Kameraden, jetzt ist es Zeit, unsere neue geheime Waffe zu entfalten. Dieses ist unser neuester Zustand des kunstunterseeboots. Stellen Sie Segel ein!

well fellas... this is my another w.i.p...
when i bought this at HHQ, i recallled somebody told me to get it done quickly...so did my wife...
gentlemen , i present u the U 552..
well, not so much progress...
here is the box


huge box

and the progress so far........



the first step is to assemble the display stand...
i test fitted the two hull together to see the main shape of the boat...lovely..

that's all folk...happy new year

Willkommen an Bord Kapitanleutenant. Wunderbar!

Translation (Babelfish):-
"Comrade, now is it time to unfold our new secret weapon. This is our newest condition of the art submarine. Adjust sails!" :lol:

Look forward to seeing progress of your unterseeboot. Schnell! Schnell! :D

wow wee...great sub,

thanks for the comments guys...now ppl speak in germany..hehe
PoohBear thanks for the effort to translate the text....

a few info about this kit..
there are 6 options of U-boat in this kit with the options to do 2 early type (with the net cutter) and 4 of the late type (without the net cutter). I've been doing a lot of thinking and decided to do the U-552 (early type with the net cutter).
There are two different conning tower for the late and early type althought i found the late type tower is much more cantek but since i need the boot with the net cutter in place, i choose the early type. Decals for the U-552 are relatively attactive and some of the boats are painted with almost similar color.
the hull measure about 93 cm and the test fitting of the two halves showed a good fit. The thickness of the materials is good and the kit is supplied with two supporting part to be placed inside the big hull.
The 4 torpedoes door can be build open or close and i decided to build the port side door open the the starboard side in close position. But i was thinking also to pose only one door open which is either top or bottom doors..this is still havent decided yet.
i read a review on this kit that suggested that all the holes, ballast tank opening should me hollow out and i recalled somewhere that it can be done by sanding the interior of the holes. This is taken into account too and i havent decided to hollow them out or to leave it as it is..maybe some modellers here can throw his input.

in the meantime, i also plan to do the wooden display frame for this kit..it's nice to display this big kit in the living hall...

that's all..

Sil, is this a not so old kit from revell...? from your comment, the kit shows very little flaw... i got a revell U-99 test fitted at home and man... the details sure looks ancient...

funny thing... childrens thought my sub is a sci-fi sword, and start to "swoosh-swoosh" around with it... :lol: :lol:

koo,
this is a newer kit...i read in armorama that ur ancient U-99 need some work to get it finish with today standard..
you can view the article in modelshipwright...

Definately not the U-99 which I believe is a 1/125. The tooling is 2003 according to the inscription on the hull piece.

Good choice on picking U-552, which is one of the more famous U-boats. U-552 sank USS Reuben James, which is the first US warship lost in WWII.

I picked up the VIIC/41@HHQ because of the great looking camo on the box (U-997) but the VIIC/41 options weren't U-boats with many kills. I'm thinking of starting on this too. Start the year with a bang ;)

ahh Silantra

finally you bought this sub.. i remember opening the box with you way way way back in June.. :)

sure fine looking sub... eventhough i'm very oblivious of sub history and stuff.. this definetely look mighty fine in your living room. :)

err.. will this be feature the opening innard of the sub?

keep them coming Sil.. :))

kuman

it was you mr viper that i saw buying the other uboot... at first i plan to buy that kit after waiting for a few months for HHQ to restock them...but when i compare the boat i prefer the net cutter version...but i really like the nice cammo scheme on the U-997... but as i think again, i would like something nice an easy for me (to avoid me from stopping again!) ... ehh do the /40 kit comes with the net cutter??

kuman, u should get this kit bro....really nice

Ich stimme überein mein Kapitanleutenant Sil.

Kuman this is indeed a very good kit as Sil says even though mine is still in its original packing. All the reviews I have read have been very positive from fit to details. If nothing else its huge at almost touching 1 metre.

