Construction Pictures
Bow Mangling
I really mangled the bow trying to make accurate floods, then got sidetracked into the U-Brass accurate flood project. (I wonder what the motivation for that was?) My own U-Brass kit arrived and I’ve begun the rebuilding! Much of the bow has been replaced with entirely new platsic (2 layers in one place). These pix are “before”, the “after” I'll post when the glue dries. It will need massive cleanup (putty and etc.) and some rivets restored (somehow), but I'm getting closer.
I've also bought some extra goodies for when the boat is done, a sort of dio on deck - lots of activity! I got the torpedo loading kit, some extra torps (can never have enough!), and the food provision guys with crates, tins and jugs. I also bought the Revell crew of 52 (I only plan on using a few in action poses). I won’t be able to use my bridge crew now (they’re at Lookout stations which would look funny at the dock), but it should be good with coiled lines and various bits. But that’s a loooong way off.
unfinished repair
Testing U-Brass cheek placement
(Upper torp door will be open, lower closed)
Bits
Panel work on the Port side - buckling/rippling. Almost done! There’s a milion of them and it’s not terribly exciting. Have also been putting in the Modelbrass stern & bow sets, one more to go. Dougie & my U-Brass photo etch set is READY! - so I hopefully will get one soon too! Check out the U-Brass page.
The 3 slots holes at the end of the saddle tanks mean the pressure-hull there must come down around, and there must be the hint of the saddle tank continuing on and touching the curve of the pressure-hull. After wasting much time trying to fit a piece, I used epoxy putty.
Anyone not familiar with epoxy putty,
see:
http://members.aol.com/hubhobbyno/review29.htm, it’s brilliant!
(this link may not last forever)
interior saddle tank illusion
epoxy putty
I’ve started work on the foreward pressure hull.
foreward pressure-hull
I’ve also made internal saddle tank supports in case anyone looks through the tank grill.
internal saddle tank supports
I’ve been worrying over the stern ModelBrass flood hole set...very tricky to fit, and I do like strong support. Then I realized what most of you probably already have: use epoxy putty as a sculpted support behind!
epoxy putty supports PE
Have started work on torp tubes and torp tips.
torp tube and tip
Fun Stuff
Buy my submarine t-shirts and mugs at CafePress!
Just a small selection now, more to come (and open to suggestions).