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1/350 DKM Bismark with WEM PE Set

And so it was with this story in the back of my mind that I first saw that White Ensign Models was about to release an “Ultimate Bismarck” photo etched detail set and I knew I had to build another. After some correspondence with John Snyder at WEM I had 3 sets of brass details made to enhance Tamiya’s 1/350 scale kit. These sets included Bismarck/Tirpitz Photo etched deck plate details; Bismarck/Tirpitz Photo etched metal details, and Kriegsmarine AA weapons photo etched metal detail set. The deck set consists of 35 brass parts designed to lay over the kits decks and provide wood relief, steel grating and no slip tread plate. Also included are brass replacements for AA position splinter shielding. The detail set consists of 132 different types of parts (many replicated 2+ times) for detailing or replacing existing kit parts. The final set, Kriegsmarine AA set consists of brass parts to replace the kits light AA weapons-2cm C38 quad flakvierling, 2cm C 38 single, 3.7cm double flak and 2cm C 30 single guns. Construction begins with preparing the hull for mounting. The center of the hull is determined by measuring from the most extreme points fore and aft. In this case the bow and stern at the deck level. Once the center of the hull is marked on the keel I measured 4” fore and aft

and drilled holes to accept the bolts that will go through the base, pedestals and finally the hull itself. Inside the hull the nuts for the bolts are secured with craft (Popsicle) sticks cut to hold the nut in place and glued down with epoxy.

In this way it’s easy to mount the hull on a “work board” for construction then easily transfer it to the finished base once the majority of the construction is finished. Following the kits instructions the propellers and rudder are attached and the deck pieces are installed. Tamiya’s 3 piece decks are often the cause of concern for modelers because of their desire to save the raised planking detail. I simply squared the mating surfaces with a file and used liquid cement to join the deck sections. I then removed the seams with 400 grit sandpaper and installed the deck to the hull. The numerous holes for cable reels and 20cm guns were filled and the deck was airbrushed with a base “deck color” of my own mix. This was then sealed with Future acrylic floor finish to prevent further layers of paint from lifting the base color. The WEM (White Ensign Models) brass replacement decks for the 01 level were then added. The mounting posts for the kit’s 10.5cm AA guns need to be thinned slightly to allow the brass tread plate (fore batteries) and wood decking (rear batteries) to slip in place easily.