Thank you Dave
Well, unbeknown to the RN, the following secret documents were uncovered and orders opened by the DKM and work has recommenced in secret on the Prinz.
now, spies were sent to scour the depths of the internet to find the information to accurately back date the Prinz to 22May 1941, operation Rheinübung!
Lurking on an obscure website were the beginnings of the following instructions which were then pieced together with with the information in above documents. To successfully back date the Prinz alter each assembly step as per below
Step 2 parts F1 and G15/17. The four triple torpedo launchers did not feature their anti-spray copula. Use part F2 instead.
Step 3 parts F14/G37. Delete all 20 mm guns and fill holes in deck. (x7)
Step 5 parts G35, F14/G37. Delete 20 mm gun and platform. Fill holes in top of turret. (x2)
Step 6 parts F14/G37. Delete all 20 mm guns and replace with 20mm single L65 C/38 (x2)
Step 7 parts G20 and G4. Delete these directors and replace by circular tub and 3m rangefinders.
Step 8 parts G16/G23/G24. Delete and replace with 37mm twins. L38 C/30 (x2)
Step 9 parts G22 (4x). Delete these Sumatra radar antennas.
Step 9 parts G18. Delete and replace with 20mm single L65 C/38 (x2)
Step 9 part C24. The large Tyfon ship’s whistle must be relocated from the roof of the bridge to protrude from the front bulwark of part A4, starboard of the centreline.
Step 9 parts B40/D10. Modify director house to have only one level. Cut/sand off all detail from top of B40, cut radar support and observation turret from D10 and cement these to B40.
Step 9 part B29. Replace FuMO 26 radar by spare FuMO 27 radar from mainmast (B19), or use WEM #48, as they supply the two required, one for the foretop and one for the main mast.
Step 10, parts G12/13 on B3/4. The two forward high-angle AA-directors are lacking their domed tops (in German: "Wackeltopf"). This pair was handed over to the Russians, together with the aft pair from Bismarck and together with the 3rd ship of the second batch of Hipper class cruisers, the Lützow (Feb. 1940). In place of the domed tops, ordinary 3m-rangefinders were installed. Build these from scratch, or use them from a Bismarck kit.
Step 10 part A11. The AA platform in front of the conning tower, directly above the Admiral's Bridge, was narrower and just featured a railing and a searchlight instead of the Flakvierling. Modify the kit part and add the searchlight. Use a spare searchlight from another kit, and use the platform from WEM, #121 and 122.
Step 11 parts D2/21/22/27/28. From the additional deckhouse beneath the searchlight platform of the main mast, the upper storey needs to be removed.
Step 11 part B4. Aft of this additional deckhouse, between the main mast and the aft rangefinder/gun director base, there are a few changes in the layout of the bulwarks. I don’t have access to photos right now but check p.4 of this thread here. There is a photo which shows the additional bulwark. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t there in 1941.
Step 11 parts C38/39, A15 and B19. Delete all radars from mainmast.
Step 13 part (A)PE10. Replace slant railing with an upright one, covered by canvas. WEM provide this.
Step 13 F14/G37 (for’d). Delete and replace with 20mm single L65 C/38 (x2)
Step 13 parts F14/G37 (aft) and G16/G23/G24. Delete and replace with 37mm twins. L38 C/30 (x4)
Step 14 parts A5/6. The AA platforms on either side of the funnel were searchlight platforms, with hemispherical rotatable covers. Similar to Bismarck. Platforms can be modified by cutting off rear platform extension, and making fixed part of domed hood from scratch (Evergreen strip). Rotatable dome parts from Bismarck kit, or modified from spare Wackeltopf rangefinder (G12/13) which has the same diameter.
Disposition of boats, life rafts and paravanes still to be checked.
Now to the progress
The molded detail on the capstans was removed and a brass rod fitted, so that the etched hand wheel can be added later and it will sit proud of the capstan as per the real item
torpedo launchers prepped
deck fittings
and the final scratch building added to the shelter deck (which is now ready for paint)
I won't be painting the shelter deck yet though as I plan to prep all the other super structure elements and paint as one, so for the meantime it will just be the deck fittings, capstans, and launchers...
If anyone has any corrections please feel free to comment. I still can't figure out why Trumpy wouldn't have dated this kit to 1941, but hey, that's life and part of model making.
Thanks for looking
This will teach me to pay more attention in the future when I start building up the upper superstructure.
