DKM Scharnhorst by Paul Salomone - 1:72nd Scale German WW2 Heavy Battle Cruiser

[WackoWolf]

Paul,

 

   As always your work is out of this world, and the help you have given to me is outstanding as always. Please keep the pictures coming.

[Paul Salomone]

Good morning all,  

 

Please excuse my long absence, work before play, as they say. Found some time to put in some more work on the 2mtr range finder.

 

Hello Kevin, GJDale, Michel, Larry and Wackowolf. Thanks for looking in and for your never ending encouraging words. I think it would be wonderful if we all lived in the same town.

 

Some progress pics, here goes:

 

A close view of the range finder mounting.

 

A 10mm diameter aluminium rod, required to produce the range finder arms.

 

Finishing off the first arm.

 

The two range finder arms, ready for the next step.

 

The range finder arms, fitted in place.

 

The access door, located at the rear of the mounting.

 

A view of the progress so far.

 

Starting off with the timber flooring.

 

Now that things are moving along, I think that I shall be able to post more pictures during this week.

 

Cheers

 

 

 

[mtaylor]

Nice work Paul.  The hinges probably won't be visible but they are there..   Curious, how did this rangefinder work?  Did someone actually sit inside of it? I ask because the door looks small next to your figure.

[Paul Salomone]

Hello Brian and Mark, thanks for looking in.

 

Mark - to answer your question, yes the access door is a bit too small. Even the access to the platform was not easy, as there was no access, leading from the armoured tower to the platform itself. The men posted to man the range finder, could only climb up to the platform, via a ladder located on both sides of the platform. From what I read, the range finder was manned by only two persons. One was seated exactly in the centre of the range finder, and the other was seated near the window. A bit cramped, but the Scharnhorst was built for one purpose - to go to war. The purpose for the range finder was to direct the forward anti-aircraft guns. Of course, these were aided by the domed 2mtr range finders located at the sides of the ship. The access door had to be smallish, as the housing was constructed after the installation of the range finder. This being after handover to the Kriegsmarine; and the revealing of some setbacks endured during heavy seas. So the builders had to dimension the housing according to the rangefinder, already installed. Further more, the housing was added to shelter the crew, from the heavy seas and icy cold temperatures, whilst also offering a degree of protection during battle.

 

Below is a copy of an original photo in colour of the Scharnhorst in her early days. Note also the Admiral's bridge was of the open type. This was closed off during the early winters, when it was clearly seen that the bridge had to be of the closed type.

Edited July 8, 2013 by Paul Salomone

[BANYAN]

Hi Paul, I have been absent on holidays for some time, and have returned to see the marvellous progress you have made.  You continue to impress with your amazing attention to detail and craftsmanship.  A pleasure to read the updates.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[mtaylor]

Thanks for the info Paul.  It's those little details and knowledge you're sharing that add more interest to an already fascinating build.

[Kevin]

Good morning all,  

 

Please excuse my long absence, work before play, as they say. Found some time to put in some more work on the 2mtr range finder.

 

Hello Kevin, GJDale, Michel, Larry and Wackowolf. Thanks for looking in and for your never ending encouraging words. I think it would be wonderful if we all lived in the same town.

 

 

 

Hi Paul - more lovely work, i have one problem with the above quote of yours, it will be a long way for me to commute to work, lol - i will get even less work done on my build

[Foremast]

Hello Paul,

you're speedy like a rocket! It's a pleasure to see your latest picture,

 

Great job

Alex

[Paul Salomone]

Good morning to you all ship modelling friends,

 

It's flippin hot here in Malta - over 35 degrees C - I always said that winter is the best season of them all.

 

Some more updates related to the range finder platform and the admiral's bridge.

 

Here goes:

 

The small range finder nearing it's completion.

 

A view from the front.

 

The foot rails.

 

Another view.

 

A side view of the foot rails.

 

Storage cabinets to be mounted just behind the range finder housing.

 

Starting off with the voice tubes.

 

The first one is well under way. Note the copper wire. This is to simulate the flexible tubing, which covers nearly all the length of the voice tube.

 

The set of four are ready for the next step.

 

The four voice tubes, together with the first set of cables required for the admiral's bridge electrical panels.

 

Starting off with the finishing of the electrical panels.

 

The first set of cables, set in place.

 

A close up view - a bit blurred - sorry, my camera is not that sophisticated.

 

 

Shall be posting more pictures next week.

 

[Paul Salomone]

Thanks Brian.

[RGL]

Great work Paul, love the detail

[Kevin]

lovely Paul, we have our warm temperatures here as well, not quite as high, but been around the 30's, and being British - we are not used to it, even so - my new insulated workshop is too warm - absolutely no point in buying much to cool it down as this time next year might be back to normal, cold  and wet

[Paul Salomone]

Hello Greg,

 

Thank for the kind interest, and your encouraging words.

