Bismarck

MAC FELSING
I will start providing pictures soon. I am alternating between the Bismarck and the Takom "Bruno" model as I get frustrated with one then I will work on the other. Note: The TAKOM model has large connection points between the sprues and the parts. This necessitates a lot of careful removal and a sanding, scraping and filling to get the marks off of the large parts. The fit is generally good. Minimal flash on the Takom model.

MAC FELSING
Starting a separate build log and will make entries here periodically
Dec 17 - finished putting on the port side Pontos photo etch detail for the forward 1st deck - part Z1 - 3 hours
Dec 18 ground off the molded detail on port side Z1 forwqrd 1st deck. Painted the life preservers flat red (Vallejo) and started making the life preserver photo-etch hanger. Also assembled 5 more wall mount fire hoses (PE) - 5 hours
Dec 19 - Started adding SB side PE for 1st deck - 2.5 hours
Nov - Early Dec - Adding photo etch to 1st deck part Z1. Built the 4 main turrets with brass barrels. Need to figure out a way to mount them so no glue needed but they won't come out - thinking of some combination of plastic or metal washer. but looking for a way I can mount them after everything else is on the model, may not be practical. Will see. Also completed the secondary 150 mm turrets. They are ready for priming and paint - with the PE Ladders.
Will upload pictures this week.

David Taylor
Following .

MAC FELSING
Dec 22 - Continued adding PE for SB 1st deck Superstructure - 3.5
Dec 23 - Made a lot of progress on SB superstructure PE - about 3/4 complete. Also made a breakthrough on figuring out how to mount the Primary and secondary turrets without gluing them down to they rotate. magnets and a metal washer. Will tape the washer using thin strips of masking tape and let them hang about 1/4 inch. The magnet will capture the washer when the turret is installed and will prevent the turret from accidentally falling out.

MAC FELSING
Dec 23 - finished photo etch on forward superstructure. @ 5 hours
Dec 24 - added 3 life preserver racks and finished the last 2 of 4 verterans models range finders which are now ready for primer and paint - 2.5 hours this morning.

MAC FELSING
Next is the aft super structure PE and will probably start with a couple of the 37 Flak guns - Pontos Veterans models and out of the kit to see which ones are better.

MAC FELSING
Dec 25 - Jan 3
10 days - avg 5 hours/day @ 50 hours
Aft Superstructure level 1 deck - Port side PE complete - SB side about 1/2 way complete - need to do the last set of vents and add about 40 grates-and various wiring pieces.
Veteran Models 105 37 Flak mounts - working on the first one - learning what not to do 😉 Seems like each part is a little model in itself, with a learning curve on what works and doesn't for each one, and you rinse and repeat - example 105 Flak 37 and Flak 31 mounts - 4 each
Paravanes - Figured out how to assemble the brass and photo etch paravanes - in progress - 1st of 8 - took about 4 hours and screwed up one of them. 😉
Will post more build pictures later today/tomorrow.

MAC FELSING
Jan 5 - about 3 hours working on the 3rd deck PE of the aft superstructure. May be referring to the decks incorrectly. will research and get my terminology strait. Kit part is A1. Have most of the bits either on the deck or assembled ready to install. Building the 4 vents and louvers and need to drill the hole on the aft end of the deck for the ladder (3mm holes, about 6 pair) expect that will be about another 2 hours of work.

David Taylor
looks fantastic so far.

MAC FELSING
David, Thank you. Just really getting a good start.
Jan 7-8 Finished the PE on Part A1. Each vent took about 45 + minutes to do. There are four of those on that piece. After all was said and don, it took about 5 hours from the point I was at on Jan 5. I did notice this morning that there is an error in the Pontos kit for the 905 and 905 parts. The kit has 3 of each. The primary difference is that one of them has 9 louvers and one has 8. The vents are on part Z3 and are the big triple vents on each side of that part. There should be 4 of the 8 louver vents and 2 of the 9 louver vents. The kit is incorrect. (This is for those of you that have the pontos kit and haven't started putting the PE on the decks yet. Luckily you have the option of either using the grill gratings that are together or separately. That way I can put the extra 9 grate vent in place of one of the 8 great vents, and I won't tell. lol.
Jan 8, also started adding some of the pieces from the kit that should be on prior to priming and painting, to minimize extra work.
Stil have a lot of plastic to scrape though.

MAC FELSING
In the last couple of weeks I managed to find about all of the parts that the "floor monster" had captured, including some VERY SMALL pieces. That was a lot of fun. (I don't have a carpet monster as I don't have any carpet in my model room.

MAC FELSING
The Main guns: Anton,Bruno, Cesar, and Dora , are ready to finish putting on the detail, prime, and paint, now that they have their magnets installed and I know how I will mount them so they can turn but will not fall out accidentally.

MAC FELSING
Feb 6
Been averaging @ 3.5 hours each evening during the week since Jan 8. usually an addition 10 - 12 hours on weekends.
Just posted pics to the Aft Superstructure album. All 3 decks have the PE applied to the walls. Starting to add plastic and PE parts to the top of the decks. Aft SS has a lot of channels to add on to the main and second level Aft SS decks. then the veneer fits up to the edge of the channels. The approach is to get all plastic and pe that is part of each deck added on. Does not include stand alone pieces of equipment. Then I can start priming and painting the decks and get the would veneer permanently attached.

Have progressed quite a bit on the Forward SS/Bridge areas will post pictures of that detail later today or tomorrow. Completed the Port Wing Bridge out of photo etch. Really adds to the model.
Also adding the outboard channels to the Fore SS decks as well. and starting to add the PE detail so I can prime and paint that as well.

Planning to order the Pontos brass pedestals to mount the display to a base.

MAC FELSING
Been doing quite a bit since the last post. I have a lot of pictures to upload. I have been focused primarily on the forward superstructure decks, the range finders, the photo etch FUMO radars. The three main rangefinders turn and are held on with magnets. Seems to work well. several of the decks have been primed. Need to add the boot lines on each, and then paint the primary color. I am enjoying working with the photo etch. It is fun as each subassembly starts to come to life, take shape, etc.
I have been following some of the builds of the 1/200 amati Bismarck kit to get additional ideas as well.

MAC FELSING
Been working on the Bismarck steadily. I've completed the 8 Doppelflak 37.5 Veteran Models guns. 1 is painted, 7 ready to paint. and 2 Veterans Models quad 20 Flack guns. One painted, the other ready for primer. lso been working on the ships boats nd the painting of the decks for the the bridge area. Using Scale Colors krigsmaring/Bismarck paints. Been realatively happy with the outcome. Starting on the 12 single 20s in the Pontos set.
Will add pictures soon.