Silantra, guess it must be you who was at the counter just before me :)

No cutter was provided with the kit but there are other design differences. E.g. there is a retractable snorkel on the /41.

What sold me was not only the camo but also the pictures of the prototype on the box, which looked a lot better than the normal VIIC. The /41 cost $50 more though.

The kit does come with other options with less complicated camo but maybe..just maybe..I'll go for the difficult one :D

Those who are thinking about it, maybe this will put you over the edge ;) ...check this out -Ian Hill U-boat

Love the way AFV weathering techniques were applied to this.

Viper, so it was you..i was about to leave when i saw somebody at the counter with that huge box...
good luck with the boat and if u want to have more challenges you can do the hard cammo scheme...
during lunch break i cant stand the urge and go home to have a look at this boot and try to assemble more parts...it seems all parts fits perfectly but i there are many oil residue left by the parting fluid used on the mould.. i soak them on warm soapy water and leave there until i get back later...hehe :)

that was nicely weathered U-boot...i like to try on the chipped paint..looks really used..
in the meantime check this out, another U-boot from armorama site

U-552 by Miguel Palao

:D

sorry to hijack ...

how is this uBoat different from that U-47 "Gunther Prien" submarine also by Revell.. anyone care to explain?

Silantra... the urge to build is very high i assume.. :)


kuman

Wow...I don't even have a sink or tub big enough to fit it. I just gosok with Glo diswashing liquid and an old toothbrush.

Kuman,
I think one difference is scale (U-47 is 1/125) but the U-47 comes with a cutaway interior. Due to the scale, the U-47 kit is around 53cm compared to 93cm for the 1/72 kit.

Also, the U-47 is of type VIIB which is in reality 60cm shorter than the VIIC.

kuman, yes the spirit and morale is high now!! i can smell the seawater all the way...

i think the U-47 is type VII B not C...i dont know any more than this..hehe

As mentioned by Viper and Sil, U-47 is a VIIB variant. The VIIC came about because they wanted to incorporate a new sonar that required more space in the conning tower but in the end the VIIC never did get the sonar.

The VIIC is only marginally longer (less than 1m) than the VIIB while both variants had the same beam. The engines were also upgraded with other minor mods. For hardcore sub fans here is a link which also has a lot of info on U-boat subs.
Details of the VII boats

The mainpage which has very nice info on all the U-boats models including a table of all the U-boat numbers and even info on midget subs.
Main page of a very good U-boat Resource

Gutes Wetter und gutes Jagen Kameraden.

Kapitan Beachbum:

Looks like your one year old U-Boat research is paying off right now. Besides figures, you maybe known of the sifu of U-Boats soon. :lol:

Its Kapitankorvetten Bum to you Kapitanleutenant Arg. :lol: :D :D

can't join in the conversation. The only German I know, I picked up from watching telematch on tele many years ago and the odd shouting from COMBAT!

Kamerad-Kapitän Silantra! Ich schaue vorwärts zum Entwicklung Fortschritt Ihrer Art VIIC U-Boot! Lassen Sie Eile unterwegs erhalten und lassen Sie keine Feinde des Fortschritts Sie stoppen!

Fahrpreismeere und gute Jagd, Kamerad-Kapitän!

:D

OH-, das meine god.now u Kerle auf Deutsch sprechen. Seien Sie meine Freunde geduldig. Ich habe gerade einige zerteile zusammengebaut und ich beobachtete dort bin viele Wanne Bohrungen im Innere..., das ich einigen Fotos folgende Woche zeige. Frohe Feiertage

I just took a 20minute crash course on the German language. Here goes......

Der ist genügende Herren. Jetzt ist jeder konfus.

Jetzt hast du Kerle gerade gebildet, das Forum soviel lesend langwieriger! Oiii, Internet-Linien sind, meine gefälschten deutschsprechenden Kameraden schlecht.

