Ships of the German Flag GB 2020

Thanks Dodgy. The U-99 was really a trial run for this,  especially as far as the painting goes. But i had no idea how much of a step up this would be compared to that. 9 weeks of work on this and i don't even have the hull together. I can see why it takes some people a year or more to build one.

Hi Steve. I have been back to your old GB and read the whole thing through. I learnt a great deal and loved the models, there was some awsome work in there. One of my favourites would have to be Rigidrider's U-Boat wreck. He produced a fascinating model.

Yesterday I attacked my beast with a lot of filler. I'm otherwise tied up today, but will be attacking the beastie again on Thursday. Hope to get some primer on over the weekend.

Bish, your 1/72 U Boat is looking good. I have taken a lot of inspiration from your previous build of the U 99.

Marcus McBean

I hear many of the Kagero books have inaccurates in them but then it seems some of the other guides also have issues.  So what ever reference guide I purchase for that build that is how it will be build out. 

What I have learn over the years, even if you had the builders blueprints someone will dispute the accuracy.

Marcus

 

I did notice a few errors in the S-Boat book, but as with any referance, profile pics often have errors. I never rely on them 100%, but they are a good guide and and an indication of what to look for in photo's.

Marcus McBean

I hear many of the Kagero books have inaccurates in them but then it seems some of the other guides also have issues.  So what ever reference guide I purchase for that build that is how it will be build out. 

What I have learn over the years, even if you had the builders blueprints someone will dispute the accuracy.

Marcus

 

I agree, most likely, but I figure that no one can really dispute most of the ships portrayed because....well they're sunk. There are but a few existing pictures of the Akagi for example, so was there a rigging line here or there, a boat stashed on top of that one or the other as a mater of course? Mostly the same for the Bismarck, Kongo, U-boats ETC. It took until very recently to decide that the Arizona had red turret tops and light grey fighting tops, and it's our ship! Funny how history disapears so quickly. I look at all the resources I can find and make a desision on what I do, unfortunatly, nobody really knows anymore, heck most kids today don't have a clue what the day of infamy was let alone when.

Beleive it or not, World of Warships is a great resourse as well.

I hear many of the Kagero books have inaccurates in them but then it seems some of the other guides also have issues.  So what ever reference guide I purchase for that build that is how it will be build out. 

What I have learn over the years, even if you had the builders blueprints someone will dispute the accuracy.

Marcus

thanks Chad, i think they will be a nice touch. I am thinking of having one folded up and one down.

modelcrazy

I love those Kagero books. They are invaluable for my ship builds and if available, they're part of my AM purchases. 

 

I don't uaully buy books for subjects i only have 1 or 2 kits of. But i made exceptions with my large scale ship kits, S-Boat, U-Boat and Bismarck. The kagero books were deffinetly must have for those. Which reminds me that i should try and get the Spee book.

That's interesting about the seats. Those will definitely add some flavor to the kit.

I love those Kagero books. They are invaluable for my ship builds and if available, they're part of my AM purchases. 

Thanks Steve. I can't take any credit on the seats or tie downs, its all in the article i have by Dougie Martindale and Wink grise. The seats are shown in the Kagero 3D book but not very well, and you can just about make them out in some photo's, but not in any detail. So i have had to take a guess.

Excelent work Bish! Very precise. I'm surprized you were able to get info on the seat placement. I would assume they were wood as well due to the enviroment they were used. The little wires used for the tie downs are a great idea. I'm not sure I would have thought about putting them in.

This is going to be a stunning build!

I got back to the u-boat a week or so ago, focusing on the conning tower. On the top piece i have sanded away the molded on wood sides, added the loops where the crew can hook on their saftey harness by drilling out a small indentation and useing some fine wire. Also used some styrene for the 5 braces around the front of the tower.

The same for the other side. The 4 small white buts of styrene are the hinges for folding seats. From what i have read these were in different locations depening on the boat, on the 552 they were on the port side. There are no clear images of these seats or a clear description of them. I am guessing they are wood rather than metal or fabric, so i have cut them out from some spare pieces on the nautilus deck kit.

