Tamiya bismarck 1/350 with upgrade kit

[Pantherman]

I wish I had the patience for all that PE. I do enjoy ship builds. My one experience with it building the New Jersey didn't go well at all. I found it very difficult and very difficult to see. Ended up not using it but wish I did.

It is frustrating sometimes but I kinda enjoy the challenge. Pantherman

 

[Jantk14]

Well my son is begging me to build an aircraft carrier so I have the 1/350 Tamiya Enterprise in my sights. Maybe I'll take the challenge with the PE up again if there's any for that kit, some day.

 

[Pantherman]

Well my son is begging me to build an aircraft carrier so I have the 1/350 Tamiya Enterprise in my sights. Maybe I'll take the challenge with the PE up again if there's any for that kit, some day.

I would definitely like to see that build. Pantherman

 

[Edbert]

And just to get further down the rabbit hole my extra PE arrived.
Hour's of fun to be had.

Guess we'll see you again in...March?

 

[Pantherman]

Guess we'll see you again in...March?

If you're lucky........Pantherman

 

[GCB]

Great! Will give me time to catch up...

 

[Pantherman]

Got myself some new eyes, the PE is getting smaller and smaller. Pantherman

 

[GCB]

Tell me about small pieces...
Turret looking nice!

 

[Pantherman]

Tell me about small pieces...
Turret looking nice!

Thanks. PM

 

[Pantherman]

So now that I have hundreds of PE part's to fit I have decided to light up the ship as well.

I have little experience with electronics but looking forward to challenge. Pantherman

 

[Pantherman]

Got way more done this weekend than I was expecting.

There is alot more flash and pin marks to clean up, thought it would be a crisper mould.

The wood deck was difficult to get right but I think it looks ok for a first timer. Pantherman

 

[Rockin' Rob]

And just to get further down the rabbit hole my extra PE arrived.
Hour's of fun to be had. Pantherman
View attachment 166677View attachment 166678View attachment 166679View attachment 166680View attachment 166681

Wow.. you do this stuff to de-stress? I looked at all that PE my blood pressure went up. Wow I don't know if I could do that.

 

[wjbrandel]

Looking very good Pantherman. The PE I work with never looks that good . I just need more practice I guess .

 

[Pantherman]

Looking very good Pantherman. The PE I work with never looks that good . I just need more practice I guess .

I have found a glue and tools that works for me which has improved my PE work greatly. Pantherman

 

[BarleyBop]

glue and tools that works for me

...so true, there is no "one size fits all".
It takes time to figure out the right combination based on how you do things, and it evolves as your skills grow.

 

[Pantherman]

So I have a question for y'all. Photos of cheap, nasty Chinese photo etch stairs and the other is eduard PE kit at 3 times the price.

Which one is eduard? Pantherman

 

[Jantk14]

The one on the right looks nicer. Let me guess it's the cheaper one?

 

[Pantherman]

The one on the right looks nicer. Let me guess it's the cheaper one?

You win the prize. It's also just a little bit thicker which makes it much easier to work with. Pantherman

 

[Pantherman]

Definitely gonna need a bigger bench. Pantherman

 

[BarleyBop]

little bit thicker

...all true; how does it look on the ship? At that size, do small changes in thickness look out of scale?

 

[Pantherman]

...all true; how does it look on the ship? At that size, do small changes in thickness look out of scale?

Personally I think it looks better, more robust. But the purists will probably say definitely not.

To be honest I don't really care as I'm having fun with it. This is likely going to take me a few months as you have to keep thinking so far ahead so as not to glue a part that will stop the extras and PE fitting.

Oh, and there's the lights and electronics to add to the fun.
Pantherman

 

[GCB]

So I have a question for y'all. Photos of cheap, nasty Chinese photo etch stairs and the other is eduard PE kit at 3 times the price.

Which one is eduard? Pantherman
View attachment 167087View attachment 167088

Is it the pic, or did you bend them wrongly? Horizontally, there should be only the steps, not side bars (?)

 

[GCB]

Definitely gonna need a bigger bench. Pantherman
View attachment 167097View attachment 167098

Looking great and moving fast.
How difficult was to put on the wooden deck? And did you add glue or just used the sticky bottom?

 

[Pantherman]

Is it the pic, or did you bend them wrongly? Horizontally, there should be only the steps, not side bars (?)

These will not be horizontal, I will post a photo when attached. Pantherman

 

[Pantherman]

Looking great and moving fast.
How difficult was to put on the wooden deck? And did you add glue or just used the sticky bottom?

Thanks. Used the self adhesive on the decking. Mind you, only get one chance on the smaller bit's so all dry fitted first.

My plan is to get most of the ship build but not fix anything until you can see all the PE. Then paint her up. Pantherman

 

[Pantherman]

Is it the pic, or did you bend them wrongly? Horizontally, there should be only the steps, not side bars (?)

Finally got the stairs fitted. In a perfect world I should really slightly bend each tread so they are horizontal but I would probably end up bending something else and messing it all up. Pantherman

 

[Jantk14]

There is no doubt I would break those stairs right off if I tried to make them horizontal.

 

[GCB]

Pantherman, I was not referring to the steps (I did not bend them either), but to the "side bars" below the handrails. My understanding is that those are vertical.

 

[GCB]

To be more accurate, those are called "stringer" as per drawing below

 

[Pantherman]

Decided it was time to get these. Pantherman