discussion Bismark paint scheme

[Crispier]

Most if not all scale models of the Bismark are shown with the black and white chevrons. Yet 99% of what I see in old photos of the ship don't have them at all.

The chevrons look kind of nice but aren't authentic of the fighting vessel at war, has anyone built the ship and not used the chevron scheme?

 

[Ian M]

Bismarck was all over grey when it left the ship yard. Launched in '39 Commissioned 24/8/40 and sunk in may '41 she had a short life.
She got the chevrons in spring of 41 along with the faux stern and bow and the wave/wake. whilst hiding in the fjords. In that time the ship underwent several "options" in the paint department.
As sunk it did have the remnants of the stripes which could be seen on the Hull, under the hurried paint over. The ones on the Structures on deck being better painted out where almost totally hidden.
Most models have the Chevrons because it looks good.
In the original light grey all over, August 1940, half the arms and radar where not yet fitted and was only half rigged while being completed.
Early March '41 in Kiel it was painted with the "Baltic" camo with the black and white stripes faux bow and stern. Tops of A and D turrets red and The flag painted on deck fore and aft.
May 5th '41 Yellow turret tops painted flag fore and aft on deck.
May 24th '41, Battle of Denmark Strait. Chevrons painted out. Turret tops dark grey. Deck flags painted out.
May 27th '41 the fully combat ready ship had all the main guns turret tops painted a light yellow. And the flags on deck repainted.

Bismark spent more time being painted than it did fighting.

 

[Crispier]

I might paint one side with and the other without.. . The chevrons and swastika do look cool though.

 

[Guest]

Bismark spent more time being painted than it did fighting.

I think that goes for most warships

 

[Waspie]

I think that goes for most warships :smiling3:

Ain’t that the truth.
That’s why Royal Navy seamen are nicknamed ‘dabbers’.

 

[davecov]

My first ever Bismarck build was an Airfix one in the Seventies and she was completed without stripes. Since then I have built three more Bismarcks, all of which had stripes. My last one (Matchbox 1/700) portrayed her some time during March to May 1941 prior to her departure for Norway. At this time only Anton turret was painted red:

In the next few weeks I will be making another Bismarck (the awful Airfix one) at the time of her breakout - without stripes. It will be for a Roy Cross tribute GB and I will try to make it look like his artwork for the Airfix kit. So, I will have gone full circle - a bit like Bismarck did in her final days.

Dave

 

[BattleshipBob]

Apparently the crew of the Hood had started to chip off layer after layer after layer of paint. During the 1930' s she was often 'cock of the fleet'. No sniggering at the back.

So she was painted almost every day to look nice and shiny! So she won the award on a regular basis! I wonder if the captain's had back handers of the local paint supplier lol

 

[Waspie]

Apparently the crew of the Hood had started to chip off layer after layer after layer of paint. During the 1930' s she was often 'cock of the fleet'. No sniggering at the back.

So she was painted almost every day to look nice and shiny! So she won the award on a regular basis! I wonder if the captain's had back handers of the local paint supplier lol

I have never - ever served on a warship that has run out of either grey paint, brushes or rollers. Someone must be earning a Bob or two!!!

 

[Crispier]

My first ever Bismarck build was an Airfix one in the Seventies and she was completed without stripes. Since then I have built three more Bismarcks, all of which had stripes. My last one (Matchbox 1/700) portrayed her some time during March to May 1941 prior to her departure for Norway. At this time only Anton turret was painted red:

In the next few weeks I will be making another Bismarck (the awful Airfix one) at the time of her breakout - without stripes. It will be for a Roy Cross tribute GB and I will try to make it look like his artwork for the Airfix kit. So, I will have gone full circle - a bit like Bismarck did in her final days.

Dave

Very nice! I started making dioramas this year, not as nice as this though.