I’m pretty sure I’m a glutton for punishment, but I have started the USS Prinz Eugen. She will be shown as she was just prior to Operation Crossroads on 1 July, 1946, at Bikini Island, where the atomic bomb test Able was detonated 520 feet (158 m) above the target fleet. It caused less than the expected amount of ship damage because it missed its aim point by 2,130 feet (649 m).
After much research I found a few modifications to the ship at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, PA. There, the ship received some minor changes and, some of the equipment was stripped off for further evaluation.
Modifications to the ship that will be shown on the build are:
The two 203mm (7.992″) main guns from turret Anton were removed for evaluation. They had a range of 15NM and after interviews with the German crew and inspection onboard, it was decided to remove the guns for ashore testing.
One Flakverling L38 quad 20mm AA gun which was shipped to Virginia along with the two 8” guns. I need to do some more investigation to find which one was removed.
The fore and aft deck 20mm guns which were sent to Virginia as well.
Most of the G7 torpedoes and the forward starboard triple launcher were removed for evaluation.
The two Arado Ar-196 seaplanes and catapult were removed. One was apparently inoperable and sent to the Smithsonian, where it remains boxed up today. The other was test-flown by personnel of Naval Air Station Willow Grove, PA. and the catapult was mounted ashore and used for additional test flights in 1947.
The forward starboard AA gunnery director dome was removed for study as well as the forward Zeiss rangefinder.
The GHG sonar was also removed and considered by WW2 standards, very advanced. This sonar was mounted on the USS Flying Fish (SS-229) for further tests. The experiments gave the US Navy a head start in sonar technology against the Soviets. This unit is not visible.
The US Army donated a SCR-584 radar van with its wheels removed. This was lashed onto the platform of the removed forward rangefinder with two steel cables. The Army wanted to see how their gear held up to an atomic explosion.
The Prinz Eugen as she lays now at Kwajalein.
So after a longwinded explanation. I hope to recreate a plausible scene.
I purchased several general German PE sets and Pontos wood deck to dress the ship up a bit.
I started with the base and cut out the outline of the ship.
I then added poster board to the sides and used my usual medium acrylic gel and paper, followed by another layer of gel dabbed with a brush to create the small waves.
I sanded the gel after it was dry and then painted the surface to check how the waves looked. I may or may not keep this color and I will be adding a little more gel to add to the waves.
This build will take me a while as I have a few other things going on.
I look forward to watching this build. The Prinz Eugen has been by far my favorite among WW2 ships and have the Trumpeter 1/700 early version waiting to be built to join my Bismark. Although many have built her in the early configuration, its good to see the ship at wars end or after the was. Very interesting.
I started to use the Pontos deck for the first time. It went on very well and accurate.
I also found some more gems. These drawings show what the Eugen looked like at Bikini. They are missing some stern markings though. Note the missing fore guns, deck guns, Arado and fore starboard AA director dome.
A short update on the Eugen, although the work is taking some time. The PE portholes and doors are tiny. I was going to cut out the doors and tried to thin the back, but I would have had to thin it so much I would have made a mess of them, so I cut the doors off and attached the PE and will paint the openings black. They are so small I don’t believe it should be fine. The portholes however are drilled out.
Folks will say I’m nuts , But , I think the ship should,ve been kept in service for research and gunnery training .Our Gunners would’ve learned why the German Gunners were so good . Ya Think ? T.B. P.S. And why the hulls were so tough .
Well friend, you are off with another master piece. I always love watching you build ships because I know I will get another opportunity to learn about building a water base. You are INSANE to work with all that PE (laughing).
The deck is awesome and you are correct…it looks like it fits so well. I will definitely be watching every minute of this one.
Now that I’m finishing with a few other builds I’m going to get back on the Eugen. I’m just about complete with the doors and hatches PE and I can get back the assembly.
Here is where I’m at with the base. I am adding several layers of acrylic varnish to add depth and shine.
Looking good as always mc! Definitely looks like you’ve done your homework on her after she landed in US hands. I will be following along as I have seriously considered following up my current build with either the Prinz Eugen or the Hipper. I wish Trumpeter had released an early version of this one, perhaps '41 or '42.
Another groovy project Steve. Too bad she was used as a test bed and not kept as a floating Museum. Just think of all the money they would have made in admission fees to see a surviving piece of maritime history.
Years ago while visiting London we went aboard the HSM Belfast who was one of the many Britsh ships that fought the Bismarck. There is a piece of the Bismarck on display aboard the Belfast as a trophy.
This is fun to watch. Not a build subject you see much of in the current state. I have always heard that a boat was a hole in the water surrounded by wood or metal that you poured money into. You have provided proof of that!
I starting to move on this now. I set the build in its base, mainly to keep me and the dog from breaking it. I spent some time adding the white line on the bow (not in the picture) and ordered some 1/700 scale numbers a letters to replicate the “IX-300 PRINZ EUGEN” on the port and starboard bow and stern. I ordered 1/700 due to the size of the original lettering on the ship.
I will be adding some small boat launches and then repainting the base. I really don’t care for the color and need to fill the waterline of the Eugen anyway.
