Calling all Bismarck and Tirpitz fans

[Channell]

Does anybody have any ideas or resources available online that show the weld lines on the hull of the Bismarck? I've found plenty of historic pics but have nothing below the waterline. Any help would be appreciated.

[EJFoeth]

A shell expansion plan would be the best stating point I suppose. I do not know what the shipbuilding practices with welding were at the time, but if they had any sense they would have grounded the welds below the waterline flush with the hull to reduce frictional resistance.

[PCB5656]

I have recently bought the 1/200 Trumpeter model of Bismarck. I was amazed to see that they had her equipped with two depth charge racks on the stern, each with three charges. At first I figured it was a screwup, but I have since found out through two other forums that they actually existed. The most compelling evidence is a survivor account (kbismarck.com) of Bismarck firing on torpedo tracks and she blew several of the depth charges overboard. I assume its was Dora that was doing the firing.

Pictures of these racks are evident in several shots taken from the Prinz Eugen, but I haven't found any of the Bismarck's mounts. First, does anyone know when they were installed, because the shots of her stern during the work up period show nothing, and second, has anyone ever seen a photograph of them on the Bismarck?

[Olaf Held]

If I remember correctly, they even moved them around. They were either before or after this shot located further forward.

Happy modelling ~ Olaf!

[Channell]

Next question. Was the main hangar deck wooden or metal (inside the hangar)? Trumpy has wood planks scribed on the kit but most other models show it as metal.

[PCB5656]

Thank you for the photo. I've checked everything I can find and couldn't come up with that photo. Would it be possible to post the unscripted version? Thanks so much for you help.

[PCB5656]

Just rereading the post. Uncropped got changed to unscripted by autospell. Sorry about that. It was meant to read "Can you please post the uncropped version of the photo"

[Olaf Held]

@ PCB5656 ~ If I could, I would have done so, sorry.

@ Channell ~ I think steel plate is more correct than wood. They could have covered the deck with something different, but I have no idea...

Happy modelling ~ Olaf!

[Herr Nilsson]

@PCB5656

click

@Channell

definitely steel

[PCB5656]

Thank you gentlemen, those photos are perfect. I appreciate the help. I have never heard of battleships being armed this way. Is it true that they were used to confuse shell splashes?

New question also. I have noticed that the railings are collapsed on several photos taken from Prinz Eugen right after the battle of Denmark Strait. It appears to uniform to be blast damage. Was this a design feature to be able to collapse the railings, and if so does anyone know how it was done. Sorry, I'm an ex army man, not navy. Two pictures are attached, one before the battle, and one after, both show the same side of the stern of Prinz Eugen (note her depth charges also).
http://ww2db.com/images/ship_bismark6.jpg
http://ww2db.com/images/ship_bismark18.jpg

[Channell]

Thank you gentlemen, those photos are perfect. I appreciate the help. I have never heard of battleships being armed this way. Is it true that they were used to confuse shell splashes?

New question also. I have noticed that the railings are collapsed on several photos taken from Prinz Eugen right after the battle of Denmark Strait. It appears to uniform to be blast damage. Was this a design feature to be able to collapse the railings, and if so does anyone know how it was done. Sorry, I'm an ex army man, not navy. Two pictures are attached, one before the battle, and one after, both show the same side of the stern of Prinz Eugen (note her depth charges also).
http://ww2db.com/images/ship_bismark6.jpg
http://ww2db.com/images/ship_bismark18.jpg

Most of the "railings" were actually collapsable stanchions with steel cables run through them. They could be taken down in minutes by the crew to make ready for battle.

[Olaf Held]

Most of the "railings" were actually collapsable stanchions with steel cables run through them. They could be taken down in minutes by the crew to make ready for battle.

The interesting question now is, WHY was there the need to fold them down? Are relatively thin railing stanchions plus chains really that fragile that they feared being torn off by heavy gun blast?

I mean, we all or most of us know the photos and videos of Scharnhorst or Gneisenau firing at Glorious, were we can cleary see that the railings were UP. I never heard about any kind of damage...

On the other hand, if the situation calls for quick action, then why wasting time with putting railing down? You open fire, whatever comes.

Happy guessing ~ Olaf!

[Channell]

I don't know, Olaf. Maybe so they could fire the big guns at point blank range? Maybe so flaming debris from hits wouldn't get tangled and do more damage to the superstructure than they would if they just fell off into the ocean...or so the rails themselves wouldn't become projectiles if hit? Maybe during heavy seas it was better to let the waves blow across the main deck without any obstructions?

Considering the average battleship had a crew of 2-3K men I'm sure the ability to take them down quickly with all hands at battle stations wasn't a problem, but I'm sure there was a good reason or they wouldn't be that way.

[SeanF]

Perhaps so they wouldn't need to repair or replace railings from their own gunfire, just take them down before action and put them back up later? Sure, you can fire right through them in a pinch, but if you have a few minutes and good weather it keeps things in better shape for later.

- Sean F.

[109]

Considering the barrels of the main battery I attach my version of them ...

[chazi]

Hello.

My name is Chris from Poland and I'm looking for copy of original plans of battleship Bismarck. These plans shown Mr Berdt Willmer in his building report on forum.
These link for my raport building.
http://www.papermodels.pl/index.php?topic=3526.10

and this link to Berdt raport.
viewtopic.php?f=13&t=57213

Maybe someone know who want to sell bismarck drawing like shown on Berdt report.

I wrote the mail to Bundesarchive but they no answer until today. I will try one more time.
Maybe to wrong person or something.

I have Gally and Harhaus plans of Bismarck, some books (von original zum modell, Mr Kaiser Bismarck model, etc.)
Berdt show on his raport much more details of hull, seams, kingstons, outlets, inlets etc bottom equipment.

Thank You very much for help.

best regards

[109]

My 2 cents on the barrels of the main battery. The RAL 7024 will be added on Sun- or Monday ...

[Timmy C]

Most Academy ship kits are old, including their 1/350 Bismarck, which is a copy of the Tamiya Bismarck, but with less crisp moldings. Academy's new Perry and Warspite are decent, however, and cheap enough for you to add lots of extras to make them look great.

[Timmy C]

Eh, probably somewhere around 6 in terms of detailing and crispness of molding but an 8 for fit. I built it out of the box when I was 15, so you can see, kind of, what you'll get without any add-ons: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Only two pictures though - I didn't have much to work with eight years ago...

Here's an in-box review by Guido: http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/sh ... smarck.htm

[Timmy C]

You mean the rigging?

You can use glue to secure it. Super glue or white glue is fine. As for materials, there are a lot of options - you can use stretched sprue (cut a long piece of sprue, light one end on fire, blow it out, stick it on a surface, then pull quickly), or fly-fishing wire, or silk. Take a look in the Tips and Tricks section for more details.