Tirpitz photo etch question

Don't rely on other builds to be accurate reference. Do some image searches for better photos or at least line drawings. 

I agree. But all the photo etch manufacturers show the same thing. I've had contact with one of them a while back when I had a question about their PE. Guess I should go back and see who that was. (my model building time these days could be measured on a geological scale though  )

I've only seen two pics that show the Tirpitz at that angle and they're too blurry to tell. Might be time to track down the author.....

Given the popularity of the subject, I was hoping someone had already found the answer.

I'm surprised as well, I had a look at the limited resources I have and there were railings before the torpedo tubes were fitted, but the only photo I have found that is clear after they are fitted shows no railings by the tubes.  You can see a portion of it here

http://bismarck-tirpitz.com/tirpitz/tirpitz-volume-2/

Railings along the edge of the main deck were of course collapsible, so this photo is not proof that the railings were absent.

Perhaps Antonio Bonomi's book in the link contains the answer?

Cerberus has the answer.

Because PE companies make them that way, there's an assumption that all of those "railings" on ships are just that, big constructions of welded bar and/ or tubes.

On a bridge or mast, yes. On the main decks, these were usually life lines rigged through collapsible stanchions. I'm not too familiar with the DKM, but the big USN ships would strike the life lines down for battle; otherwise the gun blasts sent them overboard. This is contemporary practice on ships like Arleigh Burkes, too.

The deck detail could stand up the stanchions, run out several hundred feet of rope, and tighten them up quickly.

My USN cruiser:

The Railings on DKM Ships were collapsable. They were only collapsed when going into Action. Otherwise they were kept in their Normal Upright Position for safe Seakeeping for the Crew. They were collapsed during Action for the simple Reason there were no Crew on Deck in exposed Positions......Cheers Mark

collapsable rail? makes sense. i never even thought of that. never got to go on a Navy ship.

thanks for the info!

now if i can just muster the enthusiasm to start this thing. (its been 8 years. )

Hi ;

 Now on the subject of collapsible rails .The rails forward could be collapsed on our ship . They never were though . Except those on the 01 deck for the torpedo launchers . this was before FRAM  .

    Yes it was a Gearing class destroyer !   T.B.

" alt="Tirpitz torpedo" />

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee274/cerberusjf/tirpitz_torpedo_zpsnzlst3sp.jpg

Hi

Tirpitz had chains serving as removable railings, as seen here.

Mr. Late here. :)

that is interesting.......chain makes sense though. :)

On some models, especially those with a lot of sheer, it is possible to push down on the railing between stanchions to give them a sag.  On 1:350 and smaller, that does a fair job of looking like chain or cable railing.  A circular arc is good enough to represent a catenary curve in those small scales.

i think when i get around to building the Tirpitz.....i might just model the rails down.

who knows.

who knows when i'll actually get to it.