and it does leave a messy film, and it stinks.

Phil

thats quite interesting , the system i want to use is the glycerine system and you can add dye to glycerine to make it a different colour , i think it will add quite a nice touch to a model . Back to your model . I havent really seen a "clear" plan where the radar systems and etc would have been . Would there be options available so that the kit builder can pick between 2 or 3 spots maybe ? ? It quite a interesting topic to me and i salute you for creating this amazing ship and bringing her to live

Diederick44 wrote:thats quite interesting , the system i want to use is the glycerine system and you can add dye to glycerine to make it a different colour , i think it will add quite a nice touch to a model . Back to your model . I havent really seen a "clear" plan where the radar systems and etc would have been . Would there be options available so that the kit builder can pick between 2 or 3 spots maybe ? ? It quite a interesting topic to me and i salute you for creating this amazing ship and bringing her to live

It's too early to say what parts would be included in the kit but we are looking at at least two variations to be able to market the kit a couple of different ways. If you have any ideas for alternate radar fits or for anything else, please send drawings along so I have something to work from.

Thanks!

Mike Bartel
IHP
http://ihphobby.tripod.com

i will do that , i cant wait to get my hands on a H-class kit but i was wondering would your variations include a 1950 outfit ? ? Because so many model kits choke a person , i mean i wouldnt mind bying seperate extra's for an H-class ship . But for now enough insanity from my part . I will try to find a few suggested alternate parts

How did I miss this?

If you pulled it off in plastic, consider me a buyer. Nice CAD work.

For alternate parts I'd suggest offering it in a late war version and use Tirpitz and Prinz Eugen as examples for what parts to add especially when it comes to radar and AA weaponry. I will definitely get one of these man, please continue (and make it in plastic) I can't wait!!!