Revell Bismark. Any tips?

[spanner570]

Welcome Frank.
I built the Airfix 1/600 Bismark you mentioned. A pig for sure!

The build for this is on page 2 in 'Ships under construction' All brush painted and might be of some help to you. The finished model is in, believe it or not, 'Ships completed'!

No offence to Peter and Chris, but a brush will produce an equally good finish on large areas of plastic. Just use a wide flat headed brush and apply two or three light coats of thinned paint.

Cheers.
Ron

[Dave Ward]

Frank,
the Bismarck in 1/350 is a big hunk of plastic for a 'first' build - may I suggest you dip your toes in the water with something a little smaller? Maybe a 1/700 waterline model? Revell & Aoshima both do the Bismarck at this scale, or there are any number of other ships - HMS Rodney, if you want a Bismarck connection! You can pick then up on ebay for reasonable prices ( c.£15 ).
Dave

[Tim Marlow]

Hi Frank
Welcome aboard. Some good advice there from the guys…..Peter’s second Bismark is here……main thing is just have fun with it

https://www.scale-models.co.uk/threads/revell-1-350-bismarck-round-two.30557/

A fine job he made of it as well…..

[Angus McCoatup]

Frank,
the Bismarck in 1/350 is a big hunk of plastic for a 'first' build - may I suggest you dip your toes in the water with something a little smaller? Maybe a 1/700 waterline model? Revell & Aoshima both do the Bismarck at this scale, or there are any number of other ships - HMS Rodney, if you want a Bismarck connection! You can pick then up on ebay for reasonable prices ( c.£15 ).
Dave

Dave,
Thanks for your advice, but...as I mentioned I have already had a go at a smaller version. A £15 Airfix model. I must agree with the above comment:-

Welcome Frank.
I built the Airfix 1/600 Bismark you mentioned. A pig for sure!
Cheers.
Ron

Whilst I finished it without too many real problems the small size and arguably poor quality of the kit pieces left me feeling underwhelmed. Granted it looks fine from a yard (or should that be a metre?) away, but a with a close inspection I can see the imperfections. In my youth, my bedroom was full of these things so I'm not a total newbie., and I do have a bit of OCD and like things to be right.

My main hobby/recreation/pastime is cycling - I've just done 55 miles this morning - but winter and a possible lockdown is upon us so I will have plenty of spare time, and wifey gets upset when I'm bored because I get under her feet. I'm sure you know the feeling!!!

This might not work, but I think it will. It might be the first of many, or it may just be a one off to scratch an itch.

[boatman]

Dave,
Thanks for your advice, but...as I mentioned I have already had a go at a smaller version. A £15 Airfix model. I must agree with the above comment:-


Whilst I finished it without too many real problems the small size and arguably poor quality of the kit pieces left me feeling underwhelmed. Granted it looks fine from a yard (or should that be a metre?) away, but a with a close inspection I can see the imperfections. In my youth, my bedroom was full of these things so I'm not a total newbie., and I do have a bit of OCD and like things to be right.

My main hobby/recreation/pastime is cycling - I've just done 55 miles this morning - but winter and a possible lockdown is upon us so I will have plenty of spare time, and wifey gets upset when I'm bored because I get under her feet. I'm sure you know the feeling!!!

This might not work, but I think it will. It might be the first of many, or it may just be a one off to scratch an itch.

WELL one things for sure Frank if you dont do something then you will for sure get under your wife feet so in my opinion build a 1/350 th bismark an the parts will be big enough to see an more detailed an when you look closely at it all that detail will stand out which in a small ship it wont as you have said an you said that you want a fair long build so that in my opinion is all or most of you answers
chris

[Angus McCoatup]

Well, I've started. Hull is glued up. Next will be filler.

[boatman]

Well, I've started. Hull is glued up. Next will be filler.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1163693[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]n1163694[/ATTACH]

GOOD FOR you Frank nothing like getting stuck in an nice work by the way very clean model just needs a little filler near the prop shafts well done i'll be following your build every day as im on here a lot
chris

[Angus McCoatup]

GOOD FOR you Frank nothing like getting stuck in an nice work by the way very clean model just needs a little filler near the prop shafts well done i'll be following your build every day as im on here a lot
chris

Don't build your hopes up too much.
This may all end in tears and I will toddle off into the sunset and never be seen again!!!

[Angus McCoatup]

Well I've not been on the bike today so filled my time here.
Hull sanded, prop shafts fitted and first coat of paint on hull, base and deck.
Prop shafts still turn too!

I'm going to have some fun with masking tape when I want to paint all those deck hatches
Aircraft under construction

Four main gun turrets completed and guns still move


I never knew glue sniffing could be such fun

[Jim R]

Hi Frank
Looks a nice kit. Quite a biggie as well. You're off to a good start - neat and tidy. Sometimes masking fluid is better than masking tape. May be useful for some of the smaller details.
Main thing is you're having fun.
Jim

[Angus McCoatup]

Hi Frank
Looks a nice kit. Quite a biggie as well. You're off to a good start - neat and tidy. Sometimes masking fluid is better than masking tape. May be useful for some of the smaller details.
Main thing is you're having fun.
Jim

Masking fluid?
Tell me more. I'm well out of touch with modern techniques and gear.
Sounds as though it might be better then cutting endless small strips of paper.

[BattleshipBob]

Hi Frank

Welcome aboard, like you new to ships, i usually make armour. Will watch with interest, will try to help were are can

There are some excellent ship builders on site!

[Angus McCoatup]

Just the two hours masking the deck today. But it's done and one coat applied. Waterline on hull too.
Lots of fiddly construction. Glue everywhere except where it will do most good.

[Jim R]

Hi Frank
All looks good. Great job of the masking.
THIS is masking fluid. It is like a rubbery paint. You paint or apply with a cocktail stick onto the area you don't want the paint to go on. It dries quickly to a thin rubbery film. When the paint is dry you can just rub it off and hey-presto (hopefully) you have an unpainted area. Very useful for small details and can be used with masking tape - tape up the main area and the masking fluid can be used to fill in corners etc.
Jim

[Angus McCoatup]

Hi Frank
All looks good. Great job of the masking.
THIS is masking fluid. It is like a rubbery paint. You paint or apply with a cocktail stick onto the area you don't want the paint to go on. It dries quickly to a thin rubbery film. When the paint is dry you can just rub it off and hey-presto (hopefully) you have an unpainted area. Very useful for small details and can be used with masking tape - tape up the main area and the masking fluid can be used to fill in corners etc.
Jim

Thanks.
I googled masking fluid, but the comments were somewhat less than flattering. From what I read getting it off without damaging the existing paint could be problematical, so I just bit the bullet and started cutting thin strips of tape.
Seems like there are a couple more section of deck still to do so this has been good practice.