U 581 1/144 Modelcraft kit VII-C motorized BUILT 02/2013

Got the Nautilus wood deck . Cost  $40  and the sub only cost $79! Thinking about getting the White ensine torpedo loading gear.  Also thinking of making one of them into an R.C. But if I get it wrong I'm going swimming!

littletimmy

< Wiping drool from corners of mouth>  Now I HAVE to get the nautilus too! Yes my recent move took a toll on my sub fleet. They were crushed by their own display case in the moving truck. It also killed my Revell schnellboat and my Pyro models river boat which is now in more pieces than when it was still in the box new! You should try the acadamy sub. It goes like a bat out of hell when you launch it. I couldnt keep up with mine and some kids at the pond thought they had scored untill I came running up!

< Wiping drool from corners of mouth>  Now I HAVE to get the nautilus too! Yes my recent move took a toll on my sub fleet. They were crushed by their own display case in the moving truck. It also killed my Revell schnellboat and my Pyro models river boat which is now in more pieces than when it was still in the box new! You should try the acadamy sub. It goes like a bat out of hell when you launch it. I couldnt keep up with mine and some kids at the pond thought they had scored untill I came running up!

Happen to have it handy!

Nautilus by hotkey, on Flickr

As I suspected actually. I have peeked in on some. I prolly won't build the Acadamy motorized and just fill holes, etc as I did with the 581.

I do want to build one with that camo paint job. Do you have pics after weathering? And reading your post it seems u had a crash on your boat models?

Ya the 47 is the interior view kit. :(

Mite be fun to do at the same time!

The rest of your list is unknown territory to me. I havent built any of the rest but would love to see the Nautilus kit. Post some pre build picture's of it when your ready to assemble it.

O.K. we will start with the 1/125 scale u-47 and u-99. These are from old molds and the fit of the parts is terreble! you may want to wait to build these. The Acadamy is ok I built mine to work just be prepaired to "fiddle" with the periscope as thats what makes the sub dive. Also be prepaired to add ballast . The batteries tend to make the sub list ALOTT!  The best ones are the 1-144 th scale Revell subs. Try your hand at the type VII-D. I went with U- 217 just because I liked the splinter camoflauge. Check my post in the ship forum U-217. I have two 1/72 Revells. We should plan a  Build together and see what happens.  If the U-47 kit is the one with an interior you will be dissapointed. It's not even close to accurate. But it still looks cool when done.

littletimmy

Now you'v gone and done it!  When I get home I'm going to have to go into my unlit shop (I havent connected the power yet) and pull out my Revell 1/72nd sub and just sit there in the dark and drool!

Now you'v gone and done it!  When I get home I'm going to have to go into my unlit shop (I havent connected the power yet) and pull out my Revell 1/72nd sub and just sit there in the dark and drool!

subfixer

OK, just for instance; check the picture of the rudder above. Do you see that circle on it? That is an ejector pin mark and should be filled and smoothed over. And in the same picture, there is a seam that runs around the circumfrence of the rudder. a little bit of smoothing with a sanding stick would make it go away. All in all, you did a really nice job on  a model designed to motor around in the water.

See, you didn't need my opinion in the first place.

OK, just for instance; check the picture of the rudder above. Do you see that circle on it? That is an ejector pin mark and should be filled and smoothed over. And in the same picture, there is a seam that runs around the circumfrence of the rudder. a little bit of smoothing with a sanding stick would make it go away. All in all, you did a really nice job on  a model designed to motor around in the water.

littletimmy

I noticed the "pin" mark on the rudder. A little putty will fix that.

I noticed the "pin" mark on the rudder. A little putty wil fix that.

subfixer

Just a little observation. Pay attention to seams and ejector pin indentations.

Can you elaborate a bit? Thanks!

Isnt posting fun? We ve been playing "tag " for the past  20 minutes between this thread and your other one . I cant type that fast! LOL.

Just a little observation. Pay attention to seams and ejector pin indentations.

LOL isnt posting fun! Great tips.  I'll use on the next boat.  I've sidetracked for a few weeks to build a Discovery space shuttle I've had for years but I'll be following your points on the next boat for sure.  The 581 has already been mailed to a cousin as a gift.

Water based.   I cant spel worthe a dang!  

I would use a water baised paint and just let it flow all over the deck. then go over it with a clean dry brush and pick up the paint just on the surface  leaving the paint to "puddle" in the drainage slots. Dont rust the deck as its wood coated in some waterproofing substance. You can go over the wood with a dark tan/brown mix with an almost dry brush and that deck will look like a million bucks! Just hit it in spots though.  Your just looking to make "scuff" marks here and there. Especially around the deck gun as thats where the most activity would be.

Thanks! I did use a black/brown oil paint (greatly thinned) wash on the deck and noticed that the recesses and raised areas had more depth right away but then the wash seemed to all "flow" together and not stay around raised/recessed areas where they seemed pretty cool at first.

You need to wash the deck with some flat black. That will give it some depth. The motorized subs are allways kinda out of scale when it comes to the details like railings because they have to be able to deal with the forces of water. I built the Acadamy diving sub and had to deal with the "functioning" periscope as its rigged to the diving planes. Nice job overall !  Will be waiting to see your next  build.