A rare opportunity to own a unique piece of both military and film history.
This is one of the original models used in the 1960 film “Sink the Bismarck!”, based of on the story of one of the most famous battleships of World War 2.
The model is heavily detailed with a number of history accurate features. This includes a large amount of radio towers, turrets & guns, decks and propellers. A swastika appears on both ends of the deck.
Standing at 7 feet long, this fine ship would be of interest to film memorabilia collectors & model ship collectors collections.
~ German battleship Bismarck ~
Bismarck was the first of two Bismarck-class battleships built for the German Kriegsmarine. Named after Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, the primary force behind the unification of Germany in 1871, the ship was laid down at the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg in July 1936 and launched two and a half years later in February 1939. Work was completed in August 1940, when she was commissioned into the German fleet. Bismarck and her sister ship Tirpitz were the largest battleships ever built by Germany, and two of the largest built by any European power.
At the Battle of Denmark Strait, Bismarck engaged and destroyed the battlecruiser HMS Hood, the pride of the Royal Navy, and forced the battleship HMS Prince of Wales to retreat. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued the order to ‘Sink the Bismark!’; Bismarck herself was hit three times and suffered an oil leak from a ruptured tank.
Two days later, while heading for the relative safety of occupied France, Bismarck was attacked by Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal; one hit was scored that rendered the battleship’s steering gear inoperable. After a relentless pursuit she was finally sunk on 27th May 1941, was scuttled by her crew, and sank with heavy loss of life.
~ Sink The Bismarck! ~
Sink the Bismarck! is a 1960 black-and-white British war film based on the book Last Nine Days of the Bismarck by C. S. Forester. It stars Kenneth More and Dana Wynter and was directed by Lewis Gilbert. To date, it is the only movie made that deals directly with the operations, chase, and sinking of the battleship Bismarck by the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
Its historical accuracy, in particular, met with much praise despite a number of inconsistencies. The film was the inspiration for Johnny Horton’s popular 1960 song, “Sink the Bismarck.”
~ Dimensions ~
The ship measures 7 foot (84 inches/188cm) long with an overall width of 8 inches (20.25cm). It has a height of 27 inches (68.5cm) and weighs kg.
~ Condition ~
The ship is in excellent condition. As can be seen in the pictures the store has been safely stored (and displayed) inside our store away from damage or prying hands. The ship has been inspected and aside from some general wear from age has no overall damage. The wires and ropes all appear to be intact and no chipping to the wood or paint. A fine example of film memorabilia.
ref. GS9084C30 / ASH00X3LP2EE2F1RP
