Bismarck by madtatt - FINISHED – Trumpeter with Pontos set – 1:200 - PLASTIC

[madtatt]

Hello everyone, here is the construction report of my Bismarck model from the Trumpeter brand in the scale 1:200.

The Pontos Detail Up Set “Advanced” is used for optimal detailing of the model. Various Veteran Models sets and all sorts of other aftermarket accessories do the rest.
Not to mention a bunch of styrene profiles for scratch building and the famous leftovers box.
I’m trying to create a model that shows the period from April 1941 to about 80% historically correct.

I worked on the model for almost two and a half years and it was finished in October last year.
 

This is the start:

 

The torso needs my attention first. Portholes have to be built up and the cooling water intakes have to be added.

 

 

The original kit is missing the sacrificial anodes on the shaft pants.

 

 

I had decided to apply the Baltik camouflage scheme. She simply looks her best this way. But I didn't know what work there would be on the superstructure.

 

 

The wooden deck of Pontos simply looks authentic.

I think the deck from scaledeck is nicer, but unfortunately it came onto the market too late.

 

 

Then comes the swastika in the aircraft identification, which is banned in Germany.
Naturally painted, no decal.

This way you can better see the grain of the wood.

 

 

Then the first fine details of Pontos come onto the lower superstructure.

 

 

A close-up of this fan shows the depth Pontos brings to the model.

 

 

The fan details on the front barbette are just great.

 

 

All sorts of missing details are added with styrene profiles and lead wire.

 

 

Now the camouflage stripes had to be built on top of them.

 

 

And glued to the deck.

 

 

And then the ship comes to its final position, because next the rear superstructure with the deck and closes the hull

 

 

Now I continued at the bow and laid anchor.
Note the double bridge chains. With an aftermarket product as expensive as Pontos', you'd think they'd be included. But far from it, only normal jewelry chains are included.

 

 

Greets Jölle.

[Ian B]

Great topic,great workmanship 👍

[yvesvidal]

Fantastic work. I happen to also have that kit with the Pontos set that you are using and I am curious to see how you will use it. 

So far, it is a wonderful work and I like that you selected the Baltic camouflage version. By far the best.

 

Yves

Edited October 4, 2023 by yvesvidal

[madtatt]

Thank you both. 

 

@Ian B We already know our Bismarcks from Britmodeller.😉

@Yvesvidal Yes, the Pontos set is one of the best things available on the aftermarket. In combination with the DKM set from veteran modells it's a dream.

 

Well, then I'll report a little more before I have to sleep because I have a busy schedule tomorrow.

Let's move on to the next floor of the superstructure.

Missing details were corrected using Styrene profiles.

 

 

All surfaces still showing above were painted dark gray in 1941

 

 

Continue to the next floor. Only a little styrene was required here.

 

 

In order to find the right angle for the camouflage scheme, a mock-up test.

 

 

Out of box the bridge is almost completely empty.
It couldn't stay like that.

 

 

Lead wire and styrene are also used here.

 

 

Here are examples from Veteran and OOB.

 

 

And from the front.

I like it better that way. Even if you can't see much of it in the finished model.

 

 

The compass is excellently detailed. I probably won't have to mention which one is the original.

 

 

The wobbly pots also received a small upgrade.

 

 

Very nice in a patent dress.

 

 

Another test.

 

 

To add more life on deck, I got the very good figures from Northstar in a variety of activities.

 

 

But painting is really Sisyphos work.

 

 

And the first sailors come onto deck.

 

 

The doors of the next floor were opened, so I put in an interior wall and the next level could be glued.

 

 

Some things had to be corrected again on the tower segment.

 

 

Likewise at the front artillery position, which could then also be installed.

 

 

Greets, Jölle.

Edited October 4, 2023 by madtatt
Typo

[Landlubber Mike]

Really great work Jolle!  I ended up buying the Trumpeter kit and all the Points upgrades from a member here a couple of years ago - and supplemented it with guns, etc. from Veteran Models.  I sure hope it doesn't take me 2.5 years to build!

