Thank you for the pics, Si!

Is this a current build? Would be great to see a build log if it is...

I'm very tempted to get mine out and have a look as I've seen good reviews and some not so good. Maybe yours was one of the wrong'uns!

Guys, change of plans. Due to time being against me for the next couple of months as we are short staffed at work I'm changing my build. As you may know I'm also running the Guadacanal campaign which is open format ie ships, planes armour etc so I'm bringing the Nasty Arsty over here and will build a plane in my campaign. Hope you guys don't mind the USS Astoria instead of Graf Spee.

Kit, wood deck, Flyhawk life rafts, Voyager early 20mm, GMM PE and assorted other pe to fill any gaps as needed, there's also a set of brass barrels not in the photo which will be used.

Thanks Si and Tom. I've "started" on this kit with the screws. I was airbrushing Alclad Pale Gold for my Mogami and decided it was also a good time to color up the ones for this kit. I agree, Tom, this will be a challenge to build. I am planning how to tackle this using parts from Artwox and Eduard. We shall see.

Hi Russ,

It is a current build, trying to spread the word on shipbuilding over on armorama.

https://archive.kitmaker.net/forums/233081&ord=&page=7

Hi Luciano,

Don't mind the change of build at all, looks like it is going to be an interesting conversion.

Hi Joseph,

Looking forward to seeing some pictures.

Cheers,

Si

Small update on The Scharnhorst.

All the portholes of the superstructure drilled out, moulded on ladder scraped off and replaced with some spare horizontal ladder, and more work on the iron ladders.



More soon,

Cheers.

si

Small update.

After superstructure, doors fitted and base coated.



camo'ed and five pieces of wood deck down.



On with those ladders on the bridge next,

Cheers.

Si

Onward,

The iron ladders finished.



Bridge wings under construction, another bloober in the instructons, the parts on the fret numbered 1 & 2 are 2 & 3 on the sheet.



Bridge wings done.



Work started on 37mm AA deck, one small issue with the railings from the WEM set, they don't take into account the step from the platform up to the deck.



gutter bar snipped off the rear section, all good now.



Forward AA directors assembled.



Basic assembly on the forward gunnery control position. Clear front seems a bit pointless, I shall overspray, and put a dark wash in the windows.


AA directors and forward gunnery control test fitted in place.



Bridge components base coated.



Decking down on the 37mm gun deck. This is why I could not glue the AA directors down prior to painting.



Test fitted in place with AA directors fitted.



Overview with all parts test fitted in place.



Cheers.

Si

Very nice progress on the Scharnhorst, Si. I looked in on your T45 build over on armorama-interesting challenges you're having there. I've seen a few builds online where the moulded islands have been cut off from the main deck piece to allow the superstructure to be built up without interference from it!

All going into the memory bank for future use

Not much to report from Belfast for this week, I was busy and away from the bench...

Si,
great work on the Scharnhorst, this looks fantastic. You are RUNNING ahead! With all your parts test fitted, it already clearly looks like a Scharnhorst class ship. Heart and crisp work on the details!! This really makes me want to bring out my own Scharnhorst...

Cheers,

Jan

Thanks Russ,

Missed those builds, pity, would have saved me some blood, sweat and

At least my build is pretty much how not to do it, but I will complete her, stick the big red dragon on the bow and hope that distracts the viewers from some of the faults.

Thanks Jan,

Mostly big simple structures so far (with a few added details) lots and lots of very small parts and complex sub assemblies to come.

Looking forward to seeing some progress on the Belfast, when you have time. (Got a few busy weekends coming up myself so progress amy slow down a bit)

Cheers

Si

Si,
A question if I may.
When you fitted the upper and lower hull parts, did you bother fitting that annoying inner insert into the bow section?
Many have omitted it because it wouldn't allow the hull halves to go together properly, and no one seems to know why Dragon included it in the first place.

Hi Dave,

No I didn't, must admit I missed on Dragon's "clear and comprehensive instruction sheet" when I put the upper and lower hull halves together. Frankly as the fit was good I did not worry about it.

I will have another look when I get home, but the upper and lower hull located at the bow very neatly without it, so what it does I do not know.

Cheers.

Si

Hi Dave,

Had a study of the instructions, couldn't see the bit you mentioned, so I definitely didn't fit it.

Made a bit more progress today.

Camouflage on the lower bridge.



The gratings drybrushed buff, and washed dark brown, the wood decking also down.



The last piece of wood down on the deck behind the barbette for Bruno turret, all the other bridge components built so far test fitted.



cheers

Si

Great progress on your Scharnhorst, Si!! - Of topic, would be great if Dragon would bring put a Gneisenau vice a second Scharnhorst, I fully agree!! Bu perhaps there is a chance to build her into a Gneisenau, we'll have to see once the kit is out...

