1) I would use Dan's tutorial on the subject
2) I would only work on this at work, during my lunches
So, in May of 2007 I began. Progress was slow, as my duties as a Call Center Manager meant I wasn't always able to take a lunch. Then, I left that job in November 2007 and started a new one. Even though I had my own office at my new job, I didn't want to start working on a project like the Bismarck until I got the lay of the land. In early 2008 I brought the model into my office and started working on the deck again, albiet off and on.
It's been a long road to date, but I've started to make some really good progress. I've been meaning to post some update pictures here, but haven't gotten around to it until now. So, without further delay, here we go.
I started around Bruno turret barbette and worked my way forward to the bow. When the bow was complete from the 2nd breakwater to the stem, I started by Ceaser turrets barbette and worked back towards the stern. First up some pictures from January (not sure how to imbed the images, so here are the links):
http://www.njipms.org/images/QModels/BismarckJan13_001.JPG
http://www.njipms.org/images/QModels/BismarckJan13_002.JPG
http://www.njipms.org/images/QModels/BismarckJan13_003.JPG.
http://www.njipms.org/images/QModels/BismarckJan13_004.JPG
http://www.njipms.org/images/QModels/BismarckJan13_005.JPG
Here are some photos from earlier this week:
http://www.njipms.org/images/QModels/BismarckDeck_001.JPG
http://www.njipms.org/images/QModels/BismarckDeck_002.JPG
http://www.njipms.org/images/QModels/BismarckDeck_003.JPG
Since I took the last set of pictures, I've manage to plank up the port side to the aftermost secondary turret barbette. Again, I don't get to work on it everyday, but now that it's so far along, I'm more motivated to finish it. All in all, I'm pretty happy with how it's come out so far. Don't know if I would ever do it again, especially with all the aftermarket wood decks that are out there, but it's certainly not hard - just tedious.
Once the main deck is done, I have another decision to make. I had originally bought the White Ensign Photo-Etch decking for the superstructure, and was planning all along on using that. However, I don't think the painted photo-etch will mesh with the plank deck, so I think I'm going to have to continue planking the superstructure decks as well, use the PE for the areas with steel plating and the around the bridge, which had a different kind of covering than teak planks.
Hope everyone here is doing well. Comments and suggestions are welcome!



