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Jim C
James C (Jim C)
NZ

U-292 Type VIIC/41

Comments

37 21 February 2022, 04:06
Robin (WhiteGlint)
Welcome back at the bench, mate. 🙂
Watching this one for sure. 👍
21 February 2022, 11:54
James C
Thanks mate, will be my first build for 2022 having taken a bit of a break from modelling for several months now.
I had intended to make the Revell Ventura my first, but had a change of heart... preferring to do something completely different instead. 😉

A really nice kit so far, with few parts... but still assembles into a sizable looking model.
I'm really looking forward to painting this one.
21 February 2022, 16:20
James C
I finished off the assembly today.
Just a little cleanup left to do (mostly with the railings) and will be ready for a coat of primer.
22 February 2022, 22:31
Charlie Spitfire
very nice will you use a airbrush
23 February 2022, 06:31
James C
Thanks Charlie and yes, will be airbrushing the majority of it... but will also use a paint brush for some of the more hard to reach recesses of the conning tower. 🙂
23 February 2022, 17:16
Spanjaard
looking good
24 February 2022, 08:32
Charlie Spitfire
i might try a sub one day you dont have to mask any glass
24 February 2022, 08:33
Nick Clarke
Following 🙂
24 February 2022, 12:03
James C
Thanks guys 🙂
24 February 2022, 17:14
David R. Meizoso
Looking great! Preshading on pics 8 and 9 looks like underwater caustic light, it asks for a submerged state dio!
24 February 2022, 18:19
Spanjaard
I am with David!
24 February 2022, 20:14
Rui S
I like it 👍
24 February 2022, 22:18
James C
Thanks David, Spanjaard & Rui 🙂

I decided to darken up the decks a little this morning with some (Mission Models) "Extra Dark Sea Grey", then went on to spray the lower hull with a mixture of (Tamiya) Dark & Light Grey, then finished up by applying a very light coat of transparent green (heavily thinned) over the top to blend the different color's and shades together.

As this is my first naval subject, I'm very much "winging" it as I go, but I'm quite pleased with how it's turning out.
24 February 2022, 22:19
Charlie Spitfire
what is that rod in the hull on the port side it is in a little pocket
26 February 2022, 01:35
James C
I believe that is the "snorkel".
When raised vertical, it allowed the sub to operate it's main diesel engines while submerged (shallow) to vent exhaust gasses and replenish oxygen etc and recharge it's batteries for the electric engines. (A bit like what you see on modern 4x4's where the exhaust is re-routed above the roof line for traversing rivers)
Prior to the invention/installation of the "snorkel", a U-Boat could only recharge while on the surface... which as the war progressed, bacame a particularly hazardous exercise.

I tweaked the paint scheme again this morning to adjust the demarcation line of the light grey to be a little lower down the hull at the bow (it was too high before)
Then gave it a coat of clear gloss to prep for a wash.

Will update the album when there is more to see.
26 February 2022, 01:48
Charlie Spitfire
ok thank you i did hear onece that the marsk and snorkal came from the u boat
26 February 2022, 02:22
James C
Just a small update with the current weathering progress.
27 February 2022, 04:03
Mark Broughton
Great model, hadn't seen this kit before. It looks like it builds into a really nice model and it doesn't cost a kings ransom. Talking about the snorkel I have read a couple of books where the crew say using it could be a very unpleasant experience, although I suspect the alternative is much worse!
27 February 2022, 07:46
Dietmar Bogatzki
Great paintjob, James 👍
27 February 2022, 08:50
Nick Clarke
I'm building a similar boat (U-96), just wondering what you're using for weathering like the rust etc?
27 February 2022, 09:53
Guy Rump
Very nice 👍
27 February 2022, 16:31
James C
Thanks Mark, Dietmar and Guy... much appreciated guys 🙂

I'm hoping to finish off the weathering today, and then make a start on the rigging... which I'm not looking forward to be honest as my eyes and hands rarely cooperate when trying to string it.

@ Mark - Yes, it's an inexpensive kit and you get a fair amount of plastic for your money.
The hull consists of 8 parts total, so builds very quickly and the fit was superb.
The only negative is that there was a fair amount of molding seam lines that needed to be removed from the smaller more delicate parts (a set of miniature files is a must to clean these up) and the Kreigsmarine flag has been censored to remove the swastika.
Despite this, it's worth every cent and is an awesome canvas with which to experiment using different airbrush techniques.

@ Kermits - After building this one, I'll definitely be on the lookout for that "Das Boot" edition as well.
For the weathering, I used Tamiya black panel line wash for the "limber holes" along the hull to make them look like they had been cut out. For the yellowish rust streaks I used an oil-brusher from MiG (A.MiG-3534 "Summer Soil") and for the darker rust streaks I used AK-013 "Rust Streaks". I also dabbed on a little "Burnt Red" and "Oil Stain" from Tamiya's weathering master pastel set "D"

I was fortunate to have all these products in the stash from being used quite a bit on my armor builds. Very handy to have in the stash 😉

