Emergency cruiser Adolph Bermpohl & Vegesack

Adolph Bermpohl – The original:

The Adolph Bermpohl  is a rescue cruiser of the German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People (DGzRS), which was built and put into service in 1965. It is a 26-meter-class model, which was one of the largest rescue cruisers at the time.

From 1965 to 1979 the original was stationed on the North Sea island of Helgoland, then stationed in List on Sylt until 1989. In February 1967 the Adolph Bermpohl fell victim to a tragic accident in heavy seas during a rescue attempt in the North Sea. The entire team went overboard and was killed. The damaged cruiser and daughter boat were found, extensively repaired and modernized in order to make use in rough seas even safer.

The most noticeable changes after the accident include the closed upper driver's cab and a self-erecting daughter boat.

Adolph Bermpohl – The model:

The model is a 1:22 scale kit. This kit was manufactured and sold by the Firma Graupner since the end of the 1970s as a quick-assembly kit, later as a ready to run model.

The basis of the Adolph Bermpohl:

My model was built step by step during the years 2001-2003 from the Graupner quick assembly kit, which provides a good basis. During the winter of 2017/2018 I completely overhauled both boats. Both the cruiser and the Vegesack dinghy are largely assembled according to the original documents. The condition is based on that of Adolph Bermpohl after the accident in 1967, with the upper driver's cab closed.

The following renovation measures were carried out in 2017/2018:

In order to get as close as possible to the original and to emphasize the numerous details, I attached many brass etched parts to the cruiser and the dinghy. Some fittings were renewed and additional ones were installed.
A new, modern and stable daughter boat elevator from JT-Yachtmodelle is also used for since that time. This ensures that the daughter boat can be launched and retrieved safely and true to the original.
I also partially refreshed the paintwork and adapted it to the colors of the original.

The functions of the Adolph Bermpohl and the Vegesack in detail:

1. Functions of the cruiser:
– Side motors forward/backward
– Mid-engine forward
– Steering right/left
– Open/close the tailgate
– Daughter boat lift up/down
– Tow hook
– Radar
– Lighting can be switched individually:
— Instrument lighting for the upper and lower operator positions
— Deck lighting
— Mast lighting low
— Mast lighting middle
— Mast lighting high
— Large front searchlight
— Searchlight on the body
— Bilge pump with water contact switch for draining the model in case of water ingress

2. Functions of the daughter boat:
– Motor forward/backward
– Steering right/left
– Lighting on/off