Ship Sinkers Group Build - Submarines

Waste Land wrote:

JMart, ever figure out which exact model you'll be going with? brand, name,? I know your doing 1/700

Greetings.... yes, Im still going to do this, will just be a bit... work issues getting in the way of fun building... also, tying to finish some stuff and do some priming (well a lot!) before I close down my spray booth and (attempt) to move it for the winter/cold weather.... cant use it when its <50oF or close to the furnace (I use enamels). Anyways.... 

I will attempt to do the ARII 1:700 modern subs, if just to show people how good a job Chaterrer did with his ;)  I will post pics of the sprues in a few, as well as the exact subs I will be doing... they basically come in pairs (2 LA class, 2 Kilos, etc) with the EXACT same sprues just different decals... and you get TWO top hulls for each, so you can show them waterline AND on a stand.. these kits are just too bizarre NOT to do ;)

Some modern sub web sites I have found (good pics)

http://www.netmarine.net/bat/smarins/monde/index.htm

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/japan/yushio-pics.htm

These are models, all types

http://www.flankerman.fsnet.co.uk/submarines.htm

Thanks for the comments JMart! I'm sure your subs will turn out great

Finshed the building on the U-Boat today. Fit not very good after building the Tamiya. Rudders and dive planes did not want to line up at all. I just hope the painting will be easier. I only have one picture of the sub right now. I'll get some more pictures later on this week before painting.

ben1227 wrote:

There just isn't enough surface detail on those 1/700 and 1/400 sub kits for me...That Kilo is out of stock so I'm still waiting...

Indeed... not much detail in 700 scale, worse for modern subs, how can you weather them???

In the process of moving my workshop/booth around for wintertime, will post WIP pics in a couple weeks....

ben1227 wrote:

Cool. Wasteland, who started this, hasn't been in here in a while.

100% of my models tools, suuplies, cameras, etc are in boxes waiting to be unpacked while im painting and wallpapering.

I still watch and check your your pics and replies. Just hard between work...and work at home. I'll be back in full swing in a week 

Nice work, AJ. 

I got started on my U505 over the weekend.  I've never built anything smaller than 1:178 before and am finding this 1:200 a little challenging.  I guess the molds must be old because there is lots of flash to clean.  I started with the lower hull because I'm not making any changes to it.  I added the forward torpedo tube doors and horizontal planes.  These parts are fairly big and have definite mounting places.  The outer plane guards are a different story.  They are small and attach flush with molded bases.  I mounted them with a touch of tube cement so I could position them properly then when back and added a little Tenax to the joints.  Seemed to work OK.  Of the photos I took with my generation zero digital camera, this is the best (at least its in focus).  Maybe a new camera for Christmas?

The first step for the stern gear is mounting the center skeg.  The fit wasn't very good and I used some Mr. Surfacer to fill the gaps along the hull.  Before mounting the propellor shafts, you have to attach the small v-shaped bearing brackets to the skeg and the hull.  This is a purely do by eye operation; there are no molded mounting points.  I tried tacking the brackets in place with white glue to be sure I would get the propellor shafts (the end bearings rest on the brackets) in the right place, but it was pretty awkward.  I toyed with the idea of replacing the shafts with 3/64" brass rod to avoid flexing, but in the end I managed to get the shafts pretty well aligned. The stern plane and rudders go in easily but the stern plane guards are even smaller than those at the bow.  Apologies for the out-of-focus picture.

I painted the lower hull with Tamiya Dark German Gray.  

The next steps will involve some surgery.  I have to extend the wintergarten and modify the deck to accommodate the added length.  I also have to remove the deck details associated with the large deck gun.  U505 had only anti-aircraft amarment.  I will be scratch-building the dual 20mm guns and the splinter shield for the 37mm.  Probably do that near the end. 

squeakie wrote:

well I'm all psyched up now after watching Das Boot! I hope they got the colors of the uniforms right, and I'm now planning on the return trip. Not going out to sea. gary

 I've actually been to the set of where it was filmed and it was very very accurate.  Possibly one of the most accurate war films I've ever seen

chef_ben wrote:

squeakie wrote: well I'm all psyched up now after watching Das Boot! I hope they got the colors of the uniforms right, and I'm now planning on the return trip. Not going out to sea. gary  I've actually been to the set of where it was filmed and it was very very accurate.  Possibly one of the most accurate war films I've ever seen

where did they fil this movie?

gary

 Thanks for the kind words guys.

ben1227 wrote:

Looks nice...did you build it as a waterline sub?

