The Ship Model Forum

Hello everyone,

I'm almost finished with my 1/350 Bismarck and I need some help to finish her off the right way. All that needs to be done right now are the riggings and the main deck railings. I also need to dull coat the model and that's where I need some advice.

Should I dull coat the model before I put the riggings on? I'll be using some invisible nylon thread darkened with a permanent marker and I wanted to know if the varnish will shrink when drying. If that happens it will surely pull the masts out of alignment and me off to no end!

Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated!

Cheers

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Ventis Secundis

Please!

Do not apply Dullcoat over "permanent" marker.

I found this out the hard way.

The Dullcoat will dissolve the ink and it will run all over everything you don't want it on.

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Les Foran
On the Oregon Trail

Yeah, Les is right. Permamarkers do go funny when sprayed with enamel Dullcote (the Testores brand anyway). I'd spray Dullcote first then do the rigging, as the spray from the cote may make the rigging too heavy and make it sag and bend, and perhaps even rip from their attachment points.

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De quoi s'agit-il?

Thanks a lot guys!!!! I will then proceed with the railings and dull coat the model BEFORE applying the riggings. You just saved me a lot, and I mean a lot of problems and swear words.

Once again a big thank you for the advice!

Cheers

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Ventis Secundis

Silvian -

I would strongly suggest that you get the invisible thread in "smoke" colour. Go to any sewing supply or fabric store. Mine cost me about $15 Canadian but it will probably last me the rest of my life. Using permanent marker on the regular invisible thread will probably send you crazy.

I would do the dull coating before rigging and railings. That still leaves the problem of nice shiny glue marks where you attached them. You can solve that problem by buying some Polly Scale clear flat (or equivalent). Almost all model railroad stores have it. Once the glue has dried nice and shiny, take a small paint brush and touch up the shiny spots with clear flat. Real easy to do and it makes a big difference.

HTH

Bonne chance

- Grant