Graf Spee model

T16S · Graf Spee model

This is my Heller Graf Spee which had been part painted and just the hull assembled, then abandoned until I retrieved it from the loft where it had been hiding for years. What at first sight looked a nice accurate kit turned out to be a bit of a nightmare. It soon became apparent from photos and plans that there were serious things wrong. Very kindly Remy sent me his Graf Spee documentation and that helped me a lot. Plus looking at his magnificent Airfix version. Thanks Remy! I also have Heller’s Scheer and Lutzow and a quick look at them identified the problem with Graf Spee. They had cheated and used the Scheer deck superstructure for the Spee. The resulting rebuilding to get it right is not that obvious in the photos as much surgery was done to the original parts without adding more scratch built sections.

The forward superstructure was altered and the tower mast moved back about 10mm! The funnel was scratch built with a new platform. The single deck guns were relocated several times until they looked right and a new rear rangefinder base added. The catapult base was chopped down to less than half the original height. The result is less than perfect but a lot better than the original kit! Most of the brass etch is on except the 20 and 37mm AA outfits plus main deck railings. The fret I used was from Toms Modelworks and this is excellent and can also be used for the Sheer as well.
I’m now on the final painting and then assembly but intend to do a Remy and set it at sea.
Cheers Stuart

walrus

tops
nice work Stuart!

daniel7891

Nice work Stuart

Keiron

It will be interesting to see what Academy's newly-announced 1/350 Graf Spee will look like when released later this year.
There's talk of them doing the Scheer & Lutzow too.
All three had different armor protection schemes including the belt length, height and of course thickness. Below are Lutzow, Scheer and Spee.

http://i43.tinypic.com/v65k4h.jpg

Clipper bow, and higher conning tower, bridge, and masts on Scheer. Same on Spee, except for the clipper bow.
Loads more stuff here -

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_fo...p;t=9383&hilit=Admiral+Scheer

Keiron

orionv

Hello stu,what beautiful kit...really good job.Conversion job is superb and very well done.I look forward for the result with the painting job.The Spee was a beautiful ship and at the end of his career his painting was very tired so the weathering job will be very important

Don t hesitate to take example on my airfx 600ème Spee

See you for th next,amitiés Rémy
PS The painting job on the Hood is well advanced but there is still much work to finish...I have succeeded to start cast operation and the work goes on little to little...Y try to put some news pictures to give you an ideaof the work in progress..

T16S

Hi Guys
thanks for the comments they are much appreciated- I hope to finish it soon and it is set in a sea base for a change. After I got Remy to explain what to do I felt compelled to give it a try. It's simple! Thanks Remy! Oh and I'm working to make it a rather weatherbeaten and rusty ship too.
cheers Stuart

Flash Flash

Its better than Kevin's out of Corrie!

orionv

Any progress Stue?

feanor

Ayup Stu...

Lovely ship. It looks REALLY nice, just on that Black cloth, you know...

T16S

Hi All,
the model is finished and I hope to post photos this weekend
cheers Stuart

walrus

look forwardto seeing 'em Stuart!

T16S

Well here it is the finished Graf Spee- as promised. I've modelled a dummy canvas forward superfiring turret and second funnel as shown in photos of the ship. The Arado has just been fired off the catapult to search for possible targets. Hopefully Remy will like the weathering and the sea!
cheers Stuart

Ratch

Looks great Stu Clapping

Perhaps you'd like to start a thread in the Gallery

walrus

sorry to be critical Stuart but that aft funnel is a bit, well, 2D? Whistling

well done, looks excellent

Bob(K)

That looks outstanding, nice touch with the Arado being launched.

Bob(K)

T16S

Ayup Walrus,
tha's finding fault ag'in- might a known it. Yet that is how they built it with a bit of wood framing and a canvas painted sheet- as I'm sure you very well know already. At least you haven't said it's the wrong colour! You whistling Rufus you.
cheers Stuart

XN923

What ship was Graf Spee masquerading as? I remember reading somewhere at at one stage the bridge tower was painted to make it look like a tripod mast. Not sure how that was achieved...

Great work and a fascinating build of a ship in a configuration you surely don't often see. It's apparent how the alterations must have affected the ship's silhouette - the captain must have been watching 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World'

daniel7891

Excellent work Stuart

T16S

The false funnel and turret were meant to disguise at distance in silhouette- I'm sure of that but the only ships I can think of with the three turret configuration were the German Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the Renown class battlecrusier. Of course the dummy funnel was placed too far aft to be convincing but might give Graf Spee the chance to either run or attack while the enemy was confused!
cheers Stuart

orionv

For a start in the diorama it is not too bad but there are many areas for improvement of course.
The color of the sea is for me too clear,may be the photo effect??Don t hesitate to take example on sea book or reals photos...the effect of the waves is too messy,a running ship does not have this effect on tne sea...
But don t worry,try and try and try it s the secret...

The turret false and the false chimney are extra,very good innitiative,the look is great

The Rigging work is too poor especially for the 400 ème!!!! The seascape is very good (thank to myself

)
The small size of pictures do not give a good idea of the weathering and rust job but i just say that it lacks a little" melted", this is too much paint spots applied to the hull, it is not yet quite natural ..
So, despite these small criticisms,this Graf Spee is very good,i love the plane running out the catapult,very good idea ...but the propeller don t turn

(with a little ring of clear plastic the effect is very good

)
You re on track, yet we must persevere and progress will be there very soon.

amitiés Rémy