Updated 7 October 2006
MORE ANCHOR
The Anchor Well has bugged me, it’s just too deep. I filled it in with epoxy putty.
original anchor well
Reshaped anchor well
The Revell anchor itself is not great, so I found a new one. It’s not 1:72 scale, but some odd wooden ship model size labelled as just “3mm”. I reshaped the base with a file (some kind of cast white metal), added new bolts and built a new stock.
Then my secret formula for a cast look: graphite powder! It’s available in automotive departments as a lubricant. Just add to paint and brush on with a crappy brush, and when dry, sand lightly to crush the powder. I added the powder to Mr Surfacer, and will just dry brush the final paint over the top and add rust and marine growth/sludge.
The new anchor is not absolutely accurate, but then neither is the Revel one. I think the new has a better feel.
New Anchor test-fit
Saddle Tank Covers
Anatomy of a Type VIIC diagrams show circles and oblong pieces on the top of the saddle tanks, calling them vents. WEM and Eduard PE sets reproduce these.
But two photos show the 55X-series as having very large round pieces. Much larger than the diagrams and PE. They look to me like man-sized covers for inspection/repair, rather than vents/valves. (Cmdr Richard O’Kane of the American Gato Tang describes sending a crewman into the tank to change over from extra fuel to water ballast, something about changing valves and checking the neoprene gaskets.)
Whatever these bits really were, they were obviously large and round on the 55X-series and not like the diagrams or the PE.
Large round covers
I’ve made my own. They are a bit too deep and a bit odd, perhaps exaggerated. But yet again, I think they give the right impression and are better than the little PE bits. (Maybe I just need new glasses!)
I calculated proportions using the photos and ended up with 6.3mm dia. but cheated to a standard drillbit size of 6.5mm, then filled with epoxy putty and shaped with the blunt but chamfered end of the bit.
Saddle Tank Extension
I have continued the saddle tanks to inside the hull, where they will meet the top of the pressure hull. This will be a little visible through the main long drainage slot, though hidden somewhat by the many vertical supports.
extension supports
nearly finished
Illusion of tank continuing inside hull casing
Stern P-Hull
The bare bones needed. Will be adding compressed air cylinders and stern external torpedo container. Tests show it’s almost invisible from the below drains, but the top (or the things added to the top like the cylinders) will be visible through main floods. Hve made one of the two ruder linkages, barely visible anyway, but at least something roughly correct shape will obscure light.
Rudder linkage, barely visible through stern drain holes
Fun Stuff
Buy my submarine t-shirts and mugs at CafePress!
Just a small selection now, more to come (and open to suggestions).