I've always wanted to build a cut away submarine, going back to the Washington etc.
The Revell XXI as the post war Wilhelm Bauer was on that other forum, so i thought I would give the original U-2540 a try.
Type XXI
Re: Type XXI
Typical workbench mess.
Bulkheads with the compartment colors, and decals. lots and lots of decals.
And then the AMS hit. I have decided to build the cut away with the inner pressure hull as a part of the display. Having the decks and bulkheads come out to the outer hull just looked wrong. Luckily, Revell shows the profile of the pressure hull as a slightly raised ring on each bulkhead, so cutting down the port side of each, and the edge of the deck, wasn't TOO tricky.
Batteries, and deck light framing. Just to diminish the look of the edge of a piece of plastic. I also bonded some sections of brass tube to the underside of the deck, clamped while it dried, to hold it flat. Cut away models often suffer from bowed decks, like cut away building models.
Next, the pressure hull.
- Thomas_M
- Admin
- Posts: 4411
- Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:43 am
- Location: Bad Wurzach - Germany
- Contact:
Re: Type XXI
The Typ XXI is one of the most fascinating technical achievements. And the Revell kit is really nicely moulded, albeit I only own the closed version of this kit.
- Thomas_M
- Admin
- Posts: 4411
- Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:43 am
- Location: Bad Wurzach - Germany
- Contact:
Re: Type XXI
You already did a lot of work! Adding all those decals must have taken days!
Re: Type XXI
So I searched around for something cheap, easy to cut and glue-able to make the exposed sections of the pressure hull.
I found those plastic glitter glue bottles on sale for a couple of bucks each at the clearance table of the art store. Decanted the stuff into jars and gave it to a friend who has little kids. I'm sure he just hates me right now...
Here's what I was going for.
The thing really does taper at the ends, and have a double-bubble section in the midships.
Added plastic strips for the ribs, which were external on the XXI.
We had a discussion over on FSM. Were the internal spaces, i.e. the ballast tank areas, dark?
Or light? There seems to be ample evidence for either, and after all it's not something that probably gets looked at much. But these sectional construction methods kind of show. There were three camps- black anti-fouling like the outer surface of the hull, red primer which the Germans certainly used a lot, or some kind of chromate. Black wouldn't do, since there would be no way to see the detail, I wasn't sold on chromate as an attractive solution, so...
Next, assembly.
I found those plastic glitter glue bottles on sale for a couple of bucks each at the clearance table of the art store. Decanted the stuff into jars and gave it to a friend who has little kids. I'm sure he just hates me right now...
Here's what I was going for.
The thing really does taper at the ends, and have a double-bubble section in the midships.
Added plastic strips for the ribs, which were external on the XXI.
We had a discussion over on FSM. Were the internal spaces, i.e. the ballast tank areas, dark?
Or light? There seems to be ample evidence for either, and after all it's not something that probably gets looked at much. But these sectional construction methods kind of show. There were three camps- black anti-fouling like the outer surface of the hull, red primer which the Germans certainly used a lot, or some kind of chromate. Black wouldn't do, since there would be no way to see the detail, I wasn't sold on chromate as an attractive solution, so...
Next, assembly.
- BlackSheep214
- Elite Member
- Posts: 10551
- Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2014 8:47 pm
Re: Type XXI
Incredible work there GM!
“Who controls the skies, controls the fate of this Earth”
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
Re: Type XXI
Great stuff!
- Stikpusher
- Moderator
- Posts: 19020
- Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:37 pm
- Location: Ceti Alpha 5
Re: Type XXI
Bravo!!!
This should be a good one to follow
But I did notice some empty cups/glasses in the original photo... for a cool refreshing adult beverage over ice?
This should be a good one to follow
But I did notice some empty cups/glasses in the original photo... for a cool refreshing adult beverage over ice?
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."
FLSM
FLSM
Re: Type XXI
Wouh, this will be very interesting to follow, looking good!
- Kari
- Kari
---
On the bench:
Tamiya F-4B Phantom II 1/48
Kinetic F-16A (new tool) 1/48
https://www.facebook.com/GrundAsk-Scale ... 721218708/
On the bench:
Tamiya F-4B Phantom II 1/48
Kinetic F-16A (new tool) 1/48
https://www.facebook.com/GrundAsk-Scale ... 721218708/
Re: Type XXI
I put together the sail, and try as I might, it doesn't look right. It is just too squared of everywhere. Lots of sanding and a little putty here and there to make it have the very soft look of the original. And replace the molded on ladder rungs and handrail with a little wire.