channell

Yeah, they are. Here's what they look like on the fret. 
 
You bend the little triangles out, stick the frame on the grille and glue the louvers on one by one. 
 
Easy in concept but a real test of my patience to get them glued straight and not mucked up, and they fall apart if you look at 'em wrong using PVA. With CA glue it's a nightmare to do it cleanly and not clog up the grille with glue runoff. 
 
Did I mention this is fun?! 

All right, got another update for y'all.
 

 
I'm trying to do Bissy as she looked in the late fall/early winter of 1940, so I've been chasing down things from the kit that were added (and removed)  during Bismarck's only refit in January 1941 such as the second level of the vent spray shields on the forward superstructure. Unfortunately, I had not done my homework very well... turns out the two little "phone booths" by the docking bridges that I worked so hard on were added in 1/41 too.  Damnit! Oh well, nothing to do but fix it. 
 
Oh the carnage! 
 

 
Patching the newly made holes:
 

 

 
...and I'm back in the Teutonic rivet-counter's good graces. 😁
 
Next I went to work on the deck area behind Turret "Bruno" laying the deck and installing the AA gun "fences" so that I could take out the seams and better integrate them into the superstructure instead of doing the sensible thing and just slapping them on top last:
 

 

 

 
I pre-painted this area to make make masking a little easier for myself, later I can touch up. 
 
Finally made a start on the copious amounts of PE that need to go on the superstructure:
 

 
Those louver vents are little monsters to get together! 
 

Thought I'd add some more mid-week progress...
Nearly ready to start on the superstructure detail PE, although it's taking some time to get the forward superstructure base up to snuff first:
I reinstalled the AA gun platform extensions with a raised "line" on the deck surface a la the real ship and added new support girders underneath:
 

 

 
... did A LOT of sanding and a couple coats of primer:
 

 

 

 
...and will hopefully get everything else installed and ready for final paint by the start of next week. Lots of extra work but I think it will be worth it in the end.  :wave_1:

Looking fine! 

All right, got another update for y'all.
 

 
I'm trying to do Bissy as she looked in the late fall/early winter of 1940, so I've been chasing down things from the kit that were added (and removed)  during Bismarck's only refit in January 1941 such as the second level of the vent spray shields on the forward superstructure. Unfortunately, I had not done my homework very well... turns out the two little "phone booths" by the docking bridges that I worked so hard on were added in 1/41 too.  Damnit! Oh well, nothing to do but fix it. 
 
Oh the carnage! 
 

 
Patching the newly made holes:
 

 

 
...and I'm back in the Teutonic rivet-counter's good graces. 😁
 
Next I went to work on the deck area behind Turret "Bruno" laying the deck and installing the AA gun "fences" so that I could take out the seams and better integrate them into the superstructure instead of doing the sensible thing and just slapping them on top last:
 

 

 

 
I pre-painted this area to make make masking a little easier for myself, later I can touch up. 
 
Finally made a start on the copious amounts of PE that need to go on the superstructure:
 

 
Those louver vents are little monsters to get together! 
 

Meanwhile, as the crew take a ride around the spinny mainmast winch...  
 
Great work OC! That deck really looks the part! 
 
 

All right, got another update for y'all.
 

 
I'm trying to do Bissy as she looked in the late fall/early winter of 1940, so I've been chasing down things from the kit that were added (and removed)  during Bismarck's only refit in January 1941 such as the second level of the vent spray shields on the forward superstructure. Unfortunately, I had not done my homework very well... turns out the two little "phone booths" by the docking bridges that I worked so hard on were added in 1/41 too.  Damnit! Oh well, nothing to do but fix it. 
 
Oh the carnage! 
 

 
Patching the newly made holes:
 

 

 
...and I'm back in the Teutonic rivet-counter's good graces. 😁
 
Next I went to work on the deck area behind Turret "Bruno" laying the deck and installing the AA gun "fences" so that I could take out the seams and better integrate them into the superstructure instead of doing the sensible thing and just slapping them on top last:
 

 

 

 
I pre-painted this area to make make masking a little easier for myself, later I can touch up. 
 
Finally made a start on the copious amounts of PE that need to go on the superstructure:
 

 
Those louver vents are little monsters to get together! 
 

Thought I'd add some more mid-week progress...
Nearly ready to start on the superstructure detail PE, although it's taking some time to get the forward superstructure base up to snuff first:
I reinstalled the AA gun platform extensions with a raised "line" on the deck surface a la the real ship and added new support girders underneath:
 

 

 
... did A LOT of sanding and a couple coats of primer:
 

 

 

 
...and will hopefully get everything else installed and ready for final paint by the start of next week. Lots of extra work but I think it will be worth it in the end.  :wave_1:

I only have the 1 Iwata airbrush currently, so I'm either stuck painting a big hull with an airbrush that's too small or turning to rattlecans for salvation; this time I stuck with the airbrush and while it took forever I'm happy with the results. 
 
The family and I were out wandering the 4 corners region of the American Southwest this past week:
 

 

 
...so I didn't have time to do a lot on Bissy, besides make a mess to clean up later:
 

 

 

 

 

 
Fellow Bismarck fans might notice that I've modified the spray shields in front of the three big vents on the superstructure to reflect Bissy's earlier configuration. I've also put in the PE pieces I need to integrate into the superstructure in a (hopefully) seamless fashion before I go nuts with tiny PE details. 
 
Funny thing is, I'm still only on step #3 in the instruction booklet!
 

 
Work continues on! Still on good terms with my build and not sick of it yet. 

Started working on ship's boats. Some progress, not a lot.

