DKM Gneisenau 1/350

[JJ1973]

Gentlemen,

thank you so much!

So here’s another small update, actually appears smaller than it is, as some filling and sanding on the 15 cm singles was involved, and touch ups on the twins. Does not really show on pictures, but was time consuming…

First, a little parcel delivered during the week - some 3D printed parts, mostly small guns for future projects, but one right now for Gneisenau:

Very nice bird from Black Cat.
Some color on, dark/light green. Somehow the contrast does not really show, on the pictures even less. I found some decals that will go on later, some details will be painted with the hairy stick and the bottom side will be painted in light blue.

So here’s about where I am at -

and a little dry fitting for effect of the 15 cm twins:

Another really-life busy week ahead with traveling, so I don’t know if I manage to squeeze in some bench time next weekend, between all those things that need to be done after a week underway and jet legged…

Thanks for looking in and cheers
Jan

[JJ1973]

Dear all,

hard to believe for myself, but I found a little time even this weekend. No promises made for next weekend, though…
And thank you for still following this glacier race!

So here’s the latest results. Some more color on the aircraft, light blue belly and a few touch ups. Details still have to be worked out later.

And the 15 cm singles -

Before I started to paint the tops in red, I had second thoughts and re-checked the reference…and well, the turret tops are dark grey, no matter whatever color else the other turret tops of the 28 cm and 15 cm twins are…

That quick checking the reference brought an unpleasant surprise…with all my breaks, moving (twice) during the build, I had neglected the reference. It clearly shows that some of the non wood covered decks and platforms should be in that same dark grey…should have been… When I saw it, I immediately remembered it, but completely forgot.
Ok, I have to accept that flaw. Redoing those parts would have a very to extremely high likelihood of creating anything in the range of mess and disaster. So we will have light grey on the decks and platforms…

Glued the tops to the base plates

and again, for effect only, placing some parts on board. Not glued, and obviously the catapult for the plane is still missing. The slight forward tilt of the 15 cm singles will disappear once they are fixed in place.

…and the parts that will go on the port side some time…hopefully rather sooner than later…

So much for today. Hopefully a little more in a week…

Cheers
Jan

[Russelle]

@JJ1973

Ok, I have to accept that flaw. Redoing those parts would have a very to extremely high likelihood of creating anything in the range of mess and disaster. So we will have light grey on the decks and platforms…

Better left as is mate: like you said, too much risk involved to change the colour now; and to be honest, I don’t think anyone would notice, nor does it detract from the build…

[RedDuster]

Agree with what Russ said, been following along since the begining, and hadn’t noticed anything amiss.

Cheers, Si

[madtatt]

Fantastic progress on your great model.

[Johnnych01]

Nice binge catch up with the build … More lovely detailing and working out fixes for the missing breech blocks and well worth the effort. I agree about the deck paint with Russ and Red, its to minor to worry about and not worth the risk. It all looks super as it is.

[JJ1973]

Gentlemen,
Thank you so much for your kind comments, that’s really appreciated!
Motivation is still high, demand of real life unfortunately even higher…and I won’t be home or anywhere near my workbench during the next weekend, as well. But I hope to be able to find time the week or weekend after that…

Thank you again and cheers
Jan

[JJ1973]

Gentlemen,

well, sorry, no update…
Real life is not supportive at all to my hobby and the workbench once again. And this will continue; out of the next four weeks, I’ll be three weeks tdy at different places, two time US all across the country. So next real chance to get some progress is not before end of May, and I hope I get some days off then.
Lately I had a few hours Sunday evening when most things were prepared for the next week, but looking at Gneisenau and my open questions what to do about the boat rack to be improvised and the open space behind the funnel, I lost my courage and postponed work.
So what I did then was visit a well know “Swedish” store and got me some racks, that were comparatively easy to build up, and they will create some urgently needed space in my workshop. So at least that feels like a little. bit of work accomplished.

No, what you’re seeing in one picture is not my stash, that’s only the smallest part of it…
But it gives me room to rearrange things. First major project after I hopefully manage to commission my Gneisenau in a couple of months will not be shown here - it will be a thorough cleaning and reorganization of my shipyard, to prepare it for a future build…

Cheers
Jan

[Russelle]

Hang in there mate-soon enough you’ll find the time needed to finish Gneisenau

[RedDuster]

Agree with what Russ said, looking forward to the next update.

