German Flak-Lighter

[JohnRatzenberger]

I'm building a pair of German Flak-Lighters, in 1/350 scale, for the Coastal Command SIG display at SMW 2016. The thread that kicked this off, and much of the background (as well as discussions to come), may be found here.

For some background on these ships, see this Wiki- article.

It's rare that I build anything German, but it seemed like a nifty challenge as there is only one kit in 1/350, a long OOP one from White Ensign, which I somehow managed to snag. What to do for the 2nd one - well Simon pointed me at a 1/200 scale card model insert in an old magazine.

So I'll be doing one in resin and one in card.



And here they are again, parts out and card reduced to 1/350. I've also been scrounging some 1/350 resin/P-E detail kits for the weaponry and railings and such - the WEM kit needs some help in that regard and the reduced-scale card kit will definitely benefit.



Here's a closer shot of the WEM kit ...



And here's a shot of an assembled 1/200 scale card model - something isn't it ...



So, I'll be starting soon, perhaps a bit slowly. But keep an eye here, in the CC SIG, and come visit our display at SMW this year ...

[SJPONeill]

That card pic is seriously tempting me to try so of those models in the MO magazine...at 1/200 they would fit in with some of my others...

[JohnRatzenberger]

It appears to be a quality kit and will be a great model when completed in scale.

I have shrunk it to 1/350 on correspondingly thinner paper and will probably forego some detail - my (few remaining) small part skills are OK in plastic & resin, but my application of same on the SS Olympic was less successful.

[iggie]

I like the look of the WEM flak lighter; are they going to be avaliable from the new USA WEM outlet does anyone know?

[JohnRatzenberger]

I like the look of the WEM flak lighter; are they going to be avaliable from the new USA WEM outlet does anyone know?

I do not know. I think they are having enough issues getting the photo-etch line going (that was their bread-and-butter long ago) and they seem to be focused on printing 350 & 700 scale aircraft. I emailed them about having any laying about but never got a response. I'll probably go bother them next year at the IPMS/USA Nationals.

[JohnRatzenberger]

About ready to start. I found a new WEM (now Sovereign) ColourCoats source here in the USA and was able to order the 3 Norwegian colors. While I don't need them for the card model, I want to work the two in parallel - probably start next week.

[Chuck E]

Strangely attractive. I'll keep an eye on this thread.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Well, as I said 3 Feb, I'm about to start and then my entire calendar for February self-destructed and I have some conflicts to start March. So, instead of being well along (Plan A), well you know the rest ....



I have put photo-etch deckhouse sides on the WEM so I could start painting. The underhull, the hull and deckhouse sides, and the deck are "done" subject to touch-up later. I will use the card kit as a pattern for the camo patterns.

I have built the card hull frames and partly mounted the deck and hull sides.

My goal/plan has always to work both of these in parallel, it's just the steps and sequence are so different, that may not work out at all.

Anyway, a start has been made.

[TomW]

And an excellent start it is too John

Regards

Tom

[splash]

I agree with Tom it's an excellent start.

[iggie]

Very intriguing and unusual subject.....watching with much interest

[ShaunW]

That looks great John, an excellent start to an interesting subject.