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To rail or not to rail.

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  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: Oakbank, MB
To rail or not to rail.
Posted by GregFK on Monday, January 21, 2019 8:12 AM

Good Day all,

Long time lurker but very infrequent poster.

I'm finishing up a 1/350 Tamiya Bismarck. It was a gift from a coworker who decided he would never build it. His loss is my gain!

It's being built mostly OOB with a small Eduard PE set. It is my first 1/350 kit so I'm not going overboard on it.

My question is regarding rails. Should I include them? From what I've read rails were only up when at port. I'm trying to depict the ship around the time of engagement with the Hood. Should I mount rails or leave it bare?

Thanks for any help and opinions in advance.

Cheers,

Greg

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Monday, January 21, 2019 9:57 AM

GregFK

It's being built mostly OOB with a small Eduard PE set. It is my first 1/350 kit so I'm not going overboard on it.

IMO;  mostly OOB,  OOB with,  OOB but,  or OOB including is like being a little bit pregnant.  It is OOB or it isn't.

GregFK

My question is regarding rails. Should I include them? From what I've read rails were only up when at port. I'm trying to depict the ship around the time of engagement with the Hood. Should I mount rails or leave it bare?

Upper level rails were generally pipe rails and were usually a permenant fixture.   Deck-edge rails were often wire rope and stanchions.   They were generally left up at sea as life lines and were struck in battle.    The blast from large caliber guns tended to mess them up.

Your choice.

  • Member since
    June 2014
  • From: New Braunfels , Texas
Posted by Tanker - Builder on Monday, January 21, 2019 10:28 AM

Hi;

 Ditto Ed !

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Monday, January 21, 2019 11:07 AM

And, the stanchions and cables on the main deck were only struck in preparation for action. Some of the last photos taken of the ship from Prinz Eugen while underway show the latter with the stanchions and cables installed, leading to the conclusion that Bismark had them up as well.

You can of course do whatever you want. If you do plan to install the upper works railings, consider whether it's that much more difficult to keep going with the main deck stanchions and cables.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: Oakbank, MB
Posted by GregFK on Monday, January 21, 2019 3:50 PM

Lol! A little bit pregnant. I like that one!

Thanks for the suggestions. Rails up it is then. I appreciate the input.

Cheers,

Greg

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Monday, January 21, 2019 4:50 PM

Look carefully at photos. The rail/ lifelines are never as long an uninterrupted run as the frets make them. At least with the generic railing sets.

They get interrupted bu accomodation ladder stages, mooring bitts, boat booms, davits, all kinds of stuff. That's to your advantage because cleanly installing long runs of rail is difficult. I also work to make my corners a bend in a section, not a joint between two pieces. Others would disagree though.

Have fun, your model will be the better for your effort.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    March 2009
  • From: brisbane australia
Posted by surfsup on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 12:03 AM

I prefer to have the Railings attached but in the end it us to you. It is a Hobby and you build the way you wish too.....Cheers Mark

If i was your wife, i'd poison your tea! If Iwas your husband, I would drink it! WINSTON CHURCHILL

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