U-Boat drain holes

Spurdog

Just bought the Revell type viic U-Boat, and I remember reading somewhere that the hull drain holes, which are solid on the kit, should be drilled out for added realism. I accept this, but when the holes are finally drilled out, should it be possible to see all the way through when viewed from either side, or should strips of blanking card be used in certain places?

If you feel comfortable adding card, I'd say, do it.  I didn't do it with mine. Unless you align your eyesight on the tiny holes, then you could probably see the other side holes but not the inside of the ship. I painted the inside flat black. If you're using a power sander (I did), do it carefully, friction will overheat the plastic.

Bish

I'm planning on useing the Nautilus Models wooden deck. Would that make a difference to what can be seen inside.

Both the wood and brass pe decks have the opened flood holes which provide more areas to peek thru. 

I'm planning on useing the Nautilus Models wooden deck. Would that make a difference to what can be seen inside.

warshipguy

On a model that large, it makes sense to actually find out what would be seen and replicate it.  It would have to be more than simply a tube for the pressure hull.  The pressure hull has shape, there are openings such as torpedo loading hatches and trays, there are multiple pipes, the escape trunks, etc.  To me, it is the same logic of actually building an engine for airplanes and tanks, or simply put in a lump of plastic. Remember, at 1/72 scale, this is one large model!

Bill

Yes it's a large model but once you close up the hull and put the plastic deck on, you will have a very hard time trying to make things out in there thru the side flood holes. If the brass deck is used, then you will be able to see more and some gizmology will be needed to make things more interesting.

Spurdog

But the holes are comparatively small, so little can be seen through them anyway. I've recently heard from a friend that he was told by a fellow modeller that he glues a length of dark plastic card in the general shape of an upper half of a pressure hull to 'suggest'  the presence of one.

It would be great if we could see some photos of this or similar processes. I'm still a little fuzzy on what to do to get the best result.

But the holes are comparatively small, so little can be seen through them anyway. I've recently heard from a friend that he was told by a fellow modeller that he glues a length of dark plastic card in the general shape of an upper half of a pressure hull to 'suggest'  the presence of one.

On a model that large, it makes sense to actually find out what would be seen and replicate it.  It would have to be more than simply a tube for the pressure hull.  The pressure hull has shape, there are openings such as torpedo loading hatches and trays, there are multiple pipes, the escape trunks, etc.  To me, it is the same logic of actually building an engine for airplanes and tanks, or simply put in a lump of plastic. Remember, at 1/72 scale, this is one large model!

Bill

plastickjunkie

Bish:

I am just guessing here, but i would imagine you would only see the top of the pressure hull if you got up close to the holes. So on a 72nd scale kit, i don't think they would be visible. But it would certainly be worth putting somthing in there to blank it off.

 

The pressure hull was part of the outer casing structure. You can still use cadboard tube to give the idea of something in there, specially the top flood holes and just not a  look hollow. I did the Revell 1/144 scale Type VI/C and will work on the 1/72 scale too, otherwise it looks hollow.

Ye, something like that would be ideal. I had read that if you fit the resin pressure hull, you can't really see it. What i assume that means is you can't see the detail. But it would be better if you had somthing in their.

Bish

I am just guessing here, but i would imagine you would only see the top of the pressure hull if you got up close to the holes. So on a 72nd scale kit, i don't think they would be visible. But it would certainly be worth putting somthing in there to blank it off.

The pressure hull was part of the outer casing structure. You can still use cadboard tube to give the idea of something in there, specially the top flood holes and just not a  hollow look. I did the Revell 1/144 scale Type VI/C and will work on the 1/72 scale too, otherwise it looks hollow.

I am just guessing here, but i would imagine you would only see the top of the pressure hull if you got up close to the holes. So on a 72nd scale kit, i don't think they would be visible. But it would certainly be worth putting somthing in there to blank it off.

The cross-sections clearly show a single pressure hull forming the external hull as well, with a superstructure built onto it.  This superstructure forms what we think of as the external hull.  They also seem to show that the pressure hull extended up into the sail, which is very interesting to me.  So, it appears logical that some of the pressure hull would be seen through the limber holes in the superstructure. But, again, check the photos.

Bill

Found blueprints showing the shape of the pressure hull.

This should give you an idea of what's inside.

Also do a google search for U534 (she was chopped up and put on display.), while a later class (Type IXC/40) it gives you a general idea of how they where built.

Also search for construction photos since they show the sections of the boats being assembled and also whats under the main deck.

I remember one of the builds I saw the builder had used beer or soda cans for the pressure hull seen through the openings under the deck and the aft flood openings.

I'll be really interested to see how you get on with this. I have the 72nd kit in the stash and i want to drill out those holes as well. But i hadn't thought about putting something inside. I was originally going to buy a pressure hull for the kit, but i heard you can't see it once fitted and it causes problems with fitting the hull together.

warshipguy

Check WEM PE Set #7232. That set will give you the templates.

Again, according to all the sources, the external hull of the Type VII was the pressure hull. The design was of a single hull with no internal pressure hull. I have been  unable to find anything to contradict that.

Bill

Found it that time. So, being a compelte novice and never having used the photo etched parts, what would you do with these templates? Drill correct hols based on the templates and fill the incorrect ones I guess?

And ust to make sure I understand ALL Type VII have no inner hull right?

Thanks for the help!

Check WEM PE Set #7232. That set will give you the templates.

Again, according to all the sources, the external hull of the Type VII was the pressure hull. The design was of a single hull with no internal pressure hull. I have been  unable to find anything to contradict that.

Bill

warshipguy

My apologies!  They must be a discontinued item.  I see them for the 1/72 USS Gato, but I could have sworn that they had them for the Type VII as well. However, I just confirmed that White Ensign Models has these templates. Check them out on www.steelnavy.com under their photo etch sets.

Bill

I must be a complete blind idiot I guess.  I went to the White Ensign site, and clicked thru to 1/72 Photo Etched parts.  Eduard and Griffon listed but do not see any hole templates.

OH OH! Confusion here. Type VII all models A B C D E F G had no pressure hulls?

My trick is to use a piece of styrene , paint it black, and put it in where it should go.

I'm about to do the 1/72 type VIIc, U552 (early) but I wouldn't attempt the complexity of Siara's build. All I want to attempt is the drilling out of the vents, and some Eduard photo etch (already bought!) and am just wondering how much of the interior is visible through the vents after the hull is put together.

My apologies!  They must be a discontinued item.  I see them for the 1/72 USS Gato, but I could have sworn that they had them for the Type VII as well. However, I just confirmed that White Ensign Models has these templates. Check them out on www.steelnavy.com under their photo etch sets.

Bill

I visited the site but couldn't find hole templates??

Also,

Nautilus Models makes templates for the holes in 1/72 scale, and , I believe, 1/144 scale.  Check them out on www.steelnavy.com.  Again, please not that the Type VII had no seperate pressure hull; the external hull was the pressure hull.

Bill

It's lengthy but check out Siara's build.

Should answer your questions.

To make things easy, thin the plastic with a Dremel tool from the inside of the hull, then you drill out the flood holes and clean them out with small files. You can make your own pressure hull by using cardboard tube, then paint it black. As warshipguy suggested, check out reference photos.

The best thing to do is to check photos. On most submarines, it would be proper to see the curvature of the pressure hull; the Type VII was a single hull construction.  Which Type VII are you building?  Revell makes them in four different scales, 1/72, 1/144, 1/225, and 1/350.  They also make the VII B, VII C, VII C/41, and VII D.

Bill