Type XXI U-boot U2502
And so it begins
This is the crest carried on the boat, Mannesmann was the captain of U2502
FuM spiegel with some mesh added
Started replacing the molded grab handles with fine wire
Hull closed
Blended the insert into the tower.
Shame Revell did not provide a new part for this, they molded a new hull half for this kit, so why not?
Shame Revell did not provide a new part for this, they molded a new hull half for this kit, so why not?
It's starting to look like a type XXI
Blocked the small gaps behind the gun turrets, to make sure you don't look in.
The guns needed a shim to get it to fit neatly
Turret in place, not fixed yet.
Preparation for painting. Revells drawing tells you to paint the whole tower in white, whereas there is a clear demarcation between the sides and the top in the picture here ( from vom original zum Modell Typ XXI)
Cut the solid molded light from the anti aircraft aiming periscope, it will be replaced with clear plastic.
New light added from clear vinyl from the spares box
Tower painted white, with grey on top.
Basic painting done
Reworking the basic paint, using different shades of grey
Streaks of grey
Floodgates picked out in black, quite zen
I wish I had a hobby 🙂
Decals are on
First washes in progress
Rust effects added
Conning tower glued in position
Weathering continues
Working towards completion
Fixing the fiddly bits to the tower, also the antenna wires have been fixed, you can only just make them out in the pictures.
I will make pictures against a white background later
I will make pictures against a white background later
Finished!
Fitted snuggly in the cabinet
Comments
52 23 September 2022, 13:59
TreehuggerI have this kit as well, and started to clean up the parts and think ahead.
What I learned is that, you could try scrape the plastic on the back side, revealing fine details like mesh around the hull, however, this isn't a good idea, plastic is just too thin. What would work, is to somehow "drill" out the holes (, then recreate the mesh, which should be much easier and a lot better looking. I was thinking of recreating the mesh around the openings along the hull, with strip/rod styrene at some point.
My idea of "drilling" out the holes, was scraping the plastic off, on the inside, which is a little tedious, but not too bad. Simply using a drilling bit, I think is much too crude, and will probably re-shape the openings, and make it look ugly.
With the Type VIIC kit, you can scrape away the plastic on the backside, to reveal nice details outside the hull, but this doesn't work well on this kit. This kit also have a lot thicker plastic than the Type VIIC kit from Revell.
23 September 2022, 18:54
Jan PetersTreehugger, I'm quite a lazy modeller, so won't bother to drill out the holes and such😉
23 September 2022, 22:22
Erik LeijdensCool subject Jan, made this one myself too. Also a type VII once. But I'm not really a boat guy I discovered 🙂
3 October 2022, 20:21
Jan PetersThanks Erik 😗
I never was a boat guy either, but got fascinated by them after a visit to the U-boot bunkers at Lorient in Brittany. Still got a few in my stash, including the type VII, I even bought a special display cabinet for them 😀
4 October 2022, 03:26
Jan PetersProgress is slowed down as I got infected with covid. I won't be able to paint anything with my airbrush, so this is on hold for the time being.
9 October 2022, 08:06
Jan PetersStarted painting this one too, got light grey on the hull done, and painted the tower.
13 November 2022, 11:35
Tom B.Some great weathering on the hull 👍 I really enjoy the decidedly "modern" look of the Type XXI when compared with it´s earlier and even contemporary brethren!
29 January 2023, 15:14
Jan PetersThanks mates ☺️
Tom, you are right, it is a very modern design and was a benchmark for the new generation of submarines after the war.
Villiers, yes it does, it is a very sleek submarine.
30 January 2023, 05:09
TreehuggerNice surface finish, sort of looks like painted metal in a way I think.
23 February 2023, 17:26
Jan PetersThanks mates ☺️
Treehugger, that was the general idea to make it look like that 😉
23 February 2023, 18:36
Jan PetersThanks Acki.
I have made a start on the antenna wires, but won't add the rails, as I feel it disturbs the sleek lines of the hull.
It also saves a lot of work 😄
23 February 2023, 21:25
Jan PetersFinished! 🙂
It took some time to get it done, and it was by far the largest model on my bench, but I am declaring it done.
26 February 2023, 13:28
JohnWow! Turned out really well. Your work may make a "ship guy" out of me yet!
26 February 2023, 18:48
Jan PetersThanks John and Simon 😊
John, just give it a go, it is great fun 👍🏻
27 February 2023, 04:35
Album info
Music to go with this model;
"Seemann" by Nina Hagen and Apocaliptica.
