Thanks Mr Sallows.
Maybe that is why Trumpeter didn't do one in 1/200. I think it is an obvious partner for the Bismarck.
Cheers
Warren

Hello again.
Time for a largish update after a couple of days of solid work.
First up the saga of the mast/derrick mounted midships. The following diagram shows what the original looked like complete with weird indentations in the blocky bit at the bottom which should not even be there..

After removing said blocky bit the weird indentations had made a mess of the bottom of the mast which I started to fill ..

I am not a filler kind of person and decided to build my own mast out of bits of the original mast, PE assemblies and some 2.5mm round plastic stock that was just the right size for a replacement.

I made the saddle the eye is mounted on out of scrap PE and the eye came from the original mast.

Then I made the three black and tackle assys out of the Eduard PE set and attached them to the mast. Lastly I fitted the platform to the base of the mast and made a transferred the key at the bottom of the mast to the bottom of the new one so it would have a good solid connection to the deck later on.

Then I attached the starfish platform to the top of the mast and put the PE railing on, but one slight problme, Eduard has made the PE too short so I will have to source some more from somewhere to fill the gap.

I also noticed that this Eduard PE set is not as good as others I have tried as the railings do not have the little indentations in them where you are supposed to fold them.
After that I made the aerial that sits on top of the platform..

I then proceeded to start constructing the 8 barrel pom-poms of which three are required. I decided to use the WEM set. Everything was going well until I dropped one of the barrel assemblies..

When I picked it up I found that seven of the eight barrels had broken off in the fall..

After turning the air above the workbench a dark blue with a little language I went looking for the tiny barrels and found five of them, but the other two had been devoured by the carpet monster. But I came up with a solution and used the Trumpeter barrel assembly, which is fine really, with the WEM PE/ As you can see the PE version is a litle more detailed than the plastic one.

I had a look at the Eduard instructions later and that assy is even more detailed than the WEM one so I am going to build one tomorrow and if it is better I will build them and use them on either the POW or KGV later on. Here are the three mounts..

Next up I broke out the WEM resin turret set. Here they are before I attached the Trumpeter barrels with blast bags..

I had to sand down the bases by about 1.5 mm or so which came of pretty quickly with coarse wet and dry sandpaper, which of course I used wet to avoid resin dust.. Here they are after installation of the barrels which had to be modified by removing the mounting lugs and a bit more mods to let the guns sit correctly.

Then I built the seven twin 4.5in guns using the brass barrels in the Trumpeter upgrade set, which haven't got hollow muzzles, Trumpeter turrets and Eduard PE bits. Here are some before painting..

Finally I built these little U P rocket launchers before going to the paint shop..

Then it was off to the paint shop for a long session..



So tomorrow will bring the build close to completion after I allow the paint to dry overnight.

Coming along very nicely Warren.....Cheers mark

Thanks Mark

What is that I can hear? It is a rather large, buxom lady singing,, ah, that'll mean this build is at an end..
It is amazing how these complicated builds always seem to end very suddenly. I noticed near the end that I hadn't done a very thorough job on the inside of the funnels so I had to attempt to spray the insides with more matt black. I tried by brush but it just wasn't working, so with some trepidation I attacked with the trusty Premi-air and amazingly no overspray!
No rigging on this one as I have just lost a bit of motivation at the moment. can always do it later.. but anything I use in this scales seems to mt eyes at least too thick. Might give my 0.1mm copper wire a go later. {;ease excuse the naked hawse pipes.. I am waiting for some [hoto-etch mesh to get here..























And there you have it, the Trumpeter 1/350 HMS Hood in all her pre-disaster glory.
Again I used the Eduard PE Set, WEM 8-barrel Pom-Pom set and WEM Resin Turret set. The Pom-Poms that came with the Eduard set are actually a bit more detailed again than the WEM set, but I can use them on my POW later on if needed.
I had few fit problems with this kit, most of which where caused by my mistakes. I also shwed a severe lack of planning with the degaussing cables with the Eduard set. I did not know the original moulded-on ones had to be removed before the PE ones went on, so the originals stay which isn't too bad..
So here endth the lesson...
Cheers everyone,
Warren

Nice build Warren, the pom-poms look better with the after market aditions. Elegant looking ship.
Cheers,
Julian

Congratulations Warren!! You are the" Usain Bolt" of Model shipwrights!!!

very little to end!! But have taken care the great B of Julian stay free too!!

Regards Daniel

I don't think anyone else has as much time on their hands as me Daniel. I think I can have my MTB finished too quickly so I may have to build other kits at the same time, like Trumpeter's 1/350 Graf Spee..

I agree Julian. It is actually longer than the Bismarck!

Cheers for now
Warren

Warren that is an awesome Build of the HMS Hood
very well done sir.

Cheers

Sascha(Ironowl)

Thanks for that Sascha!

I am afraid I dropped the ball a little at the end with the rigging, but it will get done eventually. Will plan more with the next build.

Thanks again
Warren

Great job Warren,

Very tidy etch work, really captures the feel of the old girl.

Si

Thanks Simon.

You're a better man than I, Gunga Din. Looks really good Warren. Al

Very nicely done warren.....Cheers mark

I thought I was the only one in the world who remembered that saying. That is a very large compliment coming from you Al.
Thanks mate
Cheers
Warren

Thanks mark.
Cheers
Warren

Rudyard Kipling? Great stuff Warren, my favourite is "the young British soldier":

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
Go, go, go like a soldier,
So-oldier of the Queen!
(or possibly Tony Bliar instead of the Queen)

Just seen this build Warren, makes for an enjoyable read!

Great ship, beautifully built... congratulations.

Cheers Kev