Submarine bleeding rust.

I think a lot of factors are involved here. It would depend on the length of patrol, the corrosiveness of the sea water in the patrol area, how well the shipyard put the paint on, etc. A u-boat arriving from a lengthy patrol would hardly return in pristine condition. I've seen modern day 688 class submarines with rust streaking out of their sail access plates. Anything open to the ocean like free flood holes or access plates are prone to that sort of thing. I'm assuming the person that made the diorama was trying to give the impression of a u-boat out on a long patrol.

yes it is realistic to have rust like that, like breezely1 said.... keep in mind that that is usually only surfacerust........

find some pics of some russian subs, talk about poor maintenance and rust!!!

To give you an idea of the oceans effect on painted submarines, in WWII USS Seadragon was caught in a bombing raid at Cavite in the Phillipines. The sub next to her was destroyed and the explosions and fire blistered off some of her black paint exposing the red underneath. Because of the situation at hand she started war patrols right away, without being repainted. The ocean began stripping away the rest of her black paint, effectively turning her into a red submarine, which can be inconvenient when trying to hide from Japanese destroyers. Eventually Tokyo Rose broadcast how the IJN would destroy the FLEET of red American devil submarines. The movie Operation Petticoat was loosely based on this real life red submarine.

kool, breeze..... i take it you know alot about subs???

I just visited the USS Torsk SS423..... neat sub....

I grew up in a submarine community, my dad and uncle were on subs in the 1950's and I build them for a living. Plus I'm a research hound and my current research project is the Soviet submarine force. Wish I knew more than I do.

thats amazing...i thought that neat maintenance would be of priority.
good to know and duplicate if time comes.

I reallyenjoyed building the USS Nautilus, i think i'm hooked on the subs, they always did fasinate me!!!!


I want to build the new revelle-germany sub......

Hey Breezley,

Since you're into Soviet boats, I'm mulling over a set of plans for an Akula, I'm thinking about scratchbuilding her in some enormous scale...maybe 1/72...

Jeff Herne
Modelwarships.com

That would be something. I'd like to do a 688 in a scale like that but the details would drive me to the looney bin.