Finally some progress to report on my Belfast - more pics as usual in the build log.

Some small arms - essentially all the Oerlikons, completed and painted. Big relief



Some work done on the forward superstructure and the main wooden deck is down. Artwox did a good job on the laser cutting, and the deck's a perfect fit!



I hope the weather remains favorable - and by that I don't mean hot summer weather... - then there should be some more progress to report soon

Cheers,

Jan

Thanks Jan,

Belfast is coming on well, looking forward to seeing more progress.

Got a bit further on the Scharnhorst.

The brass funnel interior together, the typically the part numbers in the instructions are mixed up, so much test fitting was required to get them in the right order.



The funnel and funnel cap interiors and the interior piece sprayed black.



Test fitted with its rear section onto the midships deck.



All the platforms and etch on the funnel.



The funnel and upper after superstructure deck sprayed, the wood deck fitted and all test fitted in place.



Cheers.

Si

Si,

He is looking good. Nice to see a PE set that includes the internal working for the funnel. Look forward to seeing more

Dave

Simon and Jan, great progress on your builds.
Its great to see the different approach in cruisers from two key combatants.

cheers

Michael

Hi Dave,

It is nice in this scale not to have a shallow solid funnel, I reckon it will look quite effective when all assembled.

Hi Michael,

I hope between Jan and I we will show you the is more than one way to skin a cat... Or build a ship.

Just the Hanger and the forward tower and I can start on the fun stuff,

Cheers.

Si

I have been remiss in posting my progress. I have the wooden deck done. It started out with Tamiya wood deck tan:

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I then added random streaks of various colours close to the base colour:



and then blend them together using artists oil paints as a filter:



I have since done touch up on the forecastle. I will try to get more photos as I am am working on the superstructure

Great start on the Mighty Hood Grant.

Like the subtle effect on the deck. Looking forward to seeing more progress.

Cheers.

Si

Great to see a Hood join in here - your decks look good, a very nice start!!

Si, you're still running ahead - great work on your Scharnhorst, looks absolutely awesome!! Now let's skin the cats - I know one thing for sure - your method is faster than mine especially on weekends like this one. Lots of good bench time, but I have a tendency to get stuck with some issues or redo. But I guess the concept is well known to all of us here: realize you missed something - going back to the manual - quick look, not reading everything - cursing the manufacturer for bad fit and completely undoable steps - looking again, spotting your own mistake - disassemble everything with some losses - follow instructions and find out that the fit is quite all right and the steps are doable...

So here's my latest encounter with this process:

Bridge build up, test fitting the WEM compass platform.





Is it only me thinking that the deflectors here are molded upside down?? I will have to add something on top of that structure later on.

Compared to the kit' part:



Realizing there are way better wind deflectors in the WEM set, but they need some quite substantial re-building...



but here they are:







My cursing here was to WEM (and I apologize!!), I started with the first deflector upside down, even though the instructions were sufficiently clear. I just should have read them. Good thing is that CA glue burns away at a decent temperature, so I could undo everything with a lighter and start new. That's why the port side deflectors are darker and not as straight as the starboard ones...

More on my build log - will see if I manage the full update today, could be tomorrow...

Cheers,

Jan

A bit more progress over the weekend.

The basic hanger construction done.



The lower half of the control tower together, I couldn't put any more of the Admiral's bridge down before I fit that deck.



The upper section, complete with yard arms rigged.



Flakveirling platforms and a few other bits and pieces on the hanger, and it has sprayed light grey.



Looking at that I have missed some Iron ladders, wi;; get those on before I progress that section.

A bit of creative gizmology on the forebridge, a couple of gyro repeaters, some voicepipes and black boxes.



The binocular mounts and their bulkheads in place.



Conning tower, and doors onto forebridge fixed in place.



More soon.

Si

Quite good progress here, Si - and very clean work, like always. Seeing the first copper wire rigging agin - great!

Cheers,

Jan

Cheers Jan,

Getting there, nice to do some detail work after all the structural stuff.

Belfast is coming nicely too, the wind deflectors on the lower bridge look fun assemblies, but very effective.

good luck sorting out the upper bridge, I think you are right about the wind deflectors.

Cheers,

Si

Si,

He is coming along great. I like the look of the wooden flooring at the front of the I think conning tower. It looks great and appears to be weathered.

Jan,

Your Belfast looks great too. I don't envy you the for issues with the bridge or the aid deflector issues. That being said the wind deflector looks awesome and adds a great deal to the overall look

Looking forward to seeing more from both.

I hope to start the Noshiro soon.

Dave