I have also decided to replace the kit periscope bases with some 3D printed ones. Unfortunatly they are not sold seperatly, they only comes with some snorkel parts, which i won't need, and a UZO which i already have. But i can use my other UZO for my Type IX. I am going to order that next month.

The bottom of the tower has been finished, no scratching needed here, just PE and kit parts.

I will have to scratch some tubes which carry the radio wires and are at the back of this piece but not included in the kit.

The Eduard deck gun is complete, all resin and PE. Rather intricate but a nice looking piece.

And finally the railing around the back of the tower. These are 2 thick and its recomended to make a new one out of wire or live with the thick parts. I took a 3rd option and simply sanded down the whole thing to make the railings thinner. I am happy with that.

I have since primed all this and painted the inside of the tower, its now in the shed drying. I have just started on the hull to get that finished off and hopefully get both parts togetehr soon.

GS...if you can fit something in the 18-20" range, take a look at one in 1/144.

I'll have to look that GB up. The Hunley kit certainly looks like its going to be a challenge. Thanks again Steve.

Mach, I believe, built the Hunley a few years back for my Subs GB. It turned out nice but he had to do some filling and shaping if I recall.

Thanks Steve. I have a few other distractions, house, large garden, 1/1 scale timber boat and volunteer work with the Australian Naval Association. So time can be a bit of an issue, well at least thats my excuse until I can come up with a better one......

Bish can't wait to see some more on your U Boat.

Mongoose, the Balao class sounds very interesting.

I'm having a bit of a sub thing at the moment. I recently purchased a kit of the Hunley and another of a Jap midget sub. About to order the Das Werk 1/72 WWI U Boat.

Dodgy I'm still in as well. I have the Revell Bismark to build and plan for it to be a big'n! Although I may build my Balao class sub before that so glad this GB stays open

Not to worry Dodgy, you're not holding anything up mate. There is no closing date for these ship builds for many reasons, one of which you stated. The only end date is the two year window to sign up.

Ships take time and cost a lot of money, especially if one buys PE and AM. They tend to drag on and the builder may get bored during the build and want to take a hiatus for a few months. Heck I still haven't gotten back to my Prince of Wales or North Carolina, noyt to mention, haven't opened the plastic on the Revell Bismarck parts bags yet (I'm still waiting to save enough for the Pontos set)....and I have the Japanese Ships starting in Aug!

Just take your time, do the best you can and improve your skills or try out some new ones. Unless I'm either kicked off the forum for some odd reason, FSM goes away or I pass beyond this mortal coil, I'll be here to encourage, answer questions to the best of my ability and one day, even complete an entry of my own 

Your not quite the last Dodgy, i still have my U-Boat which i have just gotten back to this week. Going to be a good 2 months more on that one i reckon.

I'll post an update this weekend.

Hey Steve. Apparently I'm the last bunny on this build and you are probably waiting on me to close it. This is the first group build I have done and I lost a lot of time. If you want to close it with my entry unfinished, I really won't mind. I'm enjoying the build immensley, but I'm aware I'm holding things up. If you want to pull the pin thats all good with me. I anticipate finishing this project in late March. Your call old mate.

Ok. The decks are in place. I have a roll of black paper inside to prevent the see through effect from the drain holes. I have also got some material glued in place to take the brass rods I intend using to support the beastie on the display stand and have used a lot of filler around the aft torpedo tube. Once the glue sets sufficiently on the decks I will begin the clean up process.

Ta mate.

No stupid questions in my GB's mate. 

": a drain hole near the bottom of a frame or other structural member of a ship"

In the case of a sub, they are usually at the "bottom" of the waterline.

Hi Steve, I meant to ask this the other day. What are the 'limber' holes? I may have served in the navy, but not on subs, so I have to ask the dumb question.

Ta fellas, I've made a note of that.

That's what I was going to sugest. The pressure hull is behind the limber holes so there is some light that can be seen.

Dodgy,

I seen others used toliet paper carboard tube, paint it black and insert it into the sub to block the ability to see through.

Marcus

Ok. So now I have the hull together I am going to need spacers so I can fit the deck, as the gap is much more narrow than the two deck pieces. I also have to give thought to an internal reinforcement for the display stand supports and how to block out the light through the drain holes. Much filling and sanding required around the hull seams as well.