by Tim Reynaga
1/1200 DKM Bismarck (Airfix)
This little Bismarck is one of Airfix’s 1/1200 scale clip-together ships from the early 1970s. I hadn’t even heard of this series until recently; apparently there was also a Prinz Eugen, Hood, Ark Royal, Suffolk, and a Tribal class destroyer. These ships have long been out of production, but you can sometimes find them on e-bay fairly cheap (I paid less than ten bucks for this one).
The eight inch long model was designed for wargaming (“Collect these Airfix ‘Waterline’ models and re-enact on any flat surface famous sea actions and battles", according to the boxtop), so Airfix wasn’t overly worried about accuracy. The length/beam dimensions are about right, but the hullform seems too pudgy fore and aft and the armor belt is too low. Also, the funnel, superstructures and aft turrets are placed too far back on the hull making the fantail about 20 scale feet too short.
Still, the kit has its good points. First of all, it looks like a Bismarck, much better than the more frequently seen Revell 1/1200 Bismarck/Tirpitz kits. It also has some good details including delicate raised deck planking and quite a few tiny, nice-looking parts. The best bits are the ship’s boats, 37mm, and 105mm antiaircraft guns; if these kits were more readily available I would be tempted to raid one to outfit a Revell 1/1200 Scharnhorst or Gneisenau.
Being a bit of a rarity though, I decided to just build it. It is mostly out of the box, brush painted with only a few additions:
All in all an attractive little model. If you want a small scale Bismarck for your fleet (and aren’t bothered by a few inaccuracies), this kit is a fun choicebut you’ll likely have to troll e-Bay to find one!
