by Mathias Carl
1/350 Köln (Scratchbuild)
This model was my first scratchbuilt project in these dimensions. Nevertheless it was easier as I thought, so it will definitely not be my last one.
First thing at all, I had to cut out the frames and the keel from 1mm styrene and to glue them together. After that I've made the hull out of 0,5mm styrene, which had to be filled and sanded after attaching them to the frames. Only these two steps took me about 3 weeks.
After finishing the hull, the superstructure had to be built from styrene in different strengths.
One main problem was, that the plans, which I used, where only for the pre-war-time. So I had to search photos, sketches and different books for the details I needed to finish these sections like they looked in 1942/1943.
I cut out the windows and the ventilation to give them more depth and also used photoetched parts for doors, hatches, cable rolls and wire in different strengths for pipes etc.
I also used barrels from BMK for the main artillery and from Master for the AA´s, which are a mix of styrene, PE-parts and the barrels. The bridge-windows are made of clear styrene.
The funnels were made of 0,5mm styrene and wire, the masts for the searchlight platform and the derricks are made from 2mm styrene round profiles.
The boats, searchlights and some other small parts are from my spare part box.
The Oberbootsmann figure is from L'Arsenal. The model is painted with Revell-Aqua colors and the rigging is made of fishing-line.
