Calling all Bismarck and Tirpitz fans

[JC Woodman]

So... what's the BEST choice for a Bismarck kit in 350th Tamiya, Revell Platinum, Academy???

[MartinJQuinn]

So... what's the BEST choice for a Bismarck kit in 350th Tamiya, Revell Platinum, Academy???

Revell, hands down.

[drasticplastic]

I would go with the Revell Platinum. Although it's a lot more expensive, it does come with a very extensive PE set, and wooden deck. The basic kit used to retail for just under $100 (CDN). You might want to investigate basic kit and other PE choices for lower price.

[DonH]

Currently building Revell 1/350 Bismarck. Years ago in this thread I saw where Olaf Held stated that the Boot-topping width on 1/350 DKM Battleships was 7mm. How far down should the top of the Boot-topping be from the main deck on Bismarck?

[Channell]

I have a question about Bismarck and depth charge racks.

The kit has them (on the stern), the Pontos detail set deletes them entirely. I can't find any photo evidence for/against them. Anybody know the truth of the matter?

[builder]

If it's the Bismarck.
See stern starbord side.
Depth charge rack?

[Captain Morgan]

If it's the Bismarck.
See stern starbord side.
Depth charge rack?

While it is the Bismarck, that would be a VERY strange looking DC rack.

[Timmy C]

As I recall, the "racks" were just a pair or trio of single-charge roll-off racks, side by side along the deck edge. Their function wasn't to attack submarines, but to produce fake shell splashes to throw off the enemy's aim.

[mpgl62]

As I recall, the "racks" were just a pair or trio of single-charge roll-off racks, side by side along the deck edge. Their function wasn't to attack submarines, but to produce fake shell splashes to throw off the enemy's aim.

Hello

I think, that is doubtful. It was very difficult to coordinate the explosions of the charges with the fall of projectiles. The shells splashes are diferent (much more cinetic energy than explosive, because this, they were more tall and slim). The attacker had clocks with the exact moment of the fall, it could not be excluded that the shells splashes were dyed. Only six fake splashes were not very useful.

I think, instead, that a few charges could be useful in restricted waters to confuse or deter an attacking submarine.The noise of the explosions would make it difficult to a submerged submarine to use the hydrophones. And the captain of the submarine could overestimate the escort group.

[Admhawk]

Before Operation Rhein�bung, two WBD depth charge racks were placed on Bismarcks Stern.
Being a battleship, they weren't going to be very effective against Submarines, but could still be used to force a sub to dive while the ship escapes.
There are also accounts of them being used to confuse enemy gunners with extra splashes.
Prinz Eugen and Adm Hipper also had them as well as other capital ships.

As with anything in War, things change, different things are tried and some things work well while others don't.

Even with stop watches and calculations, a few seconds of hesitation might mean the difference between success or failure. That was the whole purpose of camouflage and look at the effort that was spent on it.

[Thomas E. Johnson]

Who makes the best �injection molded� 1/700 Bismarck & Tirpitz kits? I see there are several out there now.....

[Captain Morgan]

Who makes the best �injection molded� 1/700 Bismarck & Tirpitz kits? I see there are several out there now.....

I'll let you know after I get my Flyhawk Bismarck. I already have in injection molded plastic, the Old and new Aoshima, Pitroad/Trumpeter, Dragon, and Matchbox. I have the Samek Bismarck and Tirpitz resin kits also.

I'm pretty sure Flyhawk will be the best so far.

[Thomas E. Johnson]

Who makes the best �injection molded� 1/700 Bismarck & Tirpitz kits? I see there are several out there now.....

I'll let you know after I get my Flyhawk Bismarck. I already have in injection molded plastic, the Old and new Aoshima, Pitroad/Trumpeter, Dragon, and Matchbox. I have the Samek Bismarck and Tirpitz resin kits also.

I'm pretty sure Flyhawk will be the best so far.

Thanks, please do inform us as to your conclusions.

[drasticplastic]

During Rheinubung, Bismarck flew the Nazi Naval Ensign from the mainmast, but at the mast top there was a smaller, lighter flag. From a distance it looked mostly white. Was that the Admiral's flag?

[mpgl62]

During Rheinubung, Bismarck flew the Nazi Naval Ensign from the mainmast, but at the mast top there was a smaller, lighter flag. From a distance it looked mostly white. Was that the Admiral's flag?

Yes, it is.



https://www.kbismarck.com/flags.html

[mpgl62]

Who makes the best �injection molded� 1/700 Bismarck & Tirpitz kits? I see there are several out there now.....

I'll let you know after I get my Flyhawk Bismarck. I already have in injection molded plastic, the Old and new Aoshima, Pitroad/Trumpeter, Dragon, and Matchbox. I have the Samek Bismarck and Tirpitz resin kits also.

I'm pretty sure Flyhawk will be the best so far.

The only plastic Tirpitz is Revell. The Tirpitz of other brands, are badly modified Bismarck.

Some differences do not reflected usually in those models are:

- Bow
- Ventilation trunks , in special at Caesar and Bruno barbettes
- Admiral Bridge
- Some levels of the Tower-mast
- Night telemeters
- Funnel rear was semicircular in Tirpitz and polygonal in Bismarck, also ventilation trunks and funnel cranes were differents

[drasticplastic]

Who makes the best �injection molded� 1/700 Bismarck & Tirpitz kits? I see there are several out there now.....

