Hi Si,

those boats do look splendid!! The Ponton set seems to fit really well, once again. That's not always the case for the WEM PE and the small boats...

5.9" looking sharp as well!!

Chers,
Jan

Thanks Jan,

The etch for the boats is excellent, although to do need be very precise with the destruction and clean up.

The resin blast bags to make the 5.9" mounts, some nice ones for the 15" as well.

Cheers

Si

Hi Si

great work on the ship's boats!

Pontos set really brings them to life, and Revell even mold a mooring strake on

Fingers crossed you'll finish for the Sink the Bismarck Campaign!

Thanks Russ,

The Pontos boat fittings are great, but I quite happy I don't have any more boats to do (Just have to recheck, but I am mostly sure Bismarck landed all the pulling stowed on the maindeck before she sailed from Norway)

Sunday's update will follow shortly.

Cheers

Si

With the extension on the campaign, I now have a chance of completing Bismarck, so a big push on Sunday.

Windy stick out on a lot of sub assemblies.



twin 37mm detail painted.



And fitted.





Preping for the last of the skylights / vents.



5.9s detailed.



Vents / skylights going down.



and finished.



first section of shelterdeck railing on. pontos provide quite long sections, I cut them on the bends to make it easier to get them to fit correctly.



aft of the catapult done.



forward sections done.



Boats sprayed (forgot those first time round).



railings on the 37mm gun deck.



ladders off the aft end on the shelterdeck fitted.



After 5.9" on their barbettes.



And the forward mounts.



Arados on the catapult deck, they do look a touch overscale.



First brass barrels on the 4.1" mounts, these are for the C31's



bit of destruction needed on the C31s



The c31s basically built.



Lots of etch to go these yet.

basic construction done on the C37s



Overview with everything test fitted.





Still quite a lot to do.

Cheers

Si

Si,

Bismarck's looking better and better! The details are mounting, step by step; those brass barrels on the 4.1" mounts make a big difference.

Thanks Tim,

Getting 5.9s was a big step, he started to look like a battleship.

The Pontos 4.1" barrels are excellent, with slight differences between C31 & C37 mount barrels.

another big push at the weekend, and commissioning should be in sight.

Cheers

Si

Fingers crossed you finish in time Si

It looks like the timber deck is lifting in places?

I find that happens from time to time: Sometimes I need to run a bit of extra thin CA down a needle or pin onto the edge of the deck, while pressing it down, just to create a permanent bond between ship and deck

I've had that problem as well with the lifting wood decks. Part of it is the material itself; wood is heat and humidity sensitive, and less stable than plastic, resin, or metal... so even when very securely attached to one of those materials, buckling or lifting of the wood can still occur.

Interestingly, I've had the same problem with the oak plank flooring in my house too. My son once spilled some water on the floor and didn't clean it up.

By the next morning the planks had swelled and buckled slightly, leaving a noticeable ridge. Not good! I left for work, planning to sand the ridge down and refinish over the coming weekend... but in the days that followed, the wood dried out and the planks settled down to normal on their own. Problem solved!

Anyway, for models, cyanoacrylate seems to work well to secure the wood decks down, and then keeping the model in a temperature and humidity stable environment becomes your best defense.

Hi Russ,

I have everything crossed. (which is slightly uncomfortable)

Yup the deck is lifting in place, The Pontos decks are thinner certainly than Artworx, and one or two others I have used, so they can lift round the edges.

Nothing that a bit of Cyno won't sort out, must admit a bit miffed I didn't spot the issue on the shelter deck before I had the railings down though.

Thanks for looking in Mate!

Cheers

Si

Hi Tim,

Decks lifting can be a bit of a problem, especially living in an older house, with a few drafts. I know Cyano will cure it, but question for you, what about gator glue, or is it too wet? just found a stockist this side of the pond. Still finding uses for it, apart from the usual.

Cheers

Si, whatever you do, don't use Gator glue!

Gator glue is fantastic and has many uses but, it's a type of diluted PVA & the wood deck will soak up the moisture from it and your wood deck will look like Tim's flooring did, or worse, like the crisps in a Pringles can!

Ask me how I know

Go with the extra thin (or medium if necessary) CA, mate

Thanks Russ,

Crossed my mind it was too wet, but if you don't ask, you don't know.

Appreciate you heads up mate.

Cheers

Si

Got a bit further today.

Brass cladding on the C31 4.1"



The first C31 completed.



The first C37 completed.





All eight mounts ready to have paint shot at them.



The plastic parts of the main turrets, some detail has been removed ready for replacement etched parts.



Top, the kit 38cm barrel, bottom the Pontos brass and resin replacement.



Turret Anton with barrels fitted, a fair bit of etch to go on yet.



All four turrets with barrels fitted.



The two boats on top of the hanger detail painted and fitted. The legs of the signal platform are test fitted to ensure it will go in correctly.



Anton & Bruno test fitted,



And Ceasar and Dora.



More soon.

Cheers

Si

Onward and upward in the big push.

The etched details on the turret ports compared to the moulded.



Bruno, or Ceaser done, the have the handrail round the roof.



Base coated.





Final hatches on the foredeck.



One little job I forgot, the roofs of the secondary armament.



Base coat on the blast bags.



The 10.5cm mounts with the barrels and breaches picked out fitted.



paintwork going down on the main armament, and a wash down on the excellent resin blast bags.



Forward turrets in place.



After turrets too.



and the cranes.



An overview,



A few more deck details and then on with the masts and rigging.

Cheers

Si

rapidly closing in on commissioning Si

Keep thinking that Mate, then realise what is still to do.

Boat fittings on the maindeck, boat lashings on the motor boats on the main hanger, bit of work on signal platform above them, fore and main masts, rigging and maindeck railings.

And three weeks to go!

Cheers

Si

This is simply impressive Si. Keep it up. The end is in sight.

Thanks Norman,

Getting close, the masts and rigging are going to be fun though.

Got a bit further yesterday, will post those shortly.

Cheers

Si

All the boats on the hanger roof in place, and their lashings.



railings and ladders around the after tower deck in place,



Origami davits for the sea boats.



being folded.



Boat cradles going down.



Empty davits by the forward set cradles.



Signal deck in place, with the mainmast test fitted to ensure it is straight.



Cheers

Si

Very small progress over the weekend, laid up with a lousy bug for most of it. Fighting fit again now.

The Pontos mainmast under construction. The instructions are not their clearest, but this is the progress so far.











More soon.

Si

good to hear you're on the mend Si!

Those brass masts look amazing! Gotta hand it to Pontos for providing them with their sets!

Hopefully smooth sailing from here to the finish line and then back to repairs on the Benson

Hi Si,

looks great!! The Ponton set continues to amaze, as does your work on the Bismarck! It looks like you are really making the finish line - -!! Great job!!

Cheers,
Jan

Thanks Jan,

The Pontos set is exceptional and frustrating at the same time, the amount of hours it has added to the standard build makes it well worth the money.

I am hoping to make the line, but we will see, depends on how well the rigging goes.

Cheers

Si

Masts done.

Mainmast.



The much simpler foremast.



Also, the jackstaff



and the ensign staff



Work on the two Flak 30s

The base.



One done.



The trailers, which sans wheels were lashed against the after superstructure, for some reason.



Both mounts done.



Cheers

Si