1⁄350
Port of Montevideo

a photo feature by Kostas Katseas of a Trumpeter kit
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The Admiral Graf Spee
On December 13, 1939, Nazi Germany would receive its bit hit on the chin of World War II. Three British Cruisers, the HMS Exeter, HMS Ajax and HMS Achilles, would engage one of Germany’s pocket battleships off the coast of Uruguay and Argentina near the estuary of the River Plate. The battle was swift and too much surprise, decidedly against the obviously more powerful Admiral Graf Spee where the smaller and very much relentless cruisers of the British fleet would strike a crippling blow to the Graf Spee causing her to limp into the Port of Montevideo, Uruguay.

At this point in the war, Uruguay was neutral and after a short cat and mouse game between the British Admiralty and diplomats along with the Uruguayan Government, the Graf Spee would have to leave the port and was given 72 hours to go. The Graf Spee’s Captain was under the belief that the ship was predestined, ordered the removal of his men and subsequently the destroying of the ship itself. On December 17, 1939, the Admiral Graf Spee limped from the Port of Montevideo and was scuttled.
The Port of Montevideo


Kostas Katseas shares with us his depiction of the end results of the first major clash between Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine and Allied Naval Forces of the Second World War where the outcome would be decisively in the hands of the Allies. The centerpiece to this watery Diorama is his 1/350 Scale pocket battleship, the Admiral Graf Spee.

Kostas has used Trumpeter’s 1/350 German Pocket Battleship Admiral Graf Spee kit enhanced with photo etch supplied form White Ensign , a tug boat from Alliance Models, a scratch-built barge by Kostas himself, North Star figures and more. Kostas has depicted the ship during the offloading the dead and crew while the captain gives a speech. Kostas lets us know that he is “…not sure all this happened in this order or the locations but this is how I imagined it anyway.”

Model Shipwrights would like to thank Kostas Katseas for proving us with a photo feature of his Admiral Graf Spee in the Port of Montevideo.
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About the Author

About Kostas Katseas (Angeleyes)
FROM: DRAMA, GREECE / Ελλάδα


Comments

Namabiiru
Kostas, That's a fantastic diorama, especially with all those figures. It amazes me you can put that much detail in such a small scale. A superb effort! I am curious, though, because apart from the wrecked floatplane, I'm having a tough time spotting any battle damage.
APR 28, 2015 - 07:00 AM
justsendit
Kostas, I just can't get enough of your beautiful works of art ... very impressive! —mike
APR 28, 2015 - 07:44 AM
bill_c
A master modeler.
APR 28, 2015 - 08:18 PM
CaptSonghouse
What a superb example of historical diorama storytelling! In addition to the fine craftsmanship, Kostas has carefully researched what went on at a certain moment after the Spee's arrival in Montevideo and captured it exactly. Bravo! --Karl
APR 28, 2015 - 09:30 PM
Biggles2
There should be a large ragged hole on port bow just above the waterline, as well as many other smaller holes and splinter damage to the superstructure, as well as the absence of the seaplane retrieval boom which was jettisoned early in the cruise. But I really shouldn't criticize as I certainly couldn't do any better!
APR 28, 2015 - 09:54 PM
Angeleyes
Thank you gents.
APR 28, 2015 - 11:57 PM
Angeleyes
The only visible damage from pictures was the large hole on port side on bow and various smaller holes all bunched up on either sides of the ships hull.The plane ofcource .Now regarding damage on superstructure which am sure there should be some, i just couldnt locate any visible enough to worth depicting in that scale from the pictures available so i decided not to improvise .
APR 29, 2015 - 12:00 AM
TRM5150
Fine job on this one Kostas! I just look past the missing damage and can appreciate the work you put into it! Excellent work with the crew!
APR 29, 2015 - 03:28 AM
TimReynaga
Kostas, this diorama is absolutely stunning! I especially like the realistic depiction of the crew and the flag-draped coffins being transferred to the lighter. Beautifully done!
APR 29, 2015 - 04:09 AM
JPTRR
Kostas, at the risk of sounding like a cheerleader - you have created yet another superb model and diorama! That burnt-out Arado, how did you do that!? The coffins - poignant.
APR 29, 2015 - 08:25 PM
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Copyright ©2021 by Kostas Katseas. _OPINIONS Model Shipwrights, KitMaker Network, or Silver Star Enterrpises. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of Model Shipwrights. All rights reserved. Originally published on: 2015-04-28 12:11:39. Unique Reads: 6989