I'm just finishing up my Bismarck from Flyhawk - it is incredible! I bought the "Deluxe" kit from a trusted Chinese vendor and it cost only CDN $65, shipping inc. Comes with 8 frets of PE, and turned brass barrels for primary and secondary armaments, and masts and main yards. Basic plastic kit is $35 - $40 making it compatible with most other brands - except that it is much, much more detailed and accurate. I can compare it with Dragon's Bismarck ("Sink the Bismarck" version), which I thought was excellent, but Flyhawk's completely beats it. Surface detail on the decks is more complete and accurate as is all ports, windows, doors, railings, piping and conduits on bulkheads. Flyhawk's Bismarck is even more accurate and detailed (even without help from PE) than any of the 1/350, or even, 1/200 scale Bismarcks on the market. Critics will complain about the higher parts count - but I just consider them wimps!

[PCB5656]

The photo shown by 'builder' on 24 Oct 2018 is of Bismarck during the visit by Hitler just prior to operation Rheinubung on 5 May 1941. The Bundesarchive identifies the date of that photo is 5/6 May 1941, which matches the dates of the inspection. She left the port two weeks later. Obviously she had depth charge racks during Hitler's visit. So unless they were removed during the following two weeks she had them up until the day she sank.

Photos of Bismarck taken from the stern of the Prinz Eugen clearly show the Prinz Eugen depth charge racks at different times. In both photos she is shown leading the Bismarck so they are taken after first contact with Norfolk and Suffolk. Bismarck is also taking heavy water over the bow, indicating flooding in the bow, so that pinpoints the timeframe to after the Denmark Strait battle. The depth charge racks show one depth charge in the rack at one point and three in another. Railings are dropped in both photos indicating the guns have been in action. So obviously, Prinz Eugen used them during the battle and reloaded them immediately afterwards. Since there are no reports from the German side that I have ever heard of a sub contact during this battle, it seems obvious that they were used to confuse gunnery aim.

It would not be hard to get the depth charge to detonate during the shell splashes. Merely time the point from the gun flashes of the British ship shooting at you until impact. Knowing how long it takes for the depth charge to be released, sink to whatever depth it detonates at, and cause the column of water should already have been known. Subtract that from the shell flight time and you then have a time after gun flashes appear to drop a depth charge of two.

I am building the 1/200 model of Bismarck and when I first got it I was confused by the depth charges. I have subsequently done a lot of research into the presence and use by the Germans. I still doubt the wisdom of storing hundreds of pounds of high explosive in the open on the stern of ships subject to shell impacts and splinters. The stern girders of the German ships were weak, but I don't think this was realized until later, or even after the war. This is evidenced by the collapse of the stern of Deutschland and Prinz Eugen after torpedo hits, and by the loss of Bismarck's stern during the sinking. The British sure seemed to have a tendency to torpedo ships in the stern! It's either really good shooting or pure luck, but let's call it great shooting.

[chuck]

Depth charge would be a serious hazard during gunnery action because a hit on or near them could set them off while still aboard. Based on photographic evidence, it also seems to me that the splashes made by depth charges are much less tall and broader in shape compares to those made by large caliber shells, and so should be easily distinguishable optically.

[Sutho]

The photo shown by 'builder' on 24 Oct 2018 is of Bismarck during the visit by Hitler just prior to operation Rheinubung on 5 May 1941. The Bundesarchive identifies the date of that photo is 5/6 May 1941, which matches the dates of the inspection. She left the port two weeks later. Obviously she had depth charge racks during Hitler's visit. So unless they were removed during the following two weeks she had them up until the day she sank.

Photos of Bismarck taken from the stern of the Prinz Eugen clearly show the Prinz Eugen depth charge racks at different times. In both photos she is shown leading the Bismarck so they are taken after first contact with Norfolk and Suffolk. Bismarck is also taking heavy water over the bow, indicating flooding in the bow, so that pinpoints the timeframe to after the Denmark Strait battle. The depth charge racks show one depth charge in the rack at one point and three in another. Railings are dropped in both photos indicating the guns have been in action. So obviously, Prinz Eugen used them during the battle and reloaded them immediately afterwards. Since there are no reports from the German side that I have ever heard of a sub contact during this battle, it seems obvious that they were used to confuse gunnery aim.

It would not be hard to get the depth charge to detonate during the shell splashes. Merely time the point from the gun flashes of the British ship shooting at you until impact. Knowing how long it takes for the depth charge to be released, sink to whatever depth it detonates at, and cause the column of water should already have been known. Subtract that from the shell flight time and you then have a time after gun flashes appear to drop a depth charge of two.

I am building the 1/200 model of Bismarck and when I first got it I was confused by the depth charges. I have subsequently done a lot of research into the presence and use by the Germans. I still doubt the wisdom of storing hundreds of pounds of high explosive in the open on the stern of ships subject to shell impacts and splinters. The stern girders of the German ships were weak, but I don't think this was realized until later, or even after the war. This is evidenced by the collapse of the stern of Deutschland and Prinz Eugen after torpedo hits, and by the loss of Bismarck's stern during the sinking. The British sure seemed to have a tendency to torpedo ships in the stern! It's either really good shooting or pure luck, but let's call it great shooting.

I was of the understanding that they were smoke and haze canisters that created a fog and haze to shield the ship from visual sight if it needed to double back. Could be useful to set up a fog to hide behind to hunt convoys. All the ships apparently had the ability to emit chlorosulphuric acid to create an artificial fog to further mask its location.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/milita ... mical-fog/