1:700 Gneisenau 1940 Wooden Deck (Flyhawk FH1149)

Flyhawk 1:700 wooden deck, Gneisenau 1940

An accessory for ship modelers in 1:700 scale from the Flyhawk brand. It is a deck of thin wooden veneer, cut to the shape of the decks of the German battleship Gneisenau as she was in 1940. The deck is prepared for the kit from the same maker, which has to be bought separately. The set is not assembled, only stuck onto the finished plastic deck. The veneer has the grain of real planks, so once stuck down it gives a depth that cannot be reached by painting plastic.

The real subject

The Gneisenau, together with the Scharnhorst, was used for sorties against Allied convoys in the Atlantic. Both ships relied on speed and on avoiding an encounter with heavier opponents. Wooden decking was common on large ships of the day: it protected the steel, reduced slipperiness and lowered the transfer of heat below decks. On a model it is one of the most conspicuous areas of all, and that is why it is on the deck that the difference between a quick and a careful build shows.

Use

• clear the plastic deck of engraved detail and level it flat
• lay the veneer in place dry and check that it lines up with the superstructures and the openings
• glue it in sections from the center toward the edges and press it down with a flat tool
• once stuck down, the wood only needs evening out with matte varnish; there is no need to paint it
• finish the edges all the way around with a fine point, so that nothing stands off anywhere
• cut the anchor and deck openings only after sticking it down, following the plastic under the veneer

The set is meant for more experienced modelers. The kit, the glue and the paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.