1/72 scale German light cruiser Munich. 1940

[Haratio Fales]

Yes, and sorry. I came to a bit of a stand still on th project do to working on my House, but I am gearing up to work on gun turrets and superstructure things untill I can get back to the Mold processes. I got caught up in playing World Of Warcraft also, which I have tapered down, because its as adictive as booze, LOL. I hould start a 12 step program to get people off video games.

[Haratio Fales]

Hear is a few update pics.

[Haratio Fales]

Hear is a few update pics.

[Haratio Fales]

a few more

[TacHel]

Work on your house? The house can wait!

You've got some of us hooked on your model here! ;)

[Claudius]

Work on your house? The house can wait!

You've got some of us hooked on your model here!

Now hold on here....some of his time was playing WoW, so not all of his time was wasted fixing up his house ;)

[TacHel]

Now hold on here....some of his time was playing WoW, so not all of his time was wasted fixing up his house

Just my luck, I probably just pissed off a 40+ power magi (whatever the frig that is) that'll turn me into a newt if I ever log onto that mind numbing game... ;)

[Haratio Fales]

Sorry Gentlemen, and no LOL I'm not pissed off, I was just way to busy with Crap, and needed to save some money and time. I started working on a main turret to mold as a experiment to the begger molds, here are a few pics of the turret.

[Haratio Fales]

I have done some research and found out from the German Millitary archives that there was a design issue within Blomb and Voss, where there was a consideration to arm these cruisers with 6.7 inch guns instead o 5.9 inch guns that were the standard secondary batteries on the large capital ships. If built this way they would have carried about the same hitting power as exeter with 6-8inch guns and would have been easily built this way as there were an ample supply of the guns avalible on older ships like Shleswig, and gemany acctually had a stockpile of these projectiles in surpluss from ww 1 inventory. This deffinatley would have made for a much harder hitting main battery.

[Haratio Fales]

I'll post more soon as I start the latex mold process. I plan to cast a few turret shapes then smooth them out ant detail them for further mold anf recast and see how they come out.

[Haratio Fales]

OK here are some update pics of the first Mold attempt. LOL it came out better then I thought it would but I need to hone the technich.

[Haratio Fales]

I used silicone latex like is used to make train model molds and plaster gauze for reinforcement. I had to let each coat dry for about 45 min between coats. I was woried about making the mold to thick and unflexable and ended up making it a bit to thin, however since this is my first attempt at this I figure mistakes are valuable in the learning process. The middle and end picture is of the Allumilite resin mix poured in and starting to cure. the cure time is 5 to 7 min. I have about 90 seconds to mix it and pour it in before it starts to harden. it is very flexable in application though as I can d more and even pour over hardened resin and it will bond.

[Haratio Fales]

the end result is teh cast piece came out to rounded as the wieght pushed the walls out and I had pieces of plaster in the cast as I should have used about 4 coats before I reinforced the mold, and I need to usr about ten to 15 coats total so teh mold is allot more rigit, or I might have to use a more expensive type of silicone thats more thick but forgiving whin You flex it.

[Haratio Fales]

I am going to file and grind on this peice to see if it can be worked into the proper shape, while I make another mold to see if i can obtain better results on the second pour.

[Haratio Fales]

here is my second molding, still not right but beter results.

[Haratio Fales]

I started molding the pretty molds for the Hull, before I do the rough concrete molds.

[Haratio Fales]

heres one with 4 layers of rubber, then a layer of gauze and rubber

[Laurence Strong]

Hello Haratio

Has there been any further progress? I am looking forward to seeing the end result.

Larry

[TacHel]

Yeah... You're not actually going to have a normal life at the expense of our curiosity are you? What kind of monster are you?

[Haratio Fales]

Yea, I'm sorry about the project delays. between some family deaths, and lack of funds the ship hull has been siting in the Dry Dock of my living room LOL like the real girls did at times in Germany when they couldn't make up their minds about how and when to finish building them. I have actually been studying a Computer Aided Drafting program that works in conjunction with a 3d printer that I want to buy. Then I could make parts for any scratch build project. I attempted a mold for the hull out of Latex rubber as the last pic above but this was a disaster as It wasn't stiff enough and came off like skinning an animal. So the next step I wish to do on the actual model is to make the Concrete molds. Weather conditions should allow this soon. I haven't given up I just need to figure out left or right hand turns at times and I cant believe how some times a guy can have all the time in the world and six months later he can't even sneak a nap in on the side.

[Haratio Fales]

Something to toy with Your curiosity just a tad in the interim, I have been E mailing Blohm and Voss/ Krupp, and the Bundes Archives in Germany for information, and hopefully any blueprints or line drawings of the following for future projects.

This is a basic side view rendering for another Z plan ship. Panzership P design. They would have been basically elongated Admiral Scheer's with additional 5.9 inch gun turrets in conjunction with the main 11 inch batteries fore and aft. and were noted to be replacement ships for them. they would have weighed about 26,000 tons, and 230 meters long, and been able to make about 30 knots so could have been a adequate escort for the bismarck's, unlike the scheer's. The Germans planed to build 2 of these per year and planed to build 12 in total.

Edited January 27, 2013 by Haratio Fales

[Laurence Strong]

Hello Haratio

Thanks for the update I was scared we had lost you for a bit there.

My condolances on the family deaths, I hope all is well now.

Sometimes the mojo just up and disappears, I have had that issue with my modeling as well of late. And in your scale I can understand the $ issue.

Keep us posted as things progress please.

Sincerely

Larry

[Haratio Fales]

This is the SchlacktKrusier O design. They were to be 36,000 tons and 256 meters long. They were planed to carry 6/11 inch guns in three double turrets and 6/5.9 inch guns in three double turrets. One being in conjunction with the aft main battery and 2 amidships port ant starboard. They planed for 4 of these in 1938. They were noted to be replacements for the Sharnhorst's.

[Laurence Strong]

What happened with them? They were still born?

larry

[Haratio Fales]

Thank You Laurence, or Larry if You prefer. No I might not be on at times because of lifes BS but You guys and about 8 other ship forums are stuck with Me, LOL unless I get kicked off. I am bad about getting to many things going at once, and then life grabs me and makes me change the litter box and feed the cats sometimes. I have been setting up a website and helping my older brother build some small pulse jet engines for RC aircraft, which may tie into this project, because besides building this ship for fun, I want to make her as a template for parts to sell hulls and or kits for RCers to assemble and have fun with. I will try to be better with the updates, and or say hello more so You guys don't have to worry about if My wife has shot me or I have walked in front of a Bus. Anyways, tell me what You think about the design aspects of the other 2 ships ? would they have been a good idea, or just more capitol ships for the allies to drop bombs on.