First Build in Progress ( Revell 1/144 U-Boat Type VIIC/41)

I use one of those magnifying-glasses-with-desk-lights. That, and a battery of ceiling spots helps. Best though is plain old sunlight (if you can get it). I tend not to model in the evenings because of this.

I'd suggest an Optivisor. It fits over your glasses and really helps ease eye strain. I have the #4  lenses, which are 2x magnification. The focal distance is about a foot, which I like.

Nice start, also have that one in the stash.  Nice clean work area, unlike some of us. I have both, an optivisor clone and a clamp on LED desklamp with magnifier.

I'm looking forward to seeing the progress on this U-boat. 

Yes, flood the area with as much light as you can. And personally, I'm not a big fan of an optivisor. I prefer glasses. I wear contacts for distance, and use reading glasses. So, I bought a 5X and 6X reading glasses off Amazon for $9 each. They work well for me when working very small details. 

GMorrison

I'd suggest an Optivisor. It fits over your glasses and really helps ease eye strain. I have the #4  lenses, which are 2x magnification. The focal distance is about a foot, which I like.

I agree with GMorrison about the Optivisor.  I wear progessive lens also and this visor works really good with the #4 lenes.  I have the LED light attachment also.  You can't have enough light over the work bench.

Marcus

Great to see you are underway and have started a WIP thread (work-in-process).

Good start!

I am also an Optivisor user and fan, and really couldn't do this hobby without it, or some alternative.

More light is better. I have my area so bright that visitors wince, but I love it.

They are spendy, but OTT lights punp incredible amounts of light for being small packages.

You definitely want to watch for sales on these rather than try and get by on the cheaper ones (don't ask me how I know).

Optivisor is an excellent recommendation.  If a person wears glasses anyway, it's tempting to use the clip-on magnifiers, which work, but tend to be monocular, and depth perception is a very good thing.

I built this about 2 years ago. It was a Christmas present and I really enjoyed it.

I thank you ALL for your comments and encoruagement! It is appreciated. Yes, a magnifing/lighting visor appears to be a good solution, plus additonal lighting as I figure out how to incorporate it...

Nino, thanks for the compliments and the links - great info! Honestly, ordering paint for this project was a real PITA. It started with Revell of Germanys paint specifications, then it goes to a cross reference from Revell's paint numbers to Testors/Modelmasters with incomplete part numbers and unavailabel colors. I created a spreadsheet to figure out how to approach ordering paint and what was the best shot at one of the four U-Boats this kit makes. I read somewhere on these fourms about not getting to worked up about 'exact' color match as shades change for anything dependaing on light and angle. The spreadsheet and my noice color matching skills led me to go for U-998. Revell instructions indicate yellow strips for U-998. So....since U-998 did one war partol, was the yellow strips removed for the patrol? 

I suggest you not work from the paint spec.s in the kit. Rather, find out what the actual color (s) were.

I'm not a U boat guy, but considering a lot of these have been modeled by great modelers, the research has been done.

Good luck!

phillm47

So....since U-998 did one war partol, was the yellow strips removed for the patrol? 

Guess I just need to COMPLETELY read the resources Nino provided!

GMorrison

I suggest you not work from the paint spec.s in the kit. Rather, find out what the actual color (s) were.

 

Yep!

Nino, I think you have super pictures of everything & those are great to look at.

 GMorrison's advice on Optivisors is the best. I have used them for over 50 years & every doctor I know that needs them uses Optivisor. They have a good price on Model Expo.

    I built over 15 of the 1/144 subs qbout 4 years ago, even the big 3' one. After I put my final gray coats on the sub & deck I would gloss cote the whole sub & when dry I would use Tempera water based paint & fillall the limber holes in the hull & decks. When it was dry, I would use a damp Q tip or small soft rag & wipe off all the overage of Tempara. You might have to go over places. Then I would weather, a lot of times I would use a rust mix of Tempera. when all was done I would Dullcote everything I use Tempera for a lot of things & once it is sealed it does stay on. The nice thing about it is over a gloss finish it does clean right off. 

  I also used a wood deck or 2 on several subs. 

 One thing I forgot to say was , for my use, I always put a wood piece in the hull bottom to screw into for the base you use. I use a 1x2" x 6 to 8" for sailing ships & as big a piece of wood dowel for subs as will fit. It also gives extra weight.

good idea!

Phil,

Welcome aboard. I think you pick wisely on this model. I built the 1/72 version and it was well engineered and I think this is just the scaled down version. 

For resources, I would look online not only for your scale but also the 1/72. You’ll find a great many sites on this subject https://www.uboat.net is just one of them.

On colors,you can find info on various sites, but I ended up using my own mixture of colors. The Yellow stripe designated that the boot was in training by the way.

Steve