DKM Graf Zeppelin by RGL - FINISHED - Trumpeter - 1/350 - PLASTIC

[RGL]

Steven, I think it was around .6mm?

 

the ship’s davits are actually quite a nice bit of PE. The cable drums are also part of the davits. You have the option of having them in or out (Out is a bit better so as to display the interior details). Next I’ll do up the ship’s boats.

 

None of these will be added until the hull is completed. 

 

The booms arms you can see in the drawing for the long boats forward of the davits? The kit does not provide them, there is a photo on the MK1 instructions but no number and I just cannot find them on the frets so I scratch built them. 

[RGL]

Boat decks painted and enclosed. I’ll have to mask these sections off when I join the hull. I’ll now finish the davits and ship’s boats that will be added upon completion. 

[CDW]

The effort you put into the detail of the flight decks has paid off. Looks very convincing and busy as it would on a real carrier.

[knightyo]

Nice flight decks! I hadn't realized how long this was. You might need a new bookshelf!

[lmagna]

All those details make one wonder what it was like being stationed on the Graf. She only had a custodial crew of forty according to some information. One would think it would be like wandering a ghost ship. 

[RGL]

Ships boats done and placed into storage. 

[LEGION 12]

12 minutes ago, RGL said:

Ships boats done and placed into storage. 

Wow !

[BANYAN]

Nice mini-fleet - quite detailed for their size.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[CDW]

I wonder if there are any of the major WW2 warship's ship boats still in existence. They had some nice looking boats.

[RGL]

They’d be some around somewhere I imagine. 

 

Hull glued and joined up. Wooden blocked bedded down for the stands. I’ll let it sit and harden now. 

Edited May 10, 2019 by RGL

[popeye the sailor]

wow!  some really superb progress......the bays look great!  well done on the ship's boats too   is it possible to paint the hull before stuffing the lower deck in there?

[RGL]

I’m not sure yet, I need to consider scribing the plates in first. 

[cog]

Started without me  Gawd a shaggin ship instead of a wagon!

 

You could prime the hull, scribe your plates, add the lowerdeck, and if required add another thin layer of primer ... Why should you add the deck before priming anyways...? 

[RGL]

The platforms on the sides need lots of triangular gussets to be added (which are not included) and I think I’ll have to add the deck first as it will never align properly unless I do it then BUT! The lattice support wort under the deck at the bow and stern will have to be pre painted and weathered. So many chickens and so many eggs. 

[cog]

Right-o, at least you've got plenty to eat

[Old Collingwood]

10 hours ago, cog said:

Right-o, at least you've got plenty to eat

"Did someone mention - food"

 

OC.

[RGL]

Well you know what happens if you don’t eat....

[cog]

You build ships ...

[RGL]

Then you throw your back out....

[popeye the sailor]

no....then you become movers..........

[RGL]

So that’s how @cog threw his back out then....

[RGL]

Hull taped up ready for the first layer of primer 

[cog]

Quote

So that’s how @cog threw his back out then....

How did you know ...

Edited May 12, 2019 by cog

[cog]

No masking tape left after this one ... I leave the tape at the bow and the stern of, we do exactly oposite

Edited May 12, 2019 by cog

[RGL]

I’m going to do it a bit different this time as I want the hull plates to be a bit more defined. It will more or less just give me a guide when I airbrush and weather.  

[RGL]

So the panel lines are done. I can now etch in the vertical lines and try and understand the engineering as there are platform that run alongside the deck for guns and spotlights that will need a heap of gussets added. Once I’ve gotten my head around that I can give her another primer coat to cover up all the raw areas. 

[RGL]

When the GZ was being built, they had to replace the bow as it was rubbish in rough weather and placed a large cap on top of the funnel as the smoke obscured the island. By adding the cap it became top heavy thus the bulges added on the hull for stability. 

 

I have etched in the panels which are’nt too obvious on the existing photos, but I think after some time at sea it would beat it up a bit and oilcan it. 

 

Next are the gantries that will have spotlights and guns. These will all need gusssets which are after after market. 

 

Edited May 14, 2019 by RGL

[RGL]

So the real thing looked like this. Remember it rusted a lot and never went to sea. In this timeline ah will be a bit more active. 

[popeye the sailor]

good pictures.........the hull's com'in along nicely!

[ESF]

Another masterwork in the making.

Jeez, I wish I had your speed (and skill, and painting ability, and research.....)

 

Steve