The official Submarine Warfare Group Build 2016 - 2017

Thatis really looking like a rusted hulk Doug 

Good morning all... Didn't sleep well last night so I got up early and started on  detailing mu boat. She was still just a tad sticky, but good enough to begin detailing.

I started by adding dark brown rust streaks to seams and recesses, then washes with an acrylic burnt sienna, followed with a raw umber wash a bit thinner then the sienna.

After that I put a real light canvas green acrylic wash over all and after drying for a short time (thats another thing I like about acrylycs ) sprayed a sealing coat of Model Master semi gloss clear, thinned with isopropol rubbing alcahol, which tones down the sheen a bit. Next I'll mount her to the dio and finish that up.

Take care all!

Doug

Thanks Doug,

MC... your just knocking em out, watching the akula build with much interest. Mine is finally at the point where I feel its dry enough to start on again, maybe this weekend... Doug

The LA looks to be just about the same length as the Akula. I'll work on that one on the side next.

The U-boat is still comming along slowly.

Steve,

Your Akula class looks really good. And the Ohio class are large subs, close in length to the Typhoon class subs.

I'm waiting on a Japanese I-400 class kit to come in. I'm curious to see the size comparison to a LA class in 1/350 scale. This kit may end up being a second entry to this GB.

I sprayed the Grey/Black and the Hull Red. Next is the decals then weathering.

Awww shucks... you guys are too kind. Thank you, I kind of did the fast easy way to do the water on this one. I took the bottom of the box the kit came in, turned it over, traced the outline of the boat, and cut a hole to set it in. Then cut some scrap cove trim to use as the base, stapled the box bottom to it. The water is just crumpled tin foil, flattened back out, leaving and adding some motion and surface ripples. Then it was painted with Model Masters dark sea blue, and a generous application of Liquitex medium heavy artest gel. It looks white and like a thinned paste going on, but over night dries clear. After that a little diluted white and clear Tamiya green to hi-light the surface, and some pulled and gel treated cotton for the wake and waves and you have some fast and easy water.

Thanks again guys...

Doug

Oh my! Doug that looks fabulous, I love the way the water looks.

Oh WOW Doug that type XXIII looks great!!! the water effects are perfect. 

This is yhe only other submarine I've ever done, it is an ICM 350th Type XXIII Coastal boat. This was just a little weekend build, (actually closer to a week)

Any way, Throughly enjoying this GB... My entry here still a LONG way from dry... Chawing at the bit to get back on it... must be patient...must not touch...

Steve... OOOOPS! Sorry, I did get it mixed up,

Ernie... Very cool! Thank you! Great looking rusting and finish...

Thanks Steve. I know your U Boat will look super duper As the rest of your work.

I hope I can do so well with my rust PJ. The rust in the limber holes looks perfect. Thanks for sharing.

Looking at her pic from the link, looks like a little trim to get the angle on the fairwater below the lookout platforms, and drill a few holes under the back of the cigarette deck.  Not much to do in any case.  Biggest looks to be the change in radar masts and antennas.

Ok, here's a few. Double click for closeups:

Yes more pics.

I was stationed at Mare Island for Crypto school in the mid 80's.

GH

I thought of what hapenned to you when I was dryfitting the parts. thanks to GMs picture we know now the gap is correct.

And you are correct about the aft deck height. Trunpeter's is correct and no surgery is needed there. Here is a detailed picture of that very same area taken after her refi on Nov 23, 1944. Scroll down a bit to get to the picture.

http://models.rokket.biz/index.php?topic=676.0

Doug and Steve

Where you guys asking for more pictures of my U-96?

Speaking of Mare Island, it's a shame that HUGE place is just rotting away while it can serve the US Navy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75u2xCf9DoY

PJ - Yeah, rescribing that gap between the deck casing and hull on mine since I filled it in and sanded.  Figuring a couple of inches it scales out to around 0.02/.03. Got the cleats on, and will have to fab up the rear antenna mast that the two antenna cables run from the tower to.  Will see if I can get some primer on most of the hull this w/e.

Doug, I think you mean PJ, and I would like that as well. 

While I'm fiddleling with the U-boat conning tower, I'm going to start the Akula. It should be a quick build with some sweet weathering effects.

GMorrison

 

Goldhammer, you were saying that the upper hull coaming to hull fit of the Gato was gappish. I remembered this photo of SS-238 leaving Mare Island on 14 July 1943. She has lots of sea water running out through a gap there, in addition to the limber holes, it must be a couple of inches tall. Maybe that's the way it's meant to be.

 

I'm glad GM posted this view cause it clearly shows a gap at the rear that I was looking at while dry fitting things with my Gato. Without knowing, ordinarilly one would have sealed that up so thanks GM for your picture.

Thanks Ernie, Thanks Bruce... yeah, it looks pretty shiny right now, once I can work with it again, it will kind of tone down some and the acrylics will create a duller but still kind of egg shell look when dry. Its just begun and next I will start the detailing and the hi-lighting phase.that will take a great deal of time , but is well worth it. Hope it comes out as I picture it in my mind.

MC... that is a huge kit! I like your type VII comparison... the weathering and rusting are very cool looking, could I ask you to maybe post a few more pictures of it? (If you can) I'd love to see some more of it.

Thanks all...Doug

Doug, that is looking really nice and rusty . Just perfect.

PJ, I just can't get over the size difference between the two boats. All Iv'e ever seen up close were Balo class boats. I would probably be blown away with the small size of the U-505 in Chicago if I were ever to see it.

It's good to see you start on her.

Gentleman,

Wow! Some fantastic working being done here! Keep up the great jobs!

Rigidrider, I have to say, that VIIC looked fantastic painted!

goldhammer

PJ - Before you cut that 5mm out of the bridge, check to see if she had her bridge modified.  I know she had the Nav bridge ccut down to make an AA platform like alot of other boats.  Most pics I have seen of various boats the bridge height was left as was.

Glad to see you are getting a start on her. 

 

Yeah, plenty of PE bends in our futures.

 

Thanks GH for the heads up. I just began researching the subject so I have plenty of investigating to do before she goes under the knife.

PJ - Before you cut that 5mm out of the bridge, check to see if she had her bridge modified.  I know she had the Nav bridge ccut down to make an AA platform like alot of other boats.  Most pics I have seen of various boats the bridge height was left as was.

Glad to see you are getting a start on her. 

Yeah, plenty of PE bends in our futures.

I finally was able to get to my Trumpy Gato and look things over. I think I will go with the USS Gato as she appeared on November 1944 after a refit at Mare Island.

I have the WEM PE set and looks like there is some surgery to be done to cut down the tower a bit and lots of metal pe to be bent and CA'd together. I also got the resin weapons set from Nautilus to improve the deck weapon detail.

I put the Gato hull together with masking tape and compared it to my Type VII to see  the size difference. These boats were big so I'm quite happy with the 1/44 scale!

I'm also glad those limber holes are molded open so no surgery will needed there.