AJB93 - nice little sub, good details! Gives me couple ideas what to do with my plain jane ARII modern subs stash that will get built some day....

drdull - very impressive sub! where do you get the brass rods? I wanted to stock on some for propeller shafts of the various floatie thingies I am building...

Have a happy thanksgiving if you are on my side of the pond!
Cheers, Jim

JMart wrote:

Have a happy thanksgiving!

Hmm, I could have sworn that I registered for this GB ???

Anyway, I have a couple of subs (at the time I registered, I was waiting for my VIID "Minenleger").

First one that I'll build, will be the 1/144 Type XXIII... (actually that'll be the second time that I'll be building that boat)

Hi Jim,

My local hobby shops carry the brass rod/tube/structural shapes.  Its manufactured by K&S Engineering.  I know that MicroMark also has it and I think someone mentioned that Roll Models does as well.

I started doing the surgery on the Nichimo 1:200 type IXC.  Here is a picture of the lengthed fairwater.  I just used some 0.010 and 0.030 styrene with a styrene I-bar for stiffness. 

Here are shots of the lower hull now painted

Barry 

I know this is the wrong country, but thought all sub builders should know that Hobby Lobby has the 1/72 scale gato class sub for $60 and then another 30% off that price tag. Last one I saw was $100.

     Also finally got the last piece of photo etch in the mail today!! I'd just about gave up on it. Now for another question: Is the pressure hull kit really needed? If not I ready to goto work!!!!!

gary

squeakie wrote:

I know this is the wrong country, but thought all sub builders should know that Hobby Lobby has the 1/72 scale gato class sub for $60 and then another 30% off that price tag. Last one I saw was $100.      Also finally got the last piece of photo etch in the mail today!! I'd just about gave up on it. Now for another question: Is the pressure hull kit really needed? If not I ready to goto work!!!!! gary

dostacos wrote:

squeakie wrote: I know this is the wrong country, but thought all sub builders should know that Hobby Lobby has the 1/72 scale gato class sub for $60 and then another 30% off that price tag. Last one I saw was $100.      Also finally got the last piece of photo etch in the mail today!! I'd just about gave up on it. Now for another question: Is the pressure hull kit really needed? If not I ready to goto work!!!!! gary got a link for that? I looked under hobby Lobby and cannot find anything for sale

No I don't, I just have a store about ten minutes north of me. Many guys on here hit the chain of stores all the time. Once or twice a month they print a cupon in the newspaper for 40% off any item in the store, and I do usually take advantage of it.

gary

I was out in San Francisco over the holidays and saw the USS Pampanito tied up at Fisherman's Wharf. It occurred to me that you guys would appreciate a few photos and it will surely help me to get moving on my Gato build. Besides we need to get this thread back on page 1!

I wonder if this is the late war air recon option? 

Here's the Papa gun,

the Mama gun,

and the baby guns.

and a little Christmas spirit!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year! 

Great pics. I was in Baltimore where USS Torsk (Tench-class) was moored. Got some pics, I'll post them tomorrow.

picked up a second 1/72 scale sub yesterday afternoon. It's a Revell Gato class boat. After give it a serious look, all I can say is this thing is huge (over four feet long). The price was right at$38.

Right now I'm still puching holes in the Type VIIC, and have all my photoetch finally. But do have a slight delima facing me. How do you weather the Nautilis wooden deck? Anybody have an idea? It looks like it's made of bass wood, and is very nicely done. But the question here is do you stain it or paint it? and what color is right?

gary

Can I enter a second build?

If so, it will be 1/144 USS Bluegill 1970, converted from the Trumpeter kit.