[Paul Salomone]

Hello Kevin,

 

thanks for looking in. yes I would imagine that the Uk is suffering the heat as well. here in Malta the humidity is sky high, and mostly unbearable. The ac units in both the bedroom and the kitchen area, are working out full blast. At the moment, I have to  suffer the heat in my workshop, as all our funds are tied up, as we are going through a child adoption process - who knows, perhaps a future ship modeller. But later on, I have already told the shop steward (my wife), that we shall be installing a VRV air-conditioning system to feed all the rooms of the house, including my workshop of course.

Edited July 23, 2013 by Paul Salomone

[gjdale]

Spring might be just around the corner in Melbourne Brian, but I was looking at snow from my back patio yesterday! It's definitely still mid-winter here!

 

Lovely work, by the way Paul - just stunning with the detail.

[Paul Salomone]

Thanks grant,  really appreciate your kind words

[flyer]

Hi Paul

 

Every time I think you reached perfection in detailing, you add another level. Outstanding!

 

I wish you joy with your new child – but better do not count on a ship modeler. I think what you should hope for is some mild tolerance, the same I’m getting from my daughters. By the way, this is not a gender question - one is an engineer!

 

Cheers

Peter

[popeye the sailor]

you'll have to post a picture of the new arrival.......congrats man.........to the fullest!   nice bit of progress on your build....gonna look sweet when finished!

[Ray]

more super detailed work just when you think it can not get better it does.

[Paul Salomone]

Good morning all,

 

Hello to all those fine guys who looked in and left these gentle and kind words. Nobody can ever know what the future has in reserve for us, but I would think that it's worth to try to introduce this hobby to the young fellow or fella. This way, my wife will have two kids to take care of - me and the child. And the best thing about it, is that she will not grumble for spending too much time on modelling.

 

At the moment the electrical panel assembly, is at a halt, as one of the members of the club (Oliver), who is a true expert in figures and AFV's, shall be giving me some lessons as how to weather the panels  and creating highlights, using oil paints.

I view of this, I embarked on another mission - the ship's boats.

 

Here goes:

 

The boats shall be made from styrene sheets, and covered with timber planks where needed.

1)- The main frame shall be made from 1.5mm thick styrene.

2)- The other frames shall be made from 0.75mm thick styrene.

3)- The covering shall be made from 0.5mm thick styrene.

4)- The boat's deck and working platform shall be covered with 3mm x 0.5mm thick light teak strips.

 

The overall length of the motor work boat is 16cm.

 

A good view of the boats - picture taken from the Kagero 3D book.

 

A plan of the motor work boat in 1:72nd scale.

 

The ship had three of these boats, so I have to prepare three main frames.

 

The first main frame under way.

 

Putting in the lining angles for the rest of the frames.

 

The frames in place.

 

A view from the rear.

 

The front deck piece in place, together with the rest of the crew's working platform.

 

A view showing the bottom.

 

A linear view from the front.

 

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

superb start!   you must have known that you'd be building  'side'  models for your model     how many are you making?  look forward in seeing the  'mini'  fleet! 

[Paul Salomone]

Hello all,

 

Popeye & Brian, thanks for looking in. The ship's boats list consisted of the following:

 

1 - 3 x Motor work boats.

2 - 1 x Motor pinnace.

3 - 1 X Motor launch.

4 - 2 x 11 7 1/2 meter cutter.

5 - 2 x 8 meter cutter.

6 - 2 x 5 meter rowing boats.

7 - 1 x 3 meter rowing boat.

8 - 40 x cork and canvas dinghies.

 

Yes, I would say that they will be a mini fleet within a fleet.

[harvey1847]

Great Work Paul!

 

Allways enjoy your updates... It looks that you have a small industry there. Are you going to build to plan all of them?

 

Best wishes.

 

Daniel.

[Trussben]

Very nice start on the boats Paul, Knowing your work they will awesome.

 

ben

[BANYAN]

That lot is going gto keep you busy for a while, but at the rate of progress you are already showing it will be quicker than I can complete my build

 

Looking very good Paul.  Now, you do realise that we will expect that the boats davits/falls will work don't you?

[michael mott]

Hi Paul checking in, the small launches are going to little gems in themselves.

 

Michael

[Paul Salomone]

Good morning all,

 

Hello Daniel, Ben, Banyan and Michael - Thanks for looking in.

Banyan - Working Davits and falls - hmmmmmmmmmm - now that is a true challenge, when considering the small scale. But worth a try. You shall soon be owing me a point of good old beer my friend.

[gjdale]

Very nice start to the boats Paul. I'm looking forward to seeing you rise to Pat's (Banyan)'s challenge!

Edited July 30, 2013 by gjdale

[trippwj]

You continue to amaze me, Paul! Fantastic detailing and realism!

 

Congratulations on the adoption!

[Paul Salomone]

Hello all,

 

Thanks guys for looking in.

 

Grant - I have already downloaded a scale plane of the boats davits, that were located forward, just after turret "Bruno". yes it's a challenge, but can be done. of course, most of the items, shall be worked out on the lathe, but it's the end result that counts.

PAT - get that beer ready.