Designing a WW1 German Light Cruiser….Part 1

Getting closer. This model will measure 4” x 1” and the finished draft will of course feature all the necessary measurements!

I had some unexpected spare time today and so sat down to continue drafting the plans for the first vessel in my planned ‘Afrabia’ collection. As the next part of this project is the Rufiji Delta I decided to start with the German light cruiser SMS Konigsberg. 

As is usual with my models I plan to ensure that there is plenty of mileage in terms of the pieces that I shall design and order from Warbases. In this case the design of the German light cruiser SMS Konigsberg  this is helped by the simple fact that she is one of a class that follow the same basic shape as several others. The differences are modest so I plan to build three copies of the above design to represent the Bremen and the famous Emden as well as the Konigsberg.

My usual hull template - offended purists should look away now!

The overall layout viewed from above and tailored for hull template.

The hull will be made from two layers of 3mm MDF measuring 4” by 1”. On top of that will be a layer of 2mm MDF that has the sponsons and cutaways from the hull fore and aft. On top of a further layer of 3mm MDF that will have the same cutaways and fore and aft sponsons as the 2mm layer but with the raised fore and quarter deck and the adjoining section upon which the funnels will ultimately be placed. The dots you see are holes for the masts. There are two 4.1” shielded guns forward and aft and these are a dark higher than the other six - four are in sponsons ‘at each corner’ whist amidships are a a further part of shielded guns, more or less on the centre line.

This is what I am aiming for although nowhere near as delicate! A 1:1200th scale model on the SMS Konigsberg

I am happy with the design for this and I know Warbases will produce the sections I need exactly how I need them.

The next part will feature the deign I have in mind for the bridge and the aft deck house. For now though, getting the hull right is the priority.

Inevitably there are compromises required in terms of detail and scale but as long as the overall look is close enough then I am happy and besides, the end result will fight just as well!