BISMARCK

[COENIE]

Thanks guys, especially for the K Mike.

[COENIE]

A little slow on the build lately, but a weeks leave is up and coming.

I now received the last issues from Jacklin and I must say I was totally satisfied with their service here in SA the past two and a half years. Keep up the good work guys and please start the HMS VIctory series in SA a.s.a.p.

I'm now in the process of completing the decking. I think I made a mistake as I painted a coat of clear varnish on the deck parts without being instructed to do so earlier. I now struggled to make the joints less visible.

I guess all of us pay a little "school fee" every now and then in life.

[mike]

Your Bismarck sure looks good Coenie
The deck joints won't notice when all the superstructure and deck parts are fitted


mike

[GrantJ]

Thats coming along nicely now Coenie

As Mike so rightly says -dont worry too much about the joints in the deck as they are barely visible on the finished model!

I am still waiting for definite dates on Victory out here - have just sent another email to them - will be in touch. On a happier note though - we where cleaning out at work the other day setting up a showroom and came across a number of tins of good quality sanding sealer. I salvaged a good few of them from being thrown out so have a couple for you for use on your Victory. Will hold on to them until your next visit to the big city

[COENIE]

Thanks for the motivation guys. Grant you're a real "Staat maker" - in the absence of a better English word in my vocabulary - I'll pick it up as soon as I'm in Joey's.

My week leave started today and I digged into my Bissy from the moment my work clothes were off (AND my Bissy building clothes were ON - just in case some of you might think I'm a nudist model builder).

Now this is the cream I've been waiting for about two and a half years. It's what make model building soooo flippin nice if I can see every bit coming together to "paint" that magnificent model.



I just realized that I also painted the starboard side capston red and white. Tomorrow green will replace the red.

[GrantJ]

Enjoy your weeks Bismarck leave!

You are now onto the best part of all , fitting all the substructures to the hull

Will look out for more photos as you go

[COENIE]

Thanks Grant.

This is my first full day progress on the Bismarck, beside starting to revamp the dog box for my two Labradors.

Fitted the barbettes for Anton and Dora, all the little cleats and so on as well as decking for both super structures. I didn't glue them to the lower structure as yet. So far so good.





Finally a little labour saving idea that I tried and it proved to be successful. I took all the tiny parts that needs painting, roll out a few pieces of press stick, place all the parts in and on the press stick, spray it first with primer and then the final coat. While I was waiting for the paint to dry I drilled all the little holes on the deck and fitted the little buggers with a flat nose tweezer and a piece of press stick fitted to a tooth pick (a little hint from Mark on his Buildthebismarck website) as soon as the paint was touch dry.

[Mark]

A Blutack (as we call it) sausage for holding small parts for painting. Sounds like a great idea. Glad you found one of my tips useful.

[GrantJ]

Now thats what I call progress

I am sure the dogs will understand if their dog house only gets done next week

Marks tip is indeed a goodie - I tried to paint all the small fiddly bits before cutting them loose but where I was unable to used the same method. The only differenc was to put a blob of prestik on the end of a sosatie stck and push it into a block of foam.

Keep up the good work

[COENIE]

Progress on the Bissy between the dog box and the Blondes.

Finished issue 137 this afternoon.

This is just the work on the two super structures.







When I test fitted the super structures, I found that especially the aft super structure is riding alot of see-saw on the deck. Anyone with a hint on how to fix this.

[GrantJ]

It really is coming together nicely now

Seeing as you havent posted any photos of the dog house my guess is you havent got round to it yet By the way the fixing of the dog house is in issue 141

As for the see-saw - is the problem the deck or the superstructure? If it is the superstructure then just tape a full piece of rough sandpaper to your workbench and sand the structure on it in circular or figure eight motions ( this ensures an even sanding)

[mike]

Hi Coenie
Had the same problem. I did the same as Grant suggested but I taped the sandpaper to a sheet of glass, worked ok


mike

[COENIE]

Definitely the super structure and I'm off to try the advice given.

Thanks guys, what would one do without a forum family.

[GrantJ]

I am sure it will work for you

Remember my tip about the rigging before gluing your fore and aft superstructures down Its covered in the last entry on :

http://buildthebismark.proboards.com/in ... 326&page=3

[COENIE]

I'm sure the most annoying thing for most of us is the smoothing of nibs especially those tiny parts. This action has brought me to my knees alot as the buggers tend to slip out of control every time the nib removal is in process.

Today, after a kneeling "ceremony" an idea came up to control the little round parts, like the depth charges and the smoke cannisters, better while removing the nibs.

I took my long nose pliers, place the part as far back as possible, grip it firmly and use my triangle shape file to "attack" the nibs from left to right and back. It works wonders keeping me off my knees for the rest of the day.





Done some parts on the deck and some on the super structures today.



Sorry for my glas of whisky in the bottom of the picture. Was just starting to celebrate a good day with Bissy.

[COENIE]

Progress on the Bismarck was a bit slow the past two days as the dog box job was postponed, but the garage needed painting.

Before



After



The Bismarck progress. I struggled to bend the little pieces of wood, especially to keep them at the right angle, but it came out well in the end.



The tiny parts on the super structures are attached and the structures are ready to be glued onto the deck.

Your advice of sandpaper on the bence worked well Grant and both structures fit properly now.



Out came the chocolate box and the next step is to finalize the turrets.

[Mark]

Nice work on the garage. The contents of the choc box are much more interesting that they were before you at the chocs ! Although I don't suppose your wife would agree

[GrantJ]

Good work on the garage - it takes a big man to put down his Bismarck at this stage of the build and repaint the garage

Glad to hear you sorted out the superstructure levelling. By my estimation you should finish the Bismarck as the Victory starts - good planning on your part

[COENIE]

Sorry for the absence, but it appears that my employer wants to catch up on the weeks leave I had.

Anyhow, finished with issue 138. Some photos of the turrets.







Also finished work on the control centres and range finders.



My personal favorite - the ship's bell.



I nearly became to anxious to finish, but after a few mistakes that cost me dearly (in time spend), I decided the best way is the step by step with brains working all the time.

[GrantJ]

Looks fantastic Coenie well done

[COENIE]

Finish with the barbettes for turret Bruno and Ceaser.

Quite a struggle getting the catwalks on barbette Ceaser especialy the way Hatchette suggested.

After a few tries, I decided to first paint the barbette and catwalks apart, glue the barbette in place and while the two part epoxy was setting the catwalks and handrails was fitted so that I could move the turret a bit while fitting.



Fitting barbette Bruno was much easier.



Also finish with the catapult area so far.



Fitted the aircraft cranes and painting the top of the funnel is now ahead.

[mike]

Nice job Coenie your bissy is going to look a real beauty when she's finished.

BTW My bissy's on her way to this port.

mike

[GrantJ]

Great job as usual Coenie