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Saturday 3 March 2012

What I dream that my model battleships will look like ...

I was doing some online image research about the German pre-dreadnought battleship Schleswig-Holstein and her sister ship, the Schlesien, when I came across a wonderful piece of video on YouTube. It shows a model of a pre-dreadnought battleship (named the Schlesien) that was inspired by the model ships produced by Bing at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century.


It has exactly the 'look' and 'style' that I want to achieve with my models. It is what I dream that my model battleships will look like ...

I can but hope.

12 comments:

  1. Hi Bob,

    That will need a large bath and no mistake!

    All the best,

    DC

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  2. David Crook,

    Too true ... but I can dream, can't I.

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brilliant model. Always good to dream.

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  4. Mad Padre,

    It is a brilliant model ... and one that I can hope to emulate.

    And yes, it is good to dream ... as long as one accepts that dreams are things one can aspire to achieve but may have to accept one cannot always realise.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  5. Yeah, that is a nice shape indeed . . . and it strikes me that with the three stacks, it would be possible to leave one out for a different profile.


    -- Jeff

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  6. Bluebear Jeff,

    What I like about the basic design of this model is its balance between representing what it is supposed to be (a battleship) and its purpose (a toy boat).

    You are right about the third funnel. Removing it would change the profile without any detriment to the model's design.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  7. Now that's impressive ! Although you'd think they could have found something more Germanic for the soundtrack.

    I don't know if you've read Ruger's "The Great Naval Game: Britain & Germany in the Age of Empire". If not, according to the author, Marineschuaspiele/nautical theater shows using ships like this (but large enough to fit 1-2 men inside) & firing off the appropriate pyrotechnics were hugely popular in Germany ca.1900.

    Regards,
    Steve

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  8. Corporal_Trim (Steve),

    It is a pity about the soundtrack ... but it does not detract from the impression the model has when it is sailing along at full speed.

    I have not heard of the book you mention, but I will look out for it as it sounds very interesting. I have heard of similar theatrical sea battles being fought in the UK and USA, but not in Germany.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  9. I would like to see that model again with a few pounds more of ballast on her on a pond with a bit more surface motion. Oh, and some smoke and maybe a slowed down slo-mo clip in black and white and add a bit of grainyness. And maybe someone taking potshots with an air rifle.

    Stop it, stop it.

    I feel a bit better now!!

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  10. Jim Duncan,

    I must admit that your 'imaginings' do have a certain attraction ... and I have often wondered what it would be like to take part in a radio controlled naval combat (See RC Naval Combat website).

    Pay it a visit; I think that you will enjoy it.

    All the best,

    Bob

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  11. Hi Bob

    The RC Naval Combat website is fantastically interesting.

    Fortunately I can control myself sufficiently to stay within 'normal bounds' as a wargamer.

    Great stuff though!

    Jim

    ReplyDelete
  12. Jim Duncan,

    We can dream about such things, can't we?

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete

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