Updated 24 December 2006
HOLES & RIBS
I’ve finaly blocked and added the few odd flood vents of the U 55X series.
I also added some vertical rib supports behind each rivet-line in the upper free-flood area. Info is pretty scarce, and the “Anatomy of the Ship: The Type VII U-Boat” (David Westwood) shows a few different types of supports in each cross section, but it’s not enough info.
I made up my own based on one from the book. When painted DG51, they are almost invisible, but at the odd angle viewing there will at least be something behind the rivet rows.
inside rib vertical supports (free flood area)
2 BUMPS
No one seems sure what these are or what they do, but have moved them up and over as per many photos. Used rod and shaped.
Test fitting bumps
SADDLE TANKS
I have just noticed (a bit late!) that several photos seem to show the saddle tanks as snub-nosed at the forward end, instead of the kit’s thin and pointy shape.
Saddle Tank shape
This might be on VIIBs only, as the C was lengthened. Trying to confirm. If it turns out true, I will have to grind the ends of the tanks and patch up with epoxy putty. Something that if necessary, would have been better to do much earlier on! We’ll see what further research and experts say!
Enough photos and smart people say the tanks were a bit rounded, and maybe a tad shorter than the kit. I was not worried about length, but about shape. I took the plunge and it went well, though there is lots of cleanup, lots of coats of filler and sanding, then reshaping panels and adding the welds all around seam and plates and the drip-seam thing.
DRIP CHANNEL
Like the two bumps, no one seems to know what this was or how it worked, but it's in many photos (though not clear enough to see just how it's made!). I used quarter-round strip and filled in mini-ribs with epoxy putty and regular putty (neither method is great).
Fun Stuff
Buy my submarine t-shirts and mugs at CafePress!
Just a small selection now, more to come (and open to suggestions).