Revell 1/72 VIIC/41 'Atlantic Version' German U. Boat

[spanner570]

The rag tag crew is assembled so let's start the patrol.....

The first job for anyone modelling a U. Boat is to drill out all the water vent openings, of which there are many. This has to be done whatever the scale or I think the boat just won't look right. Your choice whether to or not. If a waterline model is required then just drill out the ones which will be seen. Choose open or shut forward torpedo outer doors (Mine are closed) then join the hull halves.

Opened out ready for tidying up.
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See the two large openings? Don't open these out. I did by mistake, and yes I've lashed myself with a knotted rope soaked in sea water - Very nice too!
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Here's a good tip for any ship model that has slot-in decks. See the two hull stiffeners? Before fixing them, file away some of the plastic edges from 9&3 o'clock to the top of the pieces. Not too much, just enough to show a very small gap between them and the outer hull. Then once the hull and stiffeners are glued together the deck will now be ever so slightly oversized. This will allow you to file the deck to a perfect fit. The other, rougher method is to fit the deck then fill any gaps with filler....Nah!

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Thanks for showing me that trick Dad.....Miss you.

Cheers.
Ron

[Jim R]

Hi Ron

See the two hull stiffeners? Before fixing them, file away some of the plastic edges from 9&3 o'clock to the top of the pieces. Not too much, just enough to leave a very small gap between them and the outer hull. Once the hull and stiffeners are a tight fit and glued together the deck will now be ever so slightly oversized. This will allow you to file the deck to a perfect fit. The other, rougher method is to fit the deck then fill any gaps with filler....Nah!

One for my notebook definitely. Filler anywhere near a wooden deck is a recipe for disaster/loads of work/ much swearing etc!!
Jim

[Guest]

Looks like we're off to a good start.

[Dave W]

‘Roger the cabin boy’ on board for this one!. Great start Ron. I fancy do one of these as a change from things with wings.

[spanner570]

A fine body of assembled men, that's for sure.....ready for anything Tommy can throw at them!

Right, I've quietly assembled the snorkel and its associated gear. It works too, but be careful with the glue.
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Cheers.
Ron

[Alun Wells]

Wet weather gear ready, yellow wellies on stand by, lifejackets checked, another soaking without a doubt.
Cheers
Alun
PS just arrived Revell 1:72 Flower class corvette platinum edition, will be looking for 'subs' to sink!!
Question:- what figures have you got?

[spanner570]

Welcome aboard Cox'n Wells! There again, with your British surface ship about to try and hunt me down, would you not be safer aboard that?!:worried:

I look forward to her going on the chocks none the less.....

Regarding the figures. I have this Revell 1/72 U.Boat crew set. Not bad, but poses are not very imaginative and made of that awful soft plastic. I might use just a couple in the conning tower, we'll see...

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Cheers Al'

Ron

[Alun Wells]

Welcome aboard Cox'n Wells! There again, with your British surface ship is about to try and hunt me down, would you not be safer aboard that?!:worried:

I look forward to her going on the chocks none the less.....

Regarding the figures. I have this Revell 1/72 U.Boat crew set. Not bad, but poses are not very imaginative and made of that awful soft plastic. I might use just a couple in the conning tower, we'll see...

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Cheers Al'

Ron

Thanks Ron, the corvette comes with 15 figures, but again not very imaginative, so may adapt. Have found some metal figures at Gunthwaite Miniatures. Hope to start in a couple of weeks.
Cheers
Alun

[JR]

Ron .
I hope us crew look a lot more imaginative in your mind than those. Mind you not a lot of poses for working on a sub, most standing or sitting looking at gauges.
Parrot is a little concerned that Steve Jones may mistake him for food and asks that you remind him he is the ships ( What do you call a sub ) mascot .:flushed:
LJ S
453 Race.

[spanner570]

453 Race.
I've done some research into the pedigree of your parrot. It would seem the bird is from 'questionable stock' so should have no trouble in telling S.J. to "**** **F!"

Decks fitted and ready for fixing.
Once fitted to the lifting gear the snorkel assembly is fitted to the underside of the deck and the snorkel itself pushed through the slot. then it can be raised or lowered.
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A tinlet for scale
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I forgot to mention there is a forward bulkhead with moulded torpedo hatches. This is for use when the outer bow doors are shown open. Mine are closed so no need to use it.

Deck fitting etc. next.

Cheers.
Ron

[JR]

Looks very neat Mein Kapitan.
Keep it up .
Mr P is relived to hear that , his answer was %%%#@%$$f
LJS
453 Race.

[Jim R]

Hi Ron
Good progress. It is indeed a biggie. Gonna need extra large tubes of silicon!
Jim

[spanner570]

Thanks for your encouraging post boys.....

Deck fitted. Open planking.

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I don't bother with primer, so using a nice wide flat headed brush and the cheap paints I mentioned, I applied a slurry of black acrylics to bring out the plank gaps. I'm not bothered about the paint going where it shouldn't. Because I brush paint I have no need for masking tape, I can just cut in the paintwork neatly whenever the time is right.
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I don't like brown, all the same shade wooden decks. In my view they should be well bleached by the elements and a stiff deck brush. (Your choice, your deck, your model. )

...a wash of yellow ochre to start the bleaching.
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When dry a second hit and miss coat was applied to vary the shading. Remember that although each coat might be exactly the same shade, each subsequent one will be slightly darker than the last when applied in a hit and miss way over the previous one......Oh, yes it will!
Then cut in neatly with Lt. grey where the wood meets the metal edges. Apart from a bit of local staining to finish off at a later stage, that's it. No faffing about, just three simple, straight forward stages......and a plastic deck too!:upside:
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A bit of cleaning up spotted. Bl***y camera!

Cheers.
Ron

[Steven000]

Love this u boat already Ron, looking foreward to see the next steps :thumb2:
Cheers, Steven

[Steve Jones]

Lovely work Ron. It looks like a very crisp detailed kit. Good luck with all those figures:thumb2::thumb2: