What are some good ways to replicate the “blast bags” on the guns??? When should these be applied—before or after the guns are affixed in the turrets?
Different people use different materials, but, in general, they should be applied after the barrels are installed in the turrets. Some people use white glue and build it up in layers, some use thinned modeling putty like Squadron white, others use Milliput or a similar sculpting medium. A search for “blast bags” on this forum will return numerous links.
Here is a link for making blast bags using Blue Tack: http://buildingyamato.blogspot.com/2008/03/blu-tack-blast-bags.html
What’s on the ways, Manny?
Tirpitz…
SWEET!
lol…[;)]
I like how von Tirpitz had rangefinders attached directly to his head, very hands-on he was!
range finders ?? looks more like listening devices…![whstl]
Hi,
I’m working on the 350 Bismark and was thinking about the resolution to the same issue. I have seen many pics like when Hitler was touring the ship where the blast bags were not installed so that would make an easy out. Other than that I was going to use the Tamiya expoxy/putty and try that out. I have an extra turret and barrels to play with. I have the Dragon Scharnhorst in the stash but those bags won’t fit, wrong size turret and barrels.
Yeah, but I figure scratching a 1/700th scale blast bag has got to be easier than making a 1/700th Hitler…
He was kinda short to begin with…I use white glue when the model already has the basics, just to build them up and get some variety. Otherwise if there’s open holes, leave em.
With a good set of magnifiers and a good brush you could probably paint a hitler stash on one of the 1/700 scale figures.
or a 1/700 Manny.
You can use this as your Hitler reference: //:^=)
Pat.
Manny should be easy… no lips to paint…[whstl]
So Manny is the next Frank “ferret face” Burns eh.[:P]
What was the purpose of blast bags anyway—to keep water out?
Grandfather was an engineer on the Tennessee and I asked one day. They kept the flash, fumes, debris and residual powder from being pulled back into the turret because the fume extractor system was pretty strong and formed a bit of a vacuum in the turret. Their is a mantlet plate behind the turret fascia that protects the internal works for the most part and helps with noise reduction and actual crew protection from incoming rounds. The blast bags also keep water out which makes the crew very happy as rust maintenance between the mantlet, turret fascia and behind the mantlet area is a real bear so the cleaner this area is the quicker the crew could move onto other things.
Hi,
Finally got some time and guts to make some blast bags.
I used Tamiya Expoy putty which was pretty simple to use. I cut off about 1/4" of each slab of material, kneaded the two parts together until the color was consistent and took a pinch off and mashed it into the gun hole in the turret. The turret was a spare from the Bismark kit but it turns out that there were no spare barrels so I just glued a bit of styrene sprue to the turret to simulate the barrel. The epoxy material looks to be about the right color as well so I might just leave it as is.
I used water to keep the epoxy from drying out and keep it soft. I just kept adding little chunks here and there until things looked right size wise then I slowly pushed the epoxy blob towards the lower portion of the barrel to simulate the extra material that hangs down below the barrel. I then intentionally left some deep finger prints here and there for the lines that occur in the canvas material and randomly scribed some deeper lines here and there. The effect came out really good and I’m pretty happy with the first shot. Now to do this on the real thing after the turret paint is done and before the PE goes on.
Here are some pics:
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