[madtatt]

Thank you Mike. I've had a quick look at one of your ship models and I'm afraid with the quality you are  building, they'll need that time.

Unless you can do magic. 😄

 

II have a little time before I have to go to work, so I'll continue a little.

 

Then the crane booms. Again, a very delicate work. Here I soldered the parts to get more stability.

 

 

And then he can go to the gallery.

 

 

The platform for the rangefinder is also being prepared.

 

 

And that's the gem from Veteran that belongs there.

 

 

Her the first weapons from Veteran Models. An incredible amount of depth.

 

 

They look fantastic when painted.

 

 

And with that the admirals bridge can be put together.

 

 

But the 2cm C/30 gun from Pontos is also impressive.

 

 

A little bit of rigging is already attached as I won't be able to get to these places afterwards.

 

 

The tower slowly grows taller.

 

 

Finally, another test to see if everything fits together.

 

 

Well, that's it for today.

 

Greetings, Jölle

Edited October 5, 2023 by madtatt
Typo

[Landlubber Mike]

Wow, those guns from both Veteran and Pontos are amazing.  Beautiful work!

[ccoyle]

Wow, your skills are definitely elevating this build from the realm of mere model to that of miniature ship!

[madtatt]

Thanks for the compliment, Chris.😊

 

In order to do this, of course I need reliable information about this ship.

I used photos of which there are really more than enough and the book "The Battleship Bismarck (Anatomy of The Ship)" by Stefan Draminski as my source.
Absolutely recommended if you want to build a historically accurate Bismarck.

Additional to that i had very good background information from my model building friends from Germany who are working very intensively on this ship.

Years ago we founded a small and very special forum that mainly deals with the German Navy. But all other navies were also treated.

 

Graue-Flotte

 

And it goes on. It's the weekend and I have time... ⏳

 One segment still goes on the tower in the front structure.
After that it's time to stop, otherwise I could have problems if I want to raise the foremast.

But first check the angle of the camouflage scheme again.📐

 

 

Everything fits together.

 

 

And so the tower slowly grows taller.

 

 

Then let's move on to the chimney.
Here I had to proceed differently when painting than with the superstructure. Since it is extremely detailed, I painted the camouflage stripes in front of all the attachments. Otherwise it would not have been possible to mask him properly.

 

I then laid a variety of pipes using lead wire.

 

 

And so the funnel gradually fills up.

 

 

The pipe also received a small upgrade.

 

 

Crane installed.

 

 

And the railing.

 

 

Ready to put the crown on the whole thing.

 

 

First get rid of the rough plastic tubes.

 

 

And sorted what felt like 1000 brass tubes from Pontos.

 

 

One of the things I particularly like about Pontos is their drilling templates.
No matter whether it's for the tubes or for the crampons on the hull or the superstructure.
It couldn't be more accurate.
That's why I prefer Pontos to KA Models.

 

 

Absolutely 100 percent hole spacing. That's the way it has to be.

 

 

Then the holes are drilled out and the pipes are put into place.

 

 

Still insert the inner workings.

 

 

That's why the coronation now follows. Note that unlike the Tirpitz, the Bismarck has an aluminum cap.

 

 

And take a seat for the sake of rehearsal.

 

 

Greets, Jölle.

[Canute]

Fantastic build, so far, Jolle.

[madtatt]

Thanks Ken.

 

Then further.

Let's take care of the little things on deck.

First of all the paravane called otters and the rear breakwaters.

 

 

Then to my self-created tents for the companionways
Pontos supplies the framework, but I had to make the canvas myself.

 

 

I made them out of diluted wood glue and tissue.

 

 

Painted with a beige brown and aged.

 

 

And placed over the companionways.

 

 

From the other side.

 

 

Here are the skylights improved by Pontos.

