by Richard Wonderly
1/350 DKM Tirpitz (Tamiya)
I build this Tirpitz from the older Tamiya kit in 1/350 scale, as opposed to the newer kit with the improved tooling. Except for the lack of detail on some items, it's still a good kit. There were no issues with anything not fitting correctly and there was little in the way of flash that needed trimming and very few pin marks.
I used brass and copper wire for the rigging, anchor chains from model railroad supplies and the photo etch is from Toms Model Works. I had to add extra railing as there wasn't enough in the set to do everything that I wanted. Also, the set didn't have any detail parts for the smaller anti-aircraft guns or the boats, so I had to add those details myself from other pieces.
I used the Bismarck/Tirpitz reference site for some detailed pictures of the ship in 1943, along with diagrams of the camouflage paint scheme. And I scratch built the enclosure at the top of the foremast/tower structure that was added to the ship in late 1942.
My only dissappointment with this kit was the lack of suitable decals and flags, both of which I had to make or scavenge from other kits.
