Revell U-Boat

I used a dremel to thin out the plastic from the inside until vents were open, then used a small file to clean them up. It does take some time but looks better than just painting them black.

Julian

Question : if the ventholes are open (top and sides), don't you need some representation of a presure hull than ?
Proposition : I'm trying to get a Kriegsmariene GB off the ground, why don't you sign up for it...

I omly opened the vents on the hull sides. If you look very closely the lack of pressure hull inside is visible. I chose not to buy the resin pressure hull insert.

Excuse the quality of the photo's (need to get some background cloth/paper to get up to FSM standards. It does give you an idea of the build (and no, it's not historicaly correct either).

At the moment I am working on the Revell Snowberry corvette and after that I plan on building the Revell USS Kearsarge so I don't have the time to take part in a Kriegsmarine GB.

Cheers,

Julian

 

Im sure that thinning out the plastic and everything will work out great, just as your boat did, but the only problem for me is no dremel and no money. I would also love to participate in the Kriegsmarine group build, but if I were to cut out the vent holes, it would take up my already scarce modeling time,, and I might not be able to complete it on time. I'll probably just settle with the black paint unless somebody else can suggest otherwise. Also, I'm still looking for paint suggestions...what colors/brand did you use grem?

Colours used mainly Tamiya Acrylics (Sky Grey XF-19, Dark Sea Grey XF-54) a Humbrol dark grey enamel for below the waterline (I forget which number I used there). Humbrol enamels and oils for further detailing and oils for weathering. A final layer of Model Master dullcote to seal everything in and give it a uniform sheen.

Julian

 

Dremel-type tools (not necessarily Dremel brand) can be found quite cheaply if you look around. I got mine for about £20 ($35) last year. I highly recommend you get one - it really is an invaluable modelling tool, particularly for drilling and cutting.

Dremel makes a couple of battery versions of its Minimite powertool.  They make one which is sold with a brass polishing wheel and a couple of abrasive stones for a golfer's use (i.e. cleaning golf clubs and sharpening spikes?).   It is transparent green.   They also make one with some cutting wheels and grinder bits for sculpting pumpkins for Halloween (messy!).   It is transparent orange.    Both take 4-AA batteries instead of the rechargable power pack on the older 'standard' Minimite.   I picked up a golfers tool a couple of years back for about 20 bux.   I saw the pumpkin tool for sale after Halloween last year for about 10 bux.  Both were sold in my local Lowes Hardware store,  but you may find the golf tool in a sporting goods store,  golf store, or country club pro shop.   The pumpkin model was also sold in one of the local craft stores (Michaels,  Hobby Lobby).

I totally understand your lack of time and money. The Revell kit is quite the project if you want to correct all the minor details that are inaccurate. I'm with you...Correct the details that bother you and spend your limited time and money on building this great U Boat.

   Here's mine (with black paint in all the vent holes)

Thanks Leftie........Your pics look great....the black paint will work fine for me. Excellent model.....would love to see more pics. BTW, what colors did you use?

I used the recommended Model Master paints for my U boat but I added some white to get it more in line to the black and white photos of U-552. I may have gone a little overboard with the white.

 This is a great kit but I had a problem with the oversized rivets so I sanded them off. Also I extended the splash shield on my kit to accurately reflect that on the U-552. If you want I'll send you more scans to your email address.

 I'm still looking for those huge rivets on the actual U-552. Here are a few photos to help your research if you build U-552.

I have got a length of PVC guttering that is about the same curvature as the pressure hull & plan on using that to scratch build the top. For all of the pressure hull that will be visible once the deck is down, I didn't think that the cost of the resin one was worth it.

3 metres of guttering cost me about £4.00. Being PVC, it is fairly soft & will be easy to cut to fit.