Ships of the German Flag GB 2020

Marcus that looks like some real eye strain there! That tool was worthwhile, those are straight For sure. The pull-back shot was valuable. Even with the dime the shot from a distance shows how small they are.

ikar01

The P.E. I've been using are from Eduard and their instructions don't cover everything in their set.  I have several parts that I have no idea what to do with them so they will go into the spares box for some future project.  The kit supplied its own set of P.E. but they don't show much  in the way of placment either

Thanks for the instructions link.  I did notice a couple things that I missed on my sheets and will be taking care of thes oversites soon.

 

When I explained in detail my question, they responded within a day and provided an answer within a week.

It was their mistake, but it solved the problem and gave me the info to move the parts they supplied and make the new ones I needed,

Bill

Marcus, I did the same thing to the Akagi. I finially found a fine tiped awe rather than a drill worked better for me to make the holes for the rungs. I got tired of breaking my .02mm drill bits. I really like the alignment tape they provide.

modelcrazy

Marcus, I did the same thing to the Akagi. I finially found a fine tiped awe rather than a drill worked better for me to make the holes for the rungs. I got tired of breaking my .02mm drill bits. I really like the alignment tape they provide.

I kept the drill bit as short as possible sticking out of the chuck and the plastic ICM used for this model is very soft.  The softest I have experience so far.  Very Fire does not provide any tape for alignment.  I used blue painters and Tamiya tape to hold the template down.

Marus

All,

I finished the painting the hull and installed the upper deck, 152mm guns to the lower deck.  Now I can work on detailing and installing the superstructures, etc..

Layed down a couple of fine coats of Future to protect the paint but still have some touch ups to do.  Typical of ICM the upper deck needed quite of bit of trimming to make it fit and sit down correctly on the hull.  There are spots that will need some putty and paint touch ups.

It wasn't fun having to tape around all of those coal scuttles (hatches?) but the effect was worth it.  Anyway until the next post, stay safe.

Marcus

Marcus all that detail is going to pay off. That whole deck is shaping up to be sharp.

On my end hit a major milestone today, all the major elements are done! 

in this one you can see the little control house i call it on the pier. I painted it to match a picture from 2008 so it has a modern day coloring 

Something else I've learned as part of this build - the red house and barn color is a signature of the region. red was the cheapest color to make. It came from local cod liver oil and ochre. this one in my diorama is all hand made. I printed the windows on 24lb paper so they would have depth on the house. Stippled the shingles with a sponge and 3 different gray shades and some nato black.

I'm going to have a crane pulling the motor launch from the water. Trying to set up the premise that they are preparing to get under way...that's why the captain is hauling butt to get back from his girlfrien's house to the ship haha

The water in this one looks good from 2' away. Up close and in the pics you can see my calm channel in the fjord has some flat spots in it. This experiment using gloss medium needs more work.
As always lots of small stuff to do. I'm 1/3 thru the rigging, have to do wakes and water effects, boats all need placed, lines dropped to all the boats as well, put on the cranes and planes, you guys know how much it takes to close these out! Look for final pics next week sometime!

Mongoose,

Great progress, the diorama is looking awesome. Adding the house is a nice touch, reflects that the Tirpiz is sitting in Norway.

Marcus

I've gota problem.  I was putting on a propeller for the Graf Spee and it went somewhere toward the garage floor.  I started a search for the parts and went as far as moving st[rage shelves and racks just in case it bounced under one but so far it has not turned up.  Shame I wasn't doing a diorama aboiut Stalag 13 because nothing escapes from there.

Does anybody know where I can get a replacement set from either a kit that was done waterline or aftermarket props.  These are 3 bladed props aboiut 1/2 inch across.

No help on sourcing one.  But take a flashlight and get down and hold it close to the floor and sweep it across the area. Anything there will be easier to see.

Unfortunately I'm not able to get on the floor easily or without pain and getting up can be just as bad.  I have used a flashlight at different angles, a long handled sticky roller, and moved things around.  So far, nothing.

I have the 3 from Tamiya's Tirpitz. May be of some  help. If I remember correctly tho 2 are the wrong direction, their design mistake. If that doesn't bother you then i can grab a pic and we can see if they are close to what you need. For some reason I'm thinking they aren't that big in diameter. Will have to check when i can get to the model room later today.

chris

Ikar here's a trick that may help you. If you have an extension tube for the vacuum add it to the hose, then put a woman's stocking over the end with a rubber band around it. Now you run that all around the floor while standing up. If it's there that vacumm will suck it right up and the stocking will hold it there for you to grab 

ikar01

Does anybody know where I can get a replacement set from either a kit that was done waterline or aftermarket props.  These are 3 bladed props aboiut 1/2 inch across.

Yes. I can send you mine. It's and Academy kit but should work. Just PM me your address.

Marcus.

That's a great looking deck! 

Mongoose.

Wow! I have to say that is just looking sweet. You have a knack for ships.

modelcrazy

Marcus.

That's a great looking deck! 

Mongoose.

