1/700 ICM SMS König

[Sszabi]

Hello!


This is an old project that should be finished (I lost interest in the Britannic when I found out that the beautiful A deck sidewalls I had bought earlier were completely off-size, and the factory ones were just crap...)
I started it even before Viribus Unitis, but then I lost inspiration: I couldn't find enough photos or blueprints. I've been spoiled by these lately, and their lack made me lose interest... To be honest, this is not a perfect kit: for example, the portholes were completely missing in the stern! I also ordered the Flyhawk accessory for it back in the year. I don't like wooden decks, but this one is so beautiful that I'm going to use it.

There are still some details missing from the hull, which I realized after I managed to get hold of Marine-Arsenal issue 26. Unfortunately, there are a lot of not-so-sharp, distant pictures in this one, but fortunately there are a few close-ups, even if not all of them were of the König.

The howsholes are in the wrong place. These had to be placed further forward, and their edges had to be cut out of plastic sheet...
The portholes received separate Flyhawk etching.

I have mostly used Flyhawk elements for the superstructure so far. The floors of the levels consist of 1 metal sheet each, the railings running along the edges should only be bent at right angles. Unfortunately, however, these were made together with the canvas, it is quite nice on the inside, but on the outside it is so flat, as if it were armor plate... So instead of these, I will put up plain railings, on which I will make the canvas.

I didn't want to poke at the various vents at first, but they are so spectacular in the photos that of course I just cut them apart too.

If I don't get bored with the railings of the funnels, then maybe one day they will be finished...

[MartinJQuinn]

Nice work. Your attention to detail - and the ability to pull it off - is most impressive.

[Sszabi]

Martin, thanks, but I just realized that you are wrong...

I had a hard time putting the railings on the first funnel. I was putting the lower platform in place when I realized that the ends near the funnels ladders were not at such an acute angle, but square. I thought it would be easy to fix, I cut the railings ending when I noticed that I had not placed the ladder on the left side completely in the middle of the funnel. It should be there... I don't understand how this happened and why it didn't show up sooner. Maybe I was following the cast ladders of the model, but according to the unboxings, they are originally in the middle on both sides. I hate mistakes like this. And obviously someone else would notice it too if they looked more closely, it doesn't make sense for them to be different. I can't fix it because I would have to take everything back, I don't have enough railings anymore (in the Flyhawk set there were fewer than they should have), so I think this project is now flying back into the corner, where I can't see it anymore... This ship was a waste of resources, nothing more :/

[hypno7]

Sszabi,

The work is incredible and very fine and consistent. Don't be too hard on yourself, the ladder can be moved if needed. Remove the funnel foot rails carefully and if you glued them wit CA, just dump them in a small container with acetone, or scrape the glue. The material is very forgiving. What I do is glue the PE with "future" which is not strong at all, but can be removed very cleanly using ammonia. The foot rails can also be redone with fine wire. It is a lot of work but the work you already put on it is worth it. Remember, its just a hobby

I wish i could do such fine work

[Mr. Church]

Your detailing looks great.

I very much doubt the majority of viewers would notice the issue with the ladder and the funnel. Especially considering how few detailed photos of the class there seem to be, as you say yourself.

I for one hope you keep the faith and see the model through to being finished.

[Joelle]

A new little beauty is taking shape.

[Sszabi]

Thank you for the encouragement, gentlemen.
I seriously packed the whole thing in the corner among the boxes, but then this CA glue retrieval just blew my mind. Honestly, it never occurred to me that instant glue could be dissolved. I had previously disassembled etchings by heating them, I always tried to cut off the plastic that I had ruined... So hypno7 saved the project, special thanks for that!

I removed the handrails and the ladder from the funnel beautifully. If I had known this earlier... Then I played this twice more, trying to put the pieces together as nicely as possible, but I couldn't. But at least the ladder is in place

Based on photos and a few drawings, I made new steam pipes and a signal horn for the first funnel from copper wire. I tried to imitate the stiffeners on the lower part of the platforms using stretch sprue. I couldn't find a clear picture of these either, just a few fragments, so this detail is definitely not complete, but at least it wasn't smooth. In addition, the headlight platforms received 2-2 stiffening strands, which are connected to the funnel walls at an angle of about 45 degrees (these are above the platforms, not below them like on other ships).

According to the drawing, the covered bridge had a steering wheel, compass, engine order telegraph and a map table. These were added as a sign, but obviously not much of them is visible after the roof is in place.

[MartinJQuinn]

Nice! Glad you are going to stick with hit. Hat tip to Hypno7!

[hypno7]

its great it worked out! The updates look very nice and precise.

What I also do, is keep acetone in an old tamiya super thin glue container (everyone has tipped one over so there ). The little brush that comes with it will hold enough acetone so I can clean up CA glue joints that don't look so good, or where there was some accumulation of the glue that makes it unsightly. Acetone will evaporate very fast so I can hold it on one point without affecting others. Many applications would be needed, but at one point the CA becomes soft and the brush can take the blob. It will eat through paint and polystyrene though. Some plastics will resist it, but I think because it evaporates so quickly.