Airfix 1/600 Bismarck becomes Tirpitz....and then disappears!

[BattleshipBob]

Dear Mr Matthews

With your expertise in all things chicken, perhaps you could stuff said Polly, nothing like getting stuffed!

[boatman]

Dear Mr Matthews

With your expertise in all things chicken, perhaps you could stuff said Polly, nothing like getting stuffed!

OH YES Bobm8 570 would love to have that polly stuffed an mounted afer what it did in 570's hat an he put it on not knowin what polly had done so he kicked polly an his freind J/R OFF his sub crew or was it a ship as cant remember but polly said he'd do it again if the chance came up LOL

[BattleshipBob]

OH YES Bobm8 570 would love to have that polly stuffed an mounted afer what it did in 570's hat an he put it on not knowin what polly had done so he kicked polly an his freind J/R OFF his sub crew or was it a ship as cant remember but polly said he'd do it again if the chance came up LOL

Nice bit of sage an onion, lovely

[boatman]

Nice bit of sage an onion, lovely

Bob says nice bit of sage an onion an how about added parrot LOL :rolling: :smiling6:

[spanner570]

Good stuff chaps!
I wrote at the start of this thread that this would be a 'Quicky' and also warned of a lack of pictures and any sort of co-ordination. For all this, I offer my sincere apalogys!
So here we are at more or less the finished model.

Although a Bismarck kit, Tirpitz differed slightly from Bismarck. More on this later....

This thread has been more of a painting exercise, than the actual build, hence the use of a very poor and therefore cheap kit. so please ignore the build quality. That was never my aim.....

Brush painted as usual, and as with all my camo. work, I marked out the pattern with a pencil. I've tried to get the sides of the hull summat like it was in reality, but the rest I just marked out what looked alright. I don't think any photos exist of Tirpitz's deck pattern, hence my heduficated gess!

You might remember the earlier pictures of just the completed bare superstructure. Leaving all the guns, boats, etc. off made the initial camouflage painting a lot easier. I added all the bits after and filled in the relevant paint detail to ensured a continuity in the pattern.

I have painted her as she was camouflaged when in Faettenfjorden, late June 1942.

I've given, what was a very difficult exercise, my best shot.

So here she is. Brush painted with those wonderful diddy Airfix starter pack paint tubs. Minimum rigging done with ezeeline.


These first images are of Tirpitz all squeeky clean.









Here the decks have been weathered a tad.....









This photo shows her scruffed up a bit to take away the harshness of the camouflage against any foliage.....



Because she was moored close to the shore of the Fjord on her port side, only her starboard side was camouflaged. Here's my guess at the sparse 'Hit and Miss' landward side.....




The 'Vanishing act'

Using watercolours, I painted a bit of imaginary, June Nordic shoreline on some card and placed this behind the ship. I wanted some reflections, so I used is a bit of gloss varnished slate to represent the very still waters of Faettenfjorden.
After various attempts, this is the background I've settled on.





There you go. It's been an enjoyable challenge.

I will post a few pictures of my attempt at the Bismarck / Tirpitz alterations later in this thread.

Once again, sorry for the rather poor and quick presentation. Next time I will remember to take progress pickies!

Thank you for your support during this whizz bang production for Channel S.M.

I will post more images over in 'Ships completed' asap.

Cheers all.
Ron

[boatman]

VERY NICELY done 570 I love the cammo an your nice bit of trees all painted an fitted into the background its easy to see how she could blend in whith the background brilliant work my good freind
Chrisb

[spanner570]

Thanks Chris.
I'm chuffed you approve.
It was Ian M who first pointed out this crazy, yet genuine camouflage to me a fair time ago. It has stuck in my mind ever since. I just knew I would have to have a crack at it sooner or later...And I'm now mighty glad to have it behind me!

Cheers my mate...
Ron

[minitnkr]

Very, very cool.

[Valeron]

Excellent work. Camouflage in action

Mike

[Allen Dewire]

Well Ron, a quickie and I'd say that the finish is tighter than a duck's butt. Really nice camo and shows just what it can do on anything to conceal it. Great pics too Sir!!!

Prost
Allen

[scottie3158]

Ron very nicely done as always.

[BattleshipBob]

Herr Meyer

Very nice indeed, lovey job, very neat and tidy

Always liked the 'buildings' camo Tirpitz used when she was being fitted out.

From Gruntfuttuck hall

[Jim R]

Because she was moored close to the shore of the Fjord on her port side, only her starboard side was ever camouflaged.

Well you learn something new everyday.
Very well done Ron

[Tim Marlow]

Excellent job Ron. As usual great execution allied with superb photography :thumb2:


Reminds me of a photo I saw recently.

If you are looking for a challenge how about trying this one….
HMRS Abraham Crijnssen…….escaped the Japanese by the crew disguising it as a tropical island, moving at night and mooring by islands during the day…..

[JayCee]

Excellent building and painting as always Ron. The back story/Loony Tunes script is also in the top tier. VERY well done.
John.