Point taken Kapitan Loo. :D

Gehilfen Schiff des gutenmorgens!!
Ein anderes Update, dem ich handhatte, letztes Wochenende zu tun. Ist hier das teilweise Torpedotürinnere, wie mit dem Installationssatz geliefert. Ich entschied, die Steuerbordtür zu schließen und beide portside Türen zu öffnen. Ich malte das Inneren und die Tür zuerst. Dieses ist, wie es Blick vor Anstrich ist und dieses nach Anstrich und etwas Weathering ist.




Ich choosed dann, um den Coningaufsatz zusammenzubauen. Ich male den Periscope und den anthena Mast. Ich male sie mit schwarzem Grau des Silbers und des vallejo Chrom gunze Herrn Metal für den oberen Teil. Dieses ist, wie es sich kümmert um Anstrich ist.


Zunächst der Aufbau des Coningaufsatzes begonnen. Test paßte alles schaut O.K. und dann klebte ich alle zusammen Teile. Sind hier der Aufsatz. Ich habe noch das Abdeckband an.



Jetzt wird das Boot angestellt, um Form zu nehmen. Ich prüfe paßte den Coningaufsatz auf die Plattform. Hier warfen einige auf, um u Kerlen Ideen zu geben. Der dunhill Kasten ist ein Skalavergleich gerecht.




Am nächsten Tag baue ich den Rumpf zwei zusammen zusammen. Ich bringe das teilweise Torpedoinneren außerdem an. Da der Installationssatz also ist, lang stellte ich das Problem gegenüber, welches zusammen sind die zwei halb tadellos erhält. Nach einigen Stunden, wenn ich nach Hause komme, stellte ich fest, daß das zwei Teil guten Kontakt nicht an verbinden gerade unter den Torpedotüren hatte. Dieses ist schwacher Punkt, in dem weniger Fläche sind und es hart ist, das Abdeckband hier festzuziehen. So nach einigen Stunden von Thingking, bohre ich 3 Bohrungen und setzte Messingfeuer und verdrehte die Leitung. Dieses ist erhalten die zwei Stücke zusammen sind fest. Fuhh, jetzt war ich abit Entlastung....



das ist für jetzt. Mehr des Fortschritts Dank bald für das veiwing abd traurig für meinen armen Deutschen. ich sollte in malaysisches folgendes schreiben aber da der Einfluß der deutschen Uaufladung, besser, auf Deutsch zu sprechen. Hoffnung PoohBear (oder andere) haben die Zeit, dieses zu übersetzen. Yihaaaa




[ps: english transaltion will be provided upon request. :)]

Duly requested. :D

Thx.

haiya..i thought you guys already fluent in german by now..hehehe

here it goes

Good morning shipmates!!

Another update that I managed to do last weekend. Here is the partial torpedo door interior as supplied with the kit. I decided to close the starboard door and open both portside doors. I painted the interior and the door first. This is how it’s look before painting and this is after painting and some weathering.

I then choosed to assemble the coning tower. I paint the periscope and the anthena mast. I paint them with gunze Mr Metal chrome silver and vallejo black grey for the upper portion. This is how it’s look after painting.

Next the construction of the coning tower started. Test fitted everything looks ok and then I glued all the parts together. Here are the tower. I still have the masking tape on.

Now the boat is started to take shape. I test fitted the coning tower onto the deck. Here some posed to give u guys ideas. The dunhill box is just a scale comparison.

The next day I assemble the two hull together. I install the partial torpedo interior as well. Since the kit is so long I faced problem getting the two half together perfectly. After several hours when I get back home I realised that the two part didn’t have good contact at the join just below the torpedo doors. This is weak spot where less surface area are and it’s hard to tighten the masking tape here. So after several hours of thinking, I drill 3 holes and put brass fire and twisted the wire. This is get the two pieces together tightly. Fuhh, now I was abit relief….

that is for now. More progress soon. thanks for veiwing and sorry for my poor german. i should write in malay next but since the influence of german u-boot, better to speak in german. Hope PoohBear (or others) have the time to translate this. Yihaaaa

Only as fluent as the online translator. Besides, I wouldn't want my torpedo tubes on backwards or the periscopes upside down, if ever I decide to get one of these beauties. :lol: :lol:

BTW, you progress very fast and that is a neat idea with the twist wires. Can't wait to see it all finished. Keep it up!

