Need Swastika for battleship Bismarck

I couldn't agree more. Destroying the symbols of history only increases the chance of repeating it. As the saying goes "Less we forget" I have the same problem here in the south as it's harder and harder to find anything left over from the Confederacy such as flags, etc. because the Negros can't find a better way to manage their anger of what happened a hundred years ago and want all symbols erased from their view.

You'd think we'd have this much trouble with the Japanese symbols. It was they afterall who bombed us at Pearl Harbor.

I too am building the Bismark. What I did was to buy some blank decal sheets and I captured an image file of the swastika off the net and put it into an image editing program. Sized it and printed out my own decal. If you try this, be sure to set your printer on it's highest quality print setting.

Thanks for your interest, "Old" MacDonald...I'll try what you suggested, despite the cost of those decal sheets! (should I use a white decal sheet rather than a clear one? I think it would make the Bismarck a lot better-looking with a top-notch decal up front. I also intend to use Gold Medal photo-etched details. I have a great USS New Jersey BB (I used the Missouri but decaled New Jersey letters and decals on it because the ships are the same class and I wanted a WW II New Jersey, not the more modern one that was modified for Korea and Viet Nam..

As far as that "Old" business is concerned, can you beat 77? I was an 18-year-old platoon sergeant in the 25th Division in the South Pacific when I was 18 and have been playing around with models snce my first one, a rubber-band powered Stinson Reliant made of balsa wood by, I think, Guillow. Again thanks for the help. I just discovered this site today and love it!

Yes, by all means use the white decale sheets.

Printers do not print " white".

The other possiblity is buying red and black decal sheets and cutting the pieces you need by hand and then applying them to an area that has been given a white base coat of paint.

http://store.yahoo.com/beldecal/moddecpap.html

http://www.micromark.com/
Search "decal paper" at micromark.
And don't forget the "fixative" if you are using inkjet printers.
And they sell a starter kit with different papers and fixative if required.

http://www.tangopapadecals.com/

Thanks Umi! That's good advice about both the white decal sheet and the fixative...I forgot about the latter. The guys on this site (are there any ladies?) are sure helpful...I much appeciate it.

hey bill,

you posted a reply on my intro page, please read it there you will find my email adress and info on the swastikas,

take care,

joe

Hi Joe 100---
Thanks for answering my request about swastikas...I went to your profile site, but couldn't find your e-mail...How do I go about getting your amuch needed advice on the swastika problem I have.

Again, thanks for answering me...Bill Barber (NJ)

hey bill,

it's joseph100@alltel.net

take care,

joe

Hi Bill, Well I am a 50 English guy now living and working in Poland with a beautiful Polish girl. If you send me your address I would be happy to post you the right size Swastika's you need. Even though Poland suffered greatly under the nazi's you can buy the decals here no problem,go figure????? My E.Mail Address is.... james.ryan@xl.wp.pl By the way it is a good kit with few real problems and looks great with her early camoflage and and photoetched fittings added.I have made 3 so far.

Yo Bill,

I got the nickname Old_McDonald because I am just turning 50.
Yes, ditto on the white decal sheet as mentioned above. I forgot to mention
that. Most decals I print are usually things like black lettering or of various colors.
I hadn't thought about layering different decals. May need some decal solvent
to get two or more layers to settle down over the chains on the deck. Painting white first may be an option. Becareful that the Black and Red section are thich so the white won't show thru.

To Old MacDonald---Thanks for the help re: swastika for Bismarck. I may solve the chain problem(decaling over them) by obliterating the molded-on chains and use tiny store-bought chains which I can get from a craft shop. I did that with my USS New Jersey and it looked good...

to loklok----Jim, I was unable to get my message through your e-mail. Please contact me at billbarber@snip.net Thanks

I bit the bullet and masked and sprayed the swastikas on my Bismarck. It was a chore, but it looks great. I put one on the stern also; pictures of the wreck show that there was one there also.

All in all, I think the paint will look more realistic. It doesn't have to be perfect and a decal would make it look a little too smooth and "plasticy" to me.

Any tips on how you did the painting, what where the steps you took. How did you get a template of the cross.?

Ditto...Any painting tips on white circle and how did you get proper size swastika? Thanks..bill

Hi BIll, I got your decals and will post them tomorrow (thursday,25th) You should have them in about a week. Lots of different sizes so you can choose the best and keep the rest for other projects or anyone else you know who needs them.
Glad to help a Vet'
Jim Ryan....

Jim, you overwhelm me! Thank you so much and thanks to all the other modelers who hve been in touch about this swastika thing. I learned a lot from all of you...especially about how cooperative and friendly you guys are!......New Jersey Bill

For those interested in painting the swastika: I created it first on AutoCAD,
a computer drafting program and then printed it out. It was then carefully cut out and used as a guide for cutting the swastika out of clear packing tape, which was carefully positioned over the painted white circle. I then sprayed Tamiya semi-gloss black. It required minimal touch up and looks good, but it was a rather tedious job. Given the choice I'd rather use a decal but I couldn't find one big enough. It came out good enough to take first place in the "Ships" category at my local show, though.

I masked and painted mine and it looks pretty good too. I took the denetions from the instructions. Well good enough for me and my 10 yr old nefew says it looks kool and who am I to argue.