Tag: graf zeppelin

German Aircraft Carrier Graf Zeppelin, 1/500 scale Recognition style model -Completed, Again.

Aug. 10, 20225

If you’ve read a few of my posts or project pages, you’ve likely noticed that my models are often only temporarily complete. Their done-ness being largely determined by how sick I am of working on them and what I need or want to get to next. And hey, there’s always room for improvement right?

When I initially posted my Graf Zeppelin as complete, it was done to the level of the old WW2 Comet recognition sets, which were pretty bare bone. Typically no life boats or auxiliary motor launches were present and no aircraft, even on carriers. I’d been adding extra touches to the units of my faux recognition models that were not in the original Comet USN set, and liked the look. I decided to refit Graf Zeppelin with both her intended light watercraft and aircraft (Yup, she would of had Stukas modified for carrier operations). I think they worked out nicely and if I ever get around to selling these as completed models or kits they can always be optional.

I doubt I’ll add new posts for the other similarly embellished units in the set, maybe just one post with a shot or two of each…

My projects truly are, never really done…

Graf Zeppelin 1/500 scale German recognition model complete

My Graf Zeppelin German aircraft carrier, is complete. She fits in well with the rest of the fleet. A faux WW2 recognition model, she probably has a bit more detail than a real one would’ve but I couldn’t resist, the under deck support details were just too cool to omit. She’s a whopper too, building out to about 21 inches. She was also the most difficult of my recognition replicas to design, her casemated guns were tricky and her high degree of bow flare that blends into the near vertical hanger deck sides took me a while to get right (or at least acceptable) . I actually printed a first draft on the Ender 3 that didn’t look right in hand – huge waste of filament!

I’m thinking I’ll only recreate one each of the light cruisers and destroyers that came in the original 1/500 scale German recognition set. Then I’ll call this project complete. But they’ll have to wait till spring for completion, winter has solidly set in and my resin printing is done in a shed. The Blender work will keep me busy for a bit and I’ve been off and on with a schnellboot design for almost a year…

Update Aug. 14 2025

Graf Zeppelin is now even more complete!

Update Aug. 15, 2025

I just finished recreating the entire USN WWII German Naval Recognition Set (and then some) in 1/500 scale, check out the results.

Graf Zeppelin joins the German 1/500 scale, replica, recognition fleet

Aircraft Carrier Graf Zepplin joins the Blender recognition fleet

While waiting for a weather window to print the resin parts for Scharnhorst and Admiral Scheer I got a jump on the Graf Zeppelin‘s Blender design. As was always her way, she’s not quite done yet! I did have a couple days in the low 50’s and after a totally preventable screw-up (I forgot to screw the vat down!) managed to get both their resin parts printed. The 10 day forecast says we’ll get warmish days in a week or so. With luck, I’ll get to print Graf Zeppelin’s resin before spring.

Should have Scheer and Scharnhorst built shortly. Recreating the WW2 German recognition set, has been a fun and fast project.

Update:
Links to posts for the now completed models mentioned above:
Admiral Scheer
Scharnhorst
Graf Zeppelin

Update Aug. 15, 2025

I just finished recreating the entire USN WWII German Naval Recognition Set (and then some) in 1/500 scale, check out the results.