The Ralph Coles Tirpitz Molds are coming to ModelShipsAhoy. Is there more demand for the Tirpitz or the Bismarck? If I build Tirpitz Hulls, would you cut an inch from the middle of them out to make the Bismarck? Would you rather I did that and just charged more for the Bismarck? Inquiring Minds Want to Know.
Probably because it's too hard to prove for most ships. I think that penetrable area should be limited above water the same way it is limited below. It would solve the problem of cut down hulls and also the disparity between allied ships which often had much higher hulls then axis hulls
Wow! I didn't realize the guys in Georgia were all cutting down their hulls. Take it easy on those guys they are good folks. I assume you meant GA as that is where you battle.
I am trying to wrap my mind around that statement. Am I the only one who raises an eyebrow at that statement?
shrug, who is to say one set of plans is right or wrong, esp if you don't have builders docs. It may be easy to say 'hey your Bis is shorter than mine' but its hard to prove their plans are wrong, plus most people don't bring plans to the pond.
All the posts are pro Bismarck, but the 2 votes are Tirpitz. You guys crack me up... and keep me guessing. Thinking I’ll do the conversation and sell em both same price Let the orders be the survey. Lol
Who said anything about Georgia? I was meaning at Nats mainly. But I could mention some North Carolina Bismarck hulls I have seen but they were not necessarily cut down just loaded down to have very little freeboard.
Mine werent. Surely you could just make a plug of the current mold cut an inch out of it and make a new mold for a Bismark?
Perhaps... the molds need some work when it arrives anyway. So it’s possible I build a new one for the Bismarck. It’s much easier to chop out a middle slice and make the Biz than to add an inch for the Tirp. I am learning more about how you guys do things every day and have a lot of other irons in the fire so time is very valuable. Brooklyn is next to be molded. Plus my PE small parts project has been back burnered by the influx of some other new molds being built. (Non-combat related)
Also, I’m guessing I can cut down and join up a Bismarck in less than an hour from a new Tirpitz hull. Making new molds take 100 hours. The math says probably cut em down until economics say otherwise.
Marty they are not cut down to reduce lee-board, they are cut down to meet the exact specification of the original plans, 4.01 inch = 15 meters down the center of the hull. The hulls actually sloped slightly down towards the sides of the ship. The hulls made by some of the manufactures have excessive height, which are giving them up to 18% more hull volume which is a violation of the rules, making them harder to sink. Only class 2 and below are allowed excess hull volume by the rules. By having the high sides, you can easily meet weight, and have more interior hull volume. So the problem is not that people are cutting the hull down, in fact Charlie redid the mold on BC's Bismarck so it is legal. The issue is some of the Bismarck's in use are really not legal, due to excessive hull volume. Notice the measurements on the left side add up to 15 meters? Same as what Trey posted last year.
Hull height is not stipulated only length and width. People build tall and proud or short and Weasley, all dependent on personality.
Only maximum weight and one inch down from middle of waterline. Above waterline area is not governed.