Cheers, Si

[madtatt]

Ahoy Jan.
We boat builders, in particular, always struggle with space issues.
And I think, just like Russ, that you’ll rock your yard, finish your journey, and then solve the problem with your Gneisenau.

[JJ1973]

Thank you so much for your understanding and kind support!

Well, another non - update…while Gneisenau has to wait…coming back from one tdy and doing what needs be done on the not even two full days before the next…
But life is not all that bad, got a brief look at this one (USS Midway - would have loved to visit the museum, but no time)

but more business like I was on board of here, for understandable reasons no pictures of the real thing were possible inside the base

I expect around three more weeks before I find some time for the workbench again…

Cheers
Jan

[JJ1973]

Hi all,

so I’m still alive… Well, quite some extensive “three weeks”…but real life isn’t giving up, several TDY’s followed, and during summer the mojo was low, spending that few hours liberty I had on the workbench.
One thing adding to that was the question about the aft superstructure, and the open space between funnel and catapult, with now Heinkel hangar bay any more, and no 2 cm quad gun on the turret-like construction yet. Looking at that void made me feel that it was looking just wrong, but I had no good idea or inspiration what to do about it.
Well, with several attempts over the last weeks I found a way ahead that is (almost) certainly historically incorrect, but with some creativity…I am quite happy.
I spent the last hour or so at least briefly looking on what has happened here, some great builds making good progress, but I was not able really to comment on anything or like all progress. I try to be a little bit more present again from now on, even time’s still very busy for me.
That being said, well, I have an update ready to share, but that has to wait a few more days, so once again, thank you for your patience and stay tuned as there will be some progress on Gneisenau here soon!

Cheers
Jan

[JJ1973]

So, here we go! Just not three more weeks, rather four months later…but time flies…

And here’s the update.

First thing I did was build a structure for the boats that would sit immediately behind the catapult.

Tow open boats, stacked, added with a few oars.

Short flagpole added to the aft superstructure.

So much for the easy part.

Now, as I pointed out, the void forward of the catapult really concerned me, I simply could not leave that empty. Adding to that, there’s a very visible seam between the wooden deck of the aft superstructure and the midship/funnel area, that I did not really know how to conceal.
So, what if - Gneisenau, supposed to carry more than only one floatplane, would have a second one simply tied down in the area of the former Heinkel hangar-bay? Covered with a tarp? Concealing that silly seam?

Like this?

So here’s the plan - one of the Trumpi Arados (I got some spare), colored light/dark green. Additionally the life rafts stacked behind the catapult, not using two rows of the square type (I don’t have enough spares, and they are rather small), but using the oval type ones, from the kit, that would sit around Scharnhorst’s hangar bay.

Tarpaulin added…

…and tied down.

Looking at the pictures, I have to paint the propeller of the bird - likely black? Certainly not green - that simply slipped me…
Other than that, could be worse, I think…

With that, aft superstructure glued down. The 15 cm twins are still simply fitted for effect, not permanently yet…
So here’s how she looks now:

I hope you can live with some creativity here…and who knows…?

With that, thank you all for your patience and still following and sticking to that thread… All comments welcome, as always!
Next week is already completely full again, to include the weekend…but I hope it won’t be another “around three weeks” as last time for the next update!

Cheers
Jan

[Russelle]

Great to have you back Jan and see some progress at the bench

[RedDuster]

Nice work Jan, great to see some progress

Cheers Si

[Johnnych01]

Good update and sensible plan to fill that void. Looks good

[madtatt]

Good morning, Jan.

It’s great to have you back.
Well, I can certainly live with your creativity and think it’s a great solution.
The airplane with the tarpaulin looks fantastic.
And as you already wrote…who knows.

[JJ1973]

Russ, Si, Johnny and Jörg,

thank you so much for your kind comments. That’s really encouraging and helps the mojo to come back!
I’m very happy that you like my creativity, that part of the ship for me really was a stopper, next to my too busy real life, as I simply had no satisfying idea. With that resolved, I hope to be able to get some more progress soon, I hope for the upcoming weekend to find some time at the workbench.

Cheers
Jan

[RedDuster]

Good see you back Jan,

looking forward to the next update,

Cheers, SI