Ausgezeichneter Fortschritt Herr Kapitaleutenant!

Will you be getting the CMK or Warrior 88-gun crew or the flak gun crew as well as the tower crew. From what I've read so far the figs from Warrior are pretty good value for money. The Andrea ones and the other very detailed crew from Hecker & Goros although nice cost a bomb.

I know Kapitanleutenant Sil you favor the CMK kits but in case you're interested here's a review on the Warrior crew.
Review of warrior U-boat crew

As Admiral Doonitz was sometimes quoted as saying, Für das Mutterland.

beachbum, negative on aftermarket parts...i try not to use AM in this project... AM will only delay my build as well as make my budget burst...

Hi Sil, good to see U're back....

I'm not a sub lover and totally out in German language :(

But after looking at your WIP, really urge me reconsider my not-gonna-build Revel U-99...


CPTan

been awhile since the last progress..

here are some progress photo that i manage to upload...


the join of the bottom hull photo. with this large kit with large join i already figured that this sort of thing will happen. there is a slight different in the level about less then 1mm different..so i apply Mr Surfacer 500 layer by layer and later sand them smooth. I knew this will delay this project and now the dept has approved all budgets..this means i have to go out again...[i just get back from kuantan/kemaman.. and have to go to SAbah next week..} This will further delay this baby...


these parts were dented on the surface..so i apply Mr Surfacer 500 once again..and send them smooth..
fuhh..so much dust were produced...used approved dust mask!! i used 3M N90 particulate matter dust...no cheap surgical mask!!



the join on this part is not good..so i used strecth sprue method here..i applied it with Tamiya Superfine Cement...and coat with Mr Surfacer 1000 applied with brush.
Later i sand this area

so many sandpaper from various grit were used in this process..
as for today, the sanding job is almost done! after the first sanding job, i spray the affected area with Mr Surfacer 1000 thinned 1:9 with Mr Thinner. After the surfacer dried, i found a few more imperfections that need to be fill/trim/sand..
i will try to do all this by this weekend..

the conning tower is completed..
the deck gun is almost done..i have to fill the inverted cone base that is poorly done..

well..that all for now...
more progress after i got back from Sabah......

another update...

it has been more than a week since i touched this baby./.lot of outside commitment to attend to... last weekend in manage to work on this project once again

lot of effort were done with sanding job... i consumed a sheet of each grit from 280 to 2000 grit... lot of dust were generated and i get dusty too... [safety& health tips: wear particulate dust mask -approved type for dust i.e N95 Particulate dust mask..]

after all is done i washed it and let it dry

then i assembled the minor details such as railing, deck gun etc..etc

here are some photos
overall shoot




the conning tower - i havent glue it yet to the deck..


the deck gun



well that's end of part 1 (construction phase). After this, the sub will have her maideen voyage in my bathtub and check her boyancy factors... haha

and next on to the 2nd stage which is painting...

cant wait to have it painted......

thanks for viewing!

Looking good Sil. Time to head down to the paint workshop.

WOW...... long and sleek. Weathering heaven.....

thanks guys..

ok now mark this in history..

Her first maideen voyage into the sea..hehe

she still got her boyancy factors...but lack of balance...
the captain will have hell of day to navigate this boat...

Aiyah! Did your factory install the water ballast? :lol:

i guess the war required them to work faster and on one monday morning, they must have forgotten to install the balast tank on the port side ... Hitler must have them dissappeared later on..

Anyway Sil, its good that the sub was tested in the bath tub. You know it's good practice to wash your kit before spraying. Now, where's the bubbly shampoo? :P

yep...i already have her shampoo and a good warm bath...

lucky my wife didnt catch me playing with her...haha