Thought I'd add some more mid-week progress...
Nearly ready to start on the superstructure detail PE, although it's taking some time to get the forward superstructure base up to snuff first:
I reinstalled the AA gun platform extensions with a raised "line" on the deck surface a la the real ship and added new support girders underneath:
 

 

 
... did A LOT of sanding and a couple coats of primer:
 

 

 

 
...and will hopefully get everything else installed and ready for final paint by the start of next week. Lots of extra work but I think it will be worth it in the end.  :wave_1:

The top is Goblin Valley, UT and the ruins are Cliff Palace at Mesa Verde NP, CO. We've got some seriously spectacular scenery out in this part of the world, that's for sure! 

I only have the 1 Iwata airbrush currently, so I'm either stuck painting a big hull with an airbrush that's too small or turning to rattlecans for salvation; this time I stuck with the airbrush and while it took forever I'm happy with the results. 
 
The family and I were out wandering the 4 corners region of the American Southwest this past week:
 

 

 
...so I didn't have time to do a lot on Bissy, besides make a mess to clean up later:
 

 

 

 

 

 
Fellow Bismarck fans might notice that I've modified the spray shields in front of the three big vents on the superstructure to reflect Bissy's earlier configuration. I've also put in the PE pieces I need to integrate into the superstructure in a (hopefully) seamless fashion before I go nuts with tiny PE details. 
 
Funny thing is, I'm still only on step #3 in the instruction booklet!
 

 
Work continues on! Still on good terms with my build and not sick of it yet. 

Cool... what a weirdly fascinating looking ship! Very interested to see this one go together...

Thought I'd add some more mid-week progress...
Nearly ready to start on the superstructure detail PE, although it's taking some time to get the forward superstructure base up to snuff first:
I reinstalled the AA gun platform extensions with a raised "line" on the deck surface a la the real ship and added new support girders underneath:
 

 

 
... did A LOT of sanding and a couple coats of primer:
 

 

 

 
...and will hopefully get everything else installed and ready for final paint by the start of next week. Lots of extra work but I think it will be worth it in the end.  :wave_1:

Cool... what a weirdly fascinating looking ship! Very interested to see this one go together...

Cool... what a weirdly fascinating looking ship! Very interested to see this one go together...

Cool... what a weirdly fascinating looking ship! Very interested to see this one go together...

Cool... what a weirdly fascinating looking ship! Very interested to see this one go together...

Thursday 17 October 2018
 
At this point it's mandatory to finish to install the second planking on the external hull and, after, go further with new activities. But, before this, I should finish to refine the ground with a final and accurate sanding of the external hull. Unfortunately I do not want to dust everything and this leads me to delay. So I invented alternative tasks waiting for this will manifests itself.
 
Building of the ordnance trucks: job of complete rest even if each truck is composed of 9 individual pieces that must be assembled to resemble the finished piece. All the pieces, including the wheels, are obtained from a 2mm walnut board, laser cut. Very well done, it didn't cause any problems. For the moment, I have prepared all the guns planned for the main deck, although I will need only two in a short time.
 
01 Ragusian Carrack/16102018/IMG_20181016_170402.jpg

 
02 Ragusian Carrack/16102018/IMG_20181016_170300.jpg

 
03 Ragusian Carrack/16102018/IMG_20181016_170251.jpg

 
Then I started to prepare the beams for the next deck, immediately above the main deck. I installed the first two, not disturbing any future activity to see the result. Under this deck there will be two guns. They must be installed before building the deck itself. Plus a ladder and a supporting column between the first two beams.
The idea is to have all the pieces ready for when it will be time to install the deck.
 
04 Ragusian Carrack/16102018/IMG_20181013_174404.jpg

 
05 Ragusian Carrack/16102018/IMG_20181015_165535.jpg

 
06 Ragusian Carrack/16102018/IMG_20181013_174503.jpg

 
But now there are no more excuses: the next session will be dedicated to finishing the surface of the outer hull and then apply the second planking. Only at the end I will be able to resume work on the new deck.
 
See you soon, Jack.

Hull together. It’s quite a big ship, the centre deck piece has a very hard time sitting flush as the side cannons throw off the balance and there are a few gaps which seem unavoidable and will require filling. 

Thought I'd add some more mid-week progress...
Nearly ready to start on the superstructure detail PE, although it's taking some time to get the forward superstructure base up to snuff first:
I reinstalled the AA gun platform extensions with a raised "line" on the deck surface a la the real ship and added new support girders underneath:
 

 

 
... did A LOT of sanding and a couple coats of primer:
 

 

 

 
...and will hopefully get everything else installed and ready for final paint by the start of next week. Lots of extra work but I think it will be worth it in the end.  :wave_1:

Thought I'd add some more mid-week progress...
Nearly ready to start on the superstructure detail PE, although it's taking some time to get the forward superstructure base up to snuff first:
I reinstalled the AA gun platform extensions with a raised "line" on the deck surface a la the real ship and added new support girders underneath:
 

 

 
... did A LOT of sanding and a couple coats of primer:
 

 

 

 
...and will hopefully get everything else installed and ready for final paint by the start of next week. Lots of extra work but I think it will be worth it in the end.  :wave_1:

Thought I'd add some more mid-week progress...
Nearly ready to start on the superstructure detail PE, although it's taking some time to get the forward superstructure base up to snuff first:
I reinstalled the AA gun platform extensions with a raised "line" on the deck surface a la the real ship and added new support girders underneath:
 

 

 
... did A LOT of sanding and a couple coats of primer:
 

 

 

 
...and will hopefully get everything else installed and ready for final paint by the start of next week. Lots of extra work but I think it will be worth it in the end.  :wave_1: