SMS Baden (1918)
By Dariusz Mazurowski

1/700 SMS Baden German Battleship (WSW)

Restoration of the 1/700 WSW resin kit
 
I started my shipbuilding adventure as a kid almost 25 years ago. To put it in compact : 1/1400, wood, balsa, paper and scratchbuilding.. But I've found also other interesting things (even more than ships – sorry...), for example music (I'm a composer & synthesist now BTW) and have had a break, some 12 – 14 years long... What a pity ! In fact SMS Baden and SMS Derfflinger were my first resin kits, finished after above mentioned break  in 2001. Last year I build SMS Bayern, which set a new standard for my ships. No doubt – the Baden in her first version has been rather average (or poor to be honest) model IMHO. Couple weeks ago I decided to rebuild this ship, even if it was not possible to upgrade her to the Bayern's level without total demolition. So, what's new ? Top of main mast, after mast, some deck fittings & details
(deck lights and coal scuttles), funnel details, rafts and – of course – rigging (this time made of super thin copper wire). The whole ship has been repaint also. Some minor flaws remain not fixed – for example two bar railing (three years ago it was the only one available in my area). That's one of many reasons why “old new” Baden isn't a perfect model – but I may accept her as SMS Bayern neighbour now. Initially I have planned to refit my Derfflinger also, but finally decided to save her “as built”. To catch the difference between first and new generation of my resin kits... [The first five images are of her restored state]

I've added more scratchbuilt parts: boat oars, coal scuttles, lifebelts, gangways with davits, boats and stairs railing etc. I've added also boat booms with ladders, as you may notice).

BTW - Baden was built in 1916 in my hometown - Gdansk, then part of German Empire (as Danzig, Schichau shipyard. She's been the biggest warship built here (I count only commissioned ships, so unfinished battlecruiser Mackensen is out of the game). Today the famous Schichau is a west side of a local shipyard - one of the biggest on Baltic Sea

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