Wonwings Diary-a blog with a difference.

[Guest]

dont think it is the bizmark...sems too long

[Guest]

its the tirpits. ariel arrays stickin out the sides.

[Guest]

lol...told you it wasnt the bizmark!!

[Guest]

The Bismarck and the Tirpitz were almost identical in size and certainly not identifiable from such a model.

The only visible differrences from the outside when built were the addition of some anti aircraft guns on the Tirpitz and the midships boats were replaced with a set of torpedo tubes.

When the Tirpitz was moved to Norway even more anti aircraft guns were added and the range finders were updated to a circular type, unlike the ones fitted to the model.

As I said it is not possible from the angle of the photo to distinguish between the two, depending on at what period we consider. The antenna looking structures connected to the bridge were actually not on either vessel.

[Guest]

The mystery continues.



Although the area where the "ariels" might have been is not shown all the pictures with this bow shape had no sign of "ariel" pods, look at the bow. I found many pictures of the Bizmark with this bow shape and a few with what looks like the Tirpitz bow (I'm guessing misidentification)



Tirpitz with sleek bow and what i'm guessing are ariel pods.

In the meccano picture the ariel pods and bow shape are clear.

Hey Bunk....I hopes you got a pipe!!!!:nahnah:

I have changed my avatar and i'm keeping it until Bunk does some research to clear this mess up!!!!!!!

[wonwinglo]

I just love pictures that spark off historical notes such as these and healthy raport,great old black and white pictures as well Tigertc,I would not mind reproducing this model myself one day in Meccano,the builder has certainly made a good job of this one.

[Guest]

I tried to find more pictures of the mecanno one on the web to get some close up detail that might give away its true identity, but they are non existant. Such a shame that all that work has no record of existance apart from your photo Barry. Or is there some secret place where all these models end up?

[wonwinglo]

Built some years ago now Tigertc,probably long since dismantled to build more lovely models.

[Guest]

Both vessels were built basically identical as regards main structure. The bow you refer to is the "Atlantic Bow". The Bismarck was built with a straight stem which was changed for the Atlantic Bow before she was commissioned. Tirpitz was built with the Atlantic Bow from the start.

The slight build differences manifested themselves as a slightly heavier displacement, Tirpitz being 42,900 and Bismark being 41,700 tons, and a slightly deeper draught, 10.61 mtrs as opposed to 9.3 for the Bismarck.

The pods you are guessing at are in actual fact main armament range finders. Both vessels were originally fitted with the same FuMo gun directors, which are the matress like lattice structures you can see on the model but these were upgraded on the Tirpitz when she went to Norway.

The biggest giveaways are the extra anti aircraft guns and the torpedo tubes on the Tirpitz which you cannot see on the model. The most obvious extra gun being placed on top of "Bruno" turret. The only other differrence being the colour of the funnel top. Who can tell me which vessel had which colour?

It is not possible to tell from the one picture which ship is being modelled but as the Bismarck was the most famous or notorious of the two and memories of the Hood would still have been much more in peoples minds when the model was made I would very much expect the model to be of the Bismarck.

I have a few hundred black and white pictures of the Bismarck which I will sort out one or two later but non of them can actually help to identify the model I'm afraid.

[Guest]

maybe the model is just of a battleship...as its named...??

it is quite posible the constructor of this model just wanted to make u model of a battleship, not any specific one!

[Guest]

Listen dumkopf, I vill say ziss only zee vonce, it is zee Tirpitz or zee glorious Bismarck!

(After all this it's probably the bloody Prinz Eugen!)

Any takers for the funnel top colour?

[Guest]

no idea mate...enlighten us!!

[Guest]

going back to the meccano thing, i recently displayed at a model show in cholsey in oxfrodshire- i was invited to bring along LEGO creations (cholsey just round the corner from RAF Benson)

they put me in a room directly opposite the oxfordshire group of meccano builders, and they were sayings that meccano is now owned by a japaneese firm !!!!- is that correct ???- anyway we all had a good afternoon dishing out banter on the benefits of mecanno over LEGO and visa versa !

they had some awesome models on display,

[Guest]

Tirpitz funnel cowling was apparently black and silver grey.

I guess i had better change my avatar! As you are damn right as usual Bunk. Just found a schematic of the two side by side. here http://www.battleshipbismarck.com/bi...vs_tirpitz.php

Just out of curiosity, were Bismarck and Tirpitz ever in the same battlegroup?

[Guest]

Dont think so. Bismark sailed on her first (And last ) sortie with Prinz Eugen. Tirpitz i think sailed with Gniensue bad spelling and Sharnorstbefore splitting up .i could be wrong.