Deutschland / Victoria Luise / Hansa 1:500 waterline model from scratch

[MBJ]

Portside tender finished. Far from perfect - the small size really challenges me.

 

[MBJ]

Unfortunately, my search for HANSA deckplans was not successfull. I tried various fora, facebook groups, archives, museums, AI- and websearches, but to no avail. Thus, I decided to go forward based on what I have: Deckplans of DEUTSCHLAND and VICTORIA LUISE and a couple of fotos of HANSA. Although probably not perfect, I am confident that it will be close to the real thing. If anyone has remarks, ideas or advice, please let me know. Below is a picture of the current status with deckhouses, hatches and the few skylights I could identify on pictures.
Besides that, I am also thinking about how to produce the ~200 vents (in different sizes) I will need for the three ships. Could you share ideas on how to do that in 1:500? Is there really an alternative to 3D printing? Could you point me towards 3D printing files? I am completely new to this technique. Thank you!!

 

[MBJ]

Starboard side tender for VICTORIA LUISE

 

[MBJ]

66 boats and 128 davits are finally attached. The davits still need to be bent and painted. I am approaching the finish line: only masts, cranes, funnels and vents (many of them!) are left to be done.

 

[MBJ]

Davits are finished

 

[MBJ]

I prepared the smoke stacks - they are made of plastic rolls that come with my dog´s poop bags In addition, I finally made a plan for the vents- a total of 120 in four sizes! I plan to use my new vacuum forming skills to produce the "heads", and combine it with round wood and/or wire for the "feet". It will be tedious, but I am quite happy with the first results, namely the largest vents (4 mm diameter) on DEUTSCHLAND.

 

[Roger Pellett]

They’re coming along nicely.

 

[MBJ]

See below my 50 3-mm-vents during production: I rounded a 3-mm diameter rounwood for the shape and poked it into waste plastic, which I had heated over an old Christmas candle. Then I primed and coloured them. Next will be to cut the tips of, they will be the vent heads, and colour them on the inside.

 

[MBJ]

And here you see the same vents on DEUTSCHLAND.

 

[Maarten]

Very detailed work at this small scale.

 

[MBJ]

I really enjoy seeing how the tiny vents add a lot of character to my ships. Today I managed to attach all 3mm vents to Victoria Luise. Hansa is next.

 

[MBJ]

Very detailed work at this small scale.

I agree, Maarten, thanks for acknowledging it. Without the vents, the "flair" would be very different, though. I really like the somewhat cluttered decks of early 20th century ships. (In German we say "Lüfterwald", i.e. forest of vents.)

 

[MBJ]

Besides producing the next set of vents (2 mm diameter, 56 vents) I turned towards the smokestacks. They were not plain but had 3 "rings". I tried to resemble those by adding a second layer of primer, so that the paint would be slightly thicker at the rings. It seems that it turned out nicely. The first Foto shows the tape I used to ensure that the second layer of primer is added only along those rings. On the second foto there is the final colour. I will add another layer tomorrow.

 

[MBJ]

You won't see much of a difference, but Deutschland gained 36 vents today, each of 2mm diameter. Slowly getting there...

 

[MBJ]

HANSA received her cranes, I put the smokestacks in place - they are not yet attached yet, because I want to attach the last set of vents (1 mm diameter) first.
The masts will be next. Do you have any advice how to do them? Ca. 3mm diameter at the bottom, 1 mm at the top. Thanks for any advice!

 

[MBJ]

I decided not to do the 1mm vents, they are just too tiny and don't add much. Instead, I turned towards the forecastle. I was lucky enough to find some tiny chain in a shop for cheap fallalery.

 

[MBJ]

My ships received their masts and derricks and are now nearly finished. I build the masts from picks and needles and added paper crows nests. The derricks and flagstaff are from pins. I am glad that my glue did the job, and overall happy with the results.