The Iron Felix / orginal Graf Zeppelin

[MSea]

This was found at Telford and will be a speed build ( or as its called in the modelling world "A Dave Smith" ) for next months competition.
The original Graf Zeppelin was built, but not used by the Germans during WW2. Left to rot during the last years of the war she was then sunk to avoid capture by the Russians at the end of the war. The Russians raised her but decided she was in such a bad condition she was expended as a target in 1947.
This is a "what if" model -- if she was in a good state when the Russians raised her and she was then overhauled to bring her back into a full fighting ship. She will have her 8 x 15cm guns in casements removed from the hull -- fully enclosed bow with extended flight deck -- new planes for the deck -- and anything else I think about during the build.
Started yesterday afternoon - photos show the casements on the ships side for the 15cm guns before  removal.

[MSea]

Casements removed and filled in.
Decided the portholes look oversize so have started to fill them all in, will re-drill them later smaller size.

[Haddock]

Glutton for punishment!

[MSea]

Glutton for punishment!

True very very true.
Bow built up to the level of the flight deck -- the flight deck has been cut so a 30mm section can be added ,to extend the deck to the front of the bow. Funnel and accommodation/bridge area started on.

[MSea]

Bow extra cut down to size and a thin skin added to the outside of the bow on both sides. When dry will fill and smooth down to shape.

[zak]

Very fast!

[MSea]

Zoom zoom zoom - another cleanup on the hull and primed to check for bad marks  and then on with drilling portholes

[Bigkev]

Hi Msea,
Are you on 'All Bran', you seem to be moving at a tremendous pace on this one.
What will your imagination bring to us all......
Cheers,
Bigkev

[MSea]

Thank you Kevin - just singing the all bran song "throughput tr la la la la".
Portholes drilled out and deck added to the hull with the extra section fitted to extend the deck to the full bow.

[MSea]

No work done yesterday working on the garden fence, some work done this morning - now going out for a meal with friends ( yes Zak friends !!!!)
Extra section of deck feathered into the original and the holes under the funnel deck filled in ( only Haddock would notice if I did not do this, but we need a happy Haddock so its done ) I am converting the original wood deck into steel, so will just give it a different shade of grey, but will keep the wood deck on the other decks, so out with the brown next -- yes Haddock it will be a grey/brown colour.

[zak]

Wow, you do set yourself some challenges.

[MSea]

Wow, you do set yourself some challenges.

No just FUN !!!!!!

Converting the planes into a navalised version of the Russian Ilyushin IL2. Wings removed to make into folded type, with metal rod to help strengthen it when reassembled.  Will also convert the small one into converted Mig

[MSea]

Wings added to the plane -- new gun barrels added to the anti-aircraft guns.

[Roger]

Excellent work on the aeroplanes MSea.  See you can do them!

[MSea]

Thank you Roger but wait till you see the mess after I have slapped some paint on it !!!!!