DKM Bismarck
by Paul Helfrich

1/2400 DKM Bismarck (GHQ)

This is the very fine 1/2400 model of the battleship Bismarck available from GHQ. It's a very nicely detailed model, and actually more accurate in its dimensions than several widely available plastic kits (like the Airfix 1/600, photos of which I will be posting later, or the Revell 1/570, which I'm building now). Those kits all have the shortcoming, no pun intended, of being too short in the foredeck and afterdeck.

I did this Bismarck in standard Baltic camouflage, which she wore during her working-up period. Thanks to the new German Battleships book from Squadron Signal, I'm now aware of four different camo schemes for the Bismarck:

1. Overall light gray (construction - also immediately after launch?)
2. Medium gray hull, light gray superstructure (sometime around the time of launch)
3. Baltic scheme, with light gray base color, white/black hull and superstructure bands, dark gray false bow and stern with white false bow waves, red turret tops. (working up period in the Baltic Sea).
4. Operation Rhein scheme, with overall light gray hull and yellow turret tops - this is the scheme she was in at the time of her sinking.

   The swastikas are 1/700 decals from Skywave. They worked out nicely in this application.

   Paul Helfrich
   

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