 

 

Since my ship was to be shown at full speed, the gangways had to be in their loading position.
Here too, the brackets were scraped from Sytren profiles.

 

 

And the gangway in front of it.

 

 

The depth charges and smoke generators were also missing from the original packaging. No problem.

 

 

Pontos also excellently expands the rear roof windows.

 

 

And again the extended Pontos set is extremely detailed.

 

 

The screw protection and the boom was still missing on the outside of the fuselage.

 

 

Greets, Jölle.

[Ian B]

Superb work, I ordered a lot of Veteran flak guns, and now looking at your build I will get the bridge equipment too..

 

Thanks for taking the time to document it all for us 😁

[Keith_W]

This is simply amazing! I don't have the eyes or the steady hands to work on such small scale. 

 

I have a question though - if the swastika is banned in Germany, does this mean you can not display the model in a public place, like a model show? When I attended the last model show, I had a discussion about the swastika with a fellow modeller. He thought it was right to remove the swastika. I said that history is history, just because you depict a swastika in a model that is supposed to have a swastika, does not mean you support Nazism. If it disturbs you, then don't make the model - choose another subject that can be accurately depicted without causing offence. Even in Australia it is controversial! 

[Old Collingwood]

Outstanding  work,  what a way  to make an entrance  with your first build  in  here  - this  is going to be  Museum Quality.

 

OC.

[madtatt]

Thank you very much for the likes and for taking a look.

 

@Ian B Do that Ian.
The entire DKM set from Veteran gives the model a lot of additional accents.
These would be all the sets I used.

 

 

@Keith_W That's right, so I couldn't show the model publicly. It is only allowed in my private rooms because it is a historical model building. I would then have to cover the swastika at an exhibition. I've already done that with my older models with whom I took part in model shows. Sticker on it and good.
And that's exactly how I see it, history is history and belongs to the dark past of my country. That doesn't make me a fascist. I am a model building nerd and am fascinated by the archaic warships of the 18th and 19th centuries, regardless of which country they come from.
And I would like to build it without any political interests.

[madtatt]

Then I want to go with my little boat.

 

We come to the rear deckhouse.

Here you can see very clearly from the crampons on the right what the drilling templates from Pontos will do.

 

 

First test. I need to show the lower part of the main mast and cover some of the inside because I want to show the hangar open.

 

 

There was also a little scratch work missing on the night control post.

 

 

And towards the bow.

 

 

The deckhouse grows and is adapted to the original ship. Here too, the kit is missing some details like parts of the gangway.

 

 

Now it was time to prepare the upper part of the tower.

 

 

The obligatory angle check.

 

 

First fix the bridge between the tower and the chimney and then go to the front hangars.

 

 

I really wanted to build the small boats. They were secured with rigging twine and rope tensioners.

 

 

Then it was time to produce boats like on an assembly line. Here too, a little scratch to refine the fittings.

 

 

Align with the boat cradle

 

 

And finish building.

 

 

The admiralty boat is also amazing.

 

 

 

 

Now it was time to raise the foremast and equip the top gallery.

 

 

The struts, railings and signal lines were still missing.

 

 

Now the boats could also take place.

 

 

Here you can clearly see that the underwater hull of the boats was not painted red but dark gray.

 

 

Still putting the Pontos catapult together.

 

 

And installed.

 

 

Greets, Jölle

 

[yvesvidal]

On 10/6/2023 at 8:07 AM, madtatt said:

Note that unlike the Tirpitz, the Bismarck has an aluminum cap.

So, the Bismarck had an aluminum top which was not painted? That is something I did not know and which is rarely recreated on models.

 

Fantastic work Madtatt.

Yves

Edited October 7, 2023 by yvesvidal

[madtatt]

@Yvesvidal Thank vou Yves.

 

Yes, I have seen this misrepresented at times too.

This photo of the Bismarck's chimney leaves little room for speculation...😄

 

 

 

[Old Collingwood]

Superbly good work.