Wow! I have to say that is just looking sweet. You have a knack for ships.

Mongoose,

Thank you.  Now to start building up.

Marcus

When a German battleship was moored did they raise the flag on the stern jackshaft or was it on the main mast? Never thought of this before And I don't know enough about the military to know which one it is but I would guess that there is a standard established for diffe situations 

I believe they raised it on the stern while at port and on the mast while moving, although I've seen them on the stearn underway. I'd say while in port it would be at the stearn.

Marcus and Mongoose, thats stunning work from both of you. I particularly like the stern shot of the Tirpitz. The  way you have done the water and the wake from the Captains cutter is awsome mongoose.

Sadly I dont think the decks on the Emden are going to look anything like yours Marcus.

Thanks Dodgy!

Heres a few more wip pics of the Tirpitz. 
my 1st major rigging. The Enterprise was easy for the little i needed to do. And now all of a sudden i have to do these dual lines! Made myself a jig and bent them oit of some fine wire. Tried a number of things before this that were all epic failures lol

Hopefully they look good after paint. They seem to be ok scale wise, although i was debating a thinner wore I didn't have anything smaller. This is about  0.3mm

And I'm pretty happy woth this. It's all stretched black sprue.

Lastly I finished up the Fjord and now it's ready for gloss varnish! I spent 2 days working on the wake for the launch. The wake is colored using a sponge dipped in gloss white. This method seems to have turned out well. I never did it all at once - i did some and let it dry, then came back later and made another layer. The background colors seemed to blend in nocely doing it this way.

Excelent eater Chris. I've never tried to replicate that triangular long wire set up the Germans and British used  I might have to barrow that. At least you don't have to build the ring antennas the Japanese used.

Mongoose,

Nice effort on the rigging, really looks nice.  Never used stretched sprue, always Ez-line. 

That launch really looks like it moving at a nice clip, could water ski behind it..LOL.  Really nice work creating the wake.  Those two days were worth it.

Marcus

Everyone,

Another quick update. 

Added another deck assembly behind the turret B.  Three pieces that if you don't align it correctly on the deck and to the barrbette the deck piece would not fit correctly. 

I was able to place it correctly the first attempt.  Also layed down the recognition marking (decal) for the turret. 

Doesn't look like much done but all the decking for the superstructures have been painted and masked and a waiting paint.  Will post those photos after painting.

Overall this is how the SMS Kronprinz is looking.

Until the next post.

Stay safe,

Marcus

Marcus McBean

Overall this is how the SMS Kronprinz is looking.

Marcus, It doesn't take much to chew up time on ships. I know that's a lot more work than it looks.

Looking good there Marcus. Not sure if you have already said, but whats the reason for the white circle on the turrest.

Bish,

They are recognition markings so they don't get bomb by their own air force.  The germans also paint their secondary funnel red so they won't confuse their ships with an enemy during combat.   Before the fleet arrives back at base they paint the funnel back to it's original color.

Marcus 

Thanks Marcus, should have guessed that really.

Or at least to be distinguished by scout aircraft. Think this was 1917 on. Post Jutland.

Bill

Here is a photo of the 88mm gun that will sit of the deck of the rear superstructure of the SMS Kronprinz.  Looks a little plain don't you think.

So I pick these up from Shapeways the other day.  I would say these are not so plain.

They fit inside of the gun shields just fine. 

Finished painting the superstructures and just waiting for the paints to dry and cure (All of the paints are Model Master enamels).  Should have some photos Monday or Tuesday.  Once I get them in place things should progress more quickly.

Marcus

It's May 31st 1942. The spotter planes alerted Tirpitz to incoming British aircraft. This time they decide to head for open ocean. The Kapitän zur See (KzS–Captain at Sea) Karl Topp is rushing back from the traditional Norwegian red farmhouse. A young Kapitänleutnant readies crewmen to meet him and prepare the Tirpitz for combat operations. The crew is scrambling to remove the camouflage so they can get underway. Cranes are bringing in planes and boats. Crewmen are pulling the tarps off boats. One young swabbie is being berated for sitting on dein Hintern.

The little control house at the stern mooring was painted this color light blue in 2011 so this brings a small element of the present to the historical scene. The ship itself is all out of the box. Red House and moorings are handmade. Water is foam, gesso, lacquer & acrylic paint, and gloss medium & varnish. Scenic Woodlands realistic water & water effects plus a myriad of their ground cover over an old railroad bridge cut in half and repurposed. Of all things my favorite element is the red house lol Overall this is the best piece I have done to date. I'm really happy with how it ended up turning out. The biggest SAVE was the water. My original waves came out all drooped and fell flat. I put Gloss Gel  Medium on a toothpick and put crests on all the flat spots. Whew, what a save I think but I'll let you be the judge from here 

ModelCrazy pick your favorite for the front page if you would :-)

MM....got to love any of the guns I've seen from Shapeways.  Works of art in their own.

Mongoose... Nicely done project.  Every time you look, you find something else that you go "WOW!"