Herbert Erperderp group build. Even bigger guns. This one is the Bismarck.

 

 The Bismarck. What's in the box? Bet you can't guess...

It's a big 'un.

It's group build time again.

A reminder of the mission if you choose to accept it...

 Herbert Erperderp group build. Even bigger guns.

As long as weapons have existed, people have felt the need to have better weapons. Bows to Crossbows, Crossbows to Cannons, so on.An easy way to make your weapon "better" was to make it bigger. Bigger is always better, after all!

And this lead to some ridiculous weapons, massive constructs made entirely to hurl the biggest amount of hurt towards the enemy. This Group Build is about those weapons.

Welcome to the "**EVEN BIGGER GUNS!**" Group Build!

In this build, we look at ways to throw a big projectile at your enemy from far away.

The main rule is simple: The caliber of the gun/projectile/whatever applies has to be at least 100mm.

It does not matter what it fires or how it does so. A trebuchet would need to fling a projectile of at least 100mm in diameter, while a tank cannon needs to be at least 100mm in caliber. As long as this fairly simple rule is followed, your entry is good to go!

So... here we go, group build offer number two...

Great picture on the front.

Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898)

The battleship Bismarck was named in honour of Otto Fürst von Bismarck, the architect of German unification and the arbiter of European politics during the second half of the 19th century. 

Bismarck, also known as the "Iron Chancellor", was the founder and first chancellor of the German Empire, and through his diplomatic skills, he managed to maintain the peace in Europe for a generation. Either that or he had cast iron underwear...

Technical data (If you can read Japanese) and a brief history and a picture of the completed model to inspire you.

Usual purchasing info on the end.
About $16 US or 13 pounds if you have them.

More Japanese...

So what's in the box?

Nice full box...

The box size is limited to the length of the hull..Hull parts...

 Superstructure...

 Everything else...except...

Posh parts in a private bag...

Instructions, and of course...

The long wait ... I'm sorry weight.

Naked plastic time...

Hull...

Decks...

Miscellaneous parts...

Decals.
 
Really? You are that scared of a naughty cross?

Let's get started....

Here's one I made earier...

My, she's a big one... More exactly, he's a big one as the Germans refer to their ships as masculine...
Oh those crazy Germans...

Bismarck. Building a beast.

As usual we begin with the weight and the main hull. I still like the weight.

That's the hull completed...

I brush paint so I will have to paint as I go.

It's a reasonable fit. I have not had to get the filler out for this one.

I picked out the  details on the deck in the grey.

I'm building the upper super structure now. Painting and weathering as I go...

Funnel too...

All ready to go.

Lots of shooty  things...

Building the superstructure.

So far, so good.

Adding the masts.

I respect the great modellers who add all the additional stuff but I want to show the model that you buy in the box. 

Finally we can add the small guns completing the superstructure.

And now we can add the final details. Guns and boats specifically.

That's pretty much it now. Just a few details to finish.

Adding the rigging using stretched sprue.

Adding the naughty cross front and back. It is what it was...

Let's have a look at the final result.

Heading East...

Looking a bit closer at the bow...

Looking down the length of the ship.

Overall, I'm quite happy with this. Built out of the box and on the 'modellers knee', I think I have a reasonable model which gives an idea of the scale of this mighty lump of metal.
Heading East...

Looking a little closer at the stern.

And a final thought for the crew who gave their lives in the ensuing sea battle. The majority perishing with the ship. Only 115 of Bismarck's 2,221-man crew survived. It's a beautiful thing in a way but from a less than beautiful time.

Thank you for dropping in and see you again soon.