 

OC.

[madtatt]

Thank you OC.

And what better way to do it on a Sunday morning than to continue my little report for you.

And now it was really time to bring out the big guns.

 

 

The blast bags from Pontos are really nice, it's just a pity that they're always the same.

 

 

But of course it looks better this way than it appears openly. 

Anton has aged, Bruno has not yet. The wire rope wheels have been distributed on deck.

 

 

The next 3.7 cm twin mount from veteran and a cleaning crew.

 

 

Then let's finish the tower. Start with the fire control.

The camouflage stripes are already on here too. I then paint the etched parts later with a brush. These fine details simply cannot be masked.

 

 

And so he can get to the top.

 

 

All that was missing was the 2 cm C/38 quadruple mount.

This completed the front part of the superstructure.

 

 

Let's go back to the rear deckhouse.

The base of artillery direktor D missing some details.

 

 

And finished the two Boat cradle.

 

 

The lower missing part of the main mast in the hangar is created using a profile.

 

 

And this is how it can be installed.

Pontos still supplies the rail system on which the onboard aircraft were pushed. This will still play a role in my model.

 

 

On to the next mass production.

 

 

This time the transportions boats.

 

 

The first one takes up space. The lower part of the main mast is also being refined.

 

 

And again cellulose paper is needed.

This time for the signal bridge.

 

 

The signal flags that were stored here are covered with a canvas tarpaulin.
This is completely missing OOB. It couldn't stay like that.

 

 

Better.

 

 

Now I had to come up with something to attach all the signal lines. To do this, I cut an etched ladder in half.

 

 

Finished and approved.

 

 

And so the signal bridge could also be installed.

 

 

Now we come to another special feature of the DKM. The Bismarck carried the army's 2cm Flack 30 on board.
It was therefore mandatory to also carry the trailer called “Sonderanhänger 51”.

German complicated legislation. 🙄

But Pontos also thought of that. They just forgot the tires. I then printed them out.

 

 

Then the next delicate part of the main mast for guys with strong nerves.

 

 

And on with it.

 

 

Now the signal lines could be pulled.

 

 

One last time I had to use paper tissue and wood glue.

 

 

Starboard

 

 

Port side

 

 

 

 

 

[yvesvidal]

Simply amazing of realism, creativity and craftsmanship.

 

Yves

[Old Collingwood]

Simply amazing  beyond belief,  one of the  best builds  I have seen   - Incredibly  talented.

 

OC.

[madtatt]

Thank you very much both of you. My chest swells, as they say in Germany when something makes you proud.

Then we'll see if I can continue to meet the high expectations.

 

How about starting a little performance.

Inspired by this picture...

 

 

The Arado AR 196A floatplane is usually most shown standing on the catapult ready to take off.

But since Pontos already provides the removable rail system, I wanted to simulate a little exercise of how the bird is pushed out of or into the hangar.

First Test.

 

 

Then I repurposed a few figures and modified them a little...

 

 

I think that's how it works.

 

 

Cockpit installed

 

 

The Arado also becomes a small work of art with Pontos.

 

 

She is attached to her sleigh with the white rigging thread, which cannot be seen.

 

 

And still glazed with Micro Kristal Klear.

 

 

And that's how I implemented the scene.
The officer shouts, the sergeant also shouts louder and a mechanic tries to repair the hydraulic jacks.
The pilots are laughing their heads off.

 

 

And from a different perspective.

 

 

Then it was the turn of the 10.5 cm.

 

 

And on deck.

 

 

I was already looking forward to the next component.

The individual parts of the bridge wing.

 

 

Always Pontos.
Really not a cheap deal, but the wealth of detail gained is absolute.
You can hardly get any closer to the original.

 

 

And installed.

 

When installing the railing I still had to make corrections because Pontos had forgotten something here.

 

 

This sheet metal was used to close the created bridge wing.
And when it was extended, like here with me, it naturally prevented the sailors from falling off. It was formed by me from thin brass sheet.

 

 

That's how I like it again.

 

 

 

Now the crew can safely get on the bridge wing.

 

 

When mounting the 37mm double flack, i noticed that Pontos had once again made a mess with their research. The ladder to get to the rear deckhouse is missing.

 

 

Railing snipped and a ladder fumbled in.

 

 

The missing ladders and railings are still installed at the back.

 

 

And boxes on the other side.

Like the army's 2cm Flak 30 mentioned above.

 

 

Here's another close-up of veteran's searchlights.

 

Edited October 9, 2023 by madtatt
Typo

[Keith_W]

If you ever enter a model competition and don't win a prize for this, then there is no justice in this world. This is THE most amazing model of the Bismarck I have ever seen, and I have seen quite a few! Well, maybe the one in the Munich museum is better, but this one comes very close. 

[madtatt]

Thank you very much, I am so happy to read this.
I have actually already won one or two prizes with my ships.

Unfortunately that won't happen with this ship. I'm just too afraid to travel with this huge monster.

But on this page, I don't know if you know her, I won first prize with her.

From the comfort of my model making room. 😄

 

ModelWarships.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Landlubber Mike]

Jolle, the detail from the Pontos set, the figures, and your other improvements have elevated this model to incredible heights.  Really nice job!!

[Canute]

Jolle, your details are outstanding and your weathering is superb. I can see why Model Warships and ION gave you the medal. Well done.

[madtatt]

Thank you very much.

 

Let's get to the rigging.

Of course, the main mast must be completed first.

 

 

Then the tension cables...

 

 

And lastly the mizzenmast.
The pictures here are not entirely in chronological order. You can already see the mast in the last post.

 

 

Now all the masts are up and things can continue.

 

 

First I built a device to run the longwave antennas parallel between the triangles.
This way you can get the same tension on both sides.

 

 

And the first threads are already hanging.

 

 

Now came a point that got on my nerves. Four cables each led from the two double-stranded long-wave antennas, which narrowed into one towards the mast.

 

 

Then the rest was easy. However, the rigging is not yet complete, as I still had to attach searchlights and anti-aircraft guns to the funnel. according to my motto, always work from the inside out.

 

 

And from the front.

 

 

The last two searchlights are on the gallery.

 

 

With that to the on-board crane. First scratched two rope drums. OOB only bare roll.

 

 

The crane body is already finished and there are still endless components.

 

 

The angle of the crane arm had to be exactly right so that it would fit into the boom.

 

 

A cross brace against the beating of the rope and a lamp were also scratched.

 

 

Everything comes together like that.
I created the crane rope with silver-colored white rigging thread.

 

 

Fits perfectly into the crane holder.

 

 

And so the rigging could also be completed.

 

 

The foremast.

 

 

 

And here are pictures of the complete rigging.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[madtatt]

Let's slowly come to the end.
Since I liked the row cutters and dinghies on deck so much, I chose the period from April 1941.

 

 

The last yawls in the davits have come on deck. A PE set from a destroyer in 1:350 had to be used for the cable drums.

 

 

Let's breathe more life into the model.

 

 

Sole sailor at work.

 

 

Two images that inspired me to create the following scene.

 

 

 

 

A picture for the family of the big ship.

 

 

This gives the yawls more substance in the davits.

 

 

Next Back.

 

 

This causes anger on the part of the supervisor. 😆

 

 

Take provisions with you.

 

 

Stand still.

 

 

A frequently seen image on the internet.

 

 

And my implementation.

 

 

Apart from the railing and small things, there wasn't much missing. Tomorrow I will present you the finished ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 10, 2023 by madtatt
Typo

[Keith_W]

After looking over your build log, I went to Trumpeter's website and saw that the completed model is 1265mm long! I pulled out my tape measure and I wouldn't have anywhere to put it in my house! This is a really big model, I just didn't realize how big it was from looking at your photos.