A.MIG-3534 Oilbrusher - Summer Soil, Ammo by Mig Jimenez Matt, Oil, 10ml
AK 013 Rust Streaks: Rusty Wash Effect, AK Interactive Matt, Enamel, 35ml
87088 Weathering Master D se..Burnt Red, Oil Stain, Tamiya , Pigments, 3 color
27 February 2022, 16:33
Robin (WhiteGlint)
Rust effects are looking good 👍
Very nice work. 👀
27 February 2022, 17:52
James C
Cheers matey! 😉👍
27 February 2022, 17:55
Kim Branders
Nice paintjob and wheathering James, want to make also one if I see yours. Top class.
27 February 2022, 17:57
Nick Clarke
Thanks James, it is the Das Boot edition that I'm part way through. Kind of stalled on it once all the basic colouring was finished. I've never used any of those products before so I guess now would be as good a time as any to start. The poster from the film is already framed and mounted with a shelf waiting for the boat sitting below
27 February 2022, 18:23
Simon Nagorsnik
That's a really good looking progress!
27 February 2022, 18:48
Rui
The weathering is superb!👍
27 February 2022, 19:57
James C
Many Thanks Kim, Kermits, Simon & Rui 🙂

@ Kermits - They are very nice products to use... especially the Tamiya weathering pastels. I have sets A - F and find them invaluable for general weathering and adding hi-lights etc. For the MiG Oil brushes and AK streaking effects, you will need to use some white or odorless spirits to help break it down and blend it depending on how you apply it.... and I'd highly recommend practicing on scrap plastic or a scrap kit before applying to your current model. There's also plenty of tutorials on YouTube that give some great advice on different application techniques etc. 😉👍
27 February 2022, 23:06
James C
A bit of background history...

The Type VII U-Boat formed the backbone of the submarine arm of the German Kriegsmarine during WWII with some 703 units being built of which the Type VIIC was the most numerous, with 568 examples of the type being constructed between 1940 - 1945.

The Type VIIC/41 was a slightly modified version of the Type VIIC, and had the same armament and engines.
The difference was a stronger pressure hull giving them a deeper crush depth and lighter machinery to compensate for the added steel in the hull, making them slightly lighter than the VIIC. A total of 91 of these examples were constructed during the war.
Only one Type VIIC/41 remains today; U-995 which is on display at the Laboe Naval Memorial, north of Kiel in Germany.

The keel of U-292 (which this model depicts) was laid down on the 12th of November, 1942 and launched on the 20th of July 1943.
She was finally commissioned on the 25th of August 1943 under the command of Ltnt. Werner Schmidt where she would spend the next 8 months operating with the 8th "training" flotilla, until the 30th of April, 1944.

On the 1st of May 1944 she transferred to the 1st Flotilla for "active duty" based out of Brest in France.
Sadly, just 26 days later on the following 27th of May, she was sunk in the Norwegian Sea west of Trondheim (position 62.37N, 00.57E) by depth charges dropped by an RAF Liberator of 59 Sqn. All 51 hands on board were killed in action.

A somewhat inglorious end, but hi-lights just how dangerous submarine operations had become by this late stage of the war.
Only one in four German submariners would survive the war.

The kit

An inexpensive kit, that is quick and relatively easy to assemble.
I found the rear dive planes and rudder assemblies to be a little fiddly, as well as the railings on the conning tower... but not too much of an issue if you take your time. I did encounter a few molding seams on some of these more delicate parts, but were easily removed with some miniature files.

EXTREME care needs to be taken when removing these parts from the sprues so as not to break them.
I'd highly recommend attaching the railings into position before attempting to remove the seams to prevent these parts from flexing and snapping.

Lastly, it had been my intention to attempt to apply some rigging between the sets of railings beneath the conning tower, as well as the overhead rigging/aerials fore and aft. Unfortunately this proved to be a bit of a bust for me as my eyesight just wasn't up to the task, and had I persisted I would only have gone on to smear CA glue everywhere, destroying the paintwork etc so I decided to cut my losses which was disappointing but unavoidable.

I've since gifted it to my older brother, and will leave it to him if he wishes to try and apply it or not.

Anyway, cheers for following 🙂👍

Youtube Video
 
27 February 2022, 23:54
Charlie Spitfire
thank you for the interesting build cant wait for what you do next
27 February 2022, 23:56
James C
Thanks Charlie 🙂

I'm still deciding if I will make a start on the Ventura or do something else...
28 February 2022, 01:26
Simon Nagorsnik
Fantastic finish!- love your work!
It was a plessure to follow the process😄
28 February 2022, 04:52
Murad ÖZER
Fantastic indeed. great job James from start to finish! 👍
28 February 2022, 06:27
Robin (WhiteGlint)
Very well done U-Boot 👍
28 February 2022, 08:33
Kim Branders
Yes, very very nice.
28 February 2022, 09:06
Spanjaard
very very nice present. congrats James.
28 February 2022, 10:23
Neuling
Top build and interesting story!
28 February 2022, 10:39
James C
Many thanks Simon, Murad, WhiteGlint, Kim, Spanjaard and Neuling. Much appreciated guys 🙂👍

The pictures make it look a little more "blue" than what it really is. It's actually a lot more grey looking than the pics suggest.
Also, just noticed a bit of fluff and fibers here and there that got caught on some of the raised detailing from the cotton buds I was using to clean up the washes. I thought I had got it all, but obviously missed some. Grrrr!
28 February 2022, 15:36

Album info

Background history

The Type VII U-Boat formed the backbone of the submarine arm of German Kriegsmarine during WWII with some 703 units being built of which the Type VIIC was the most numerous, with 568 examples of the type being constructed between 1940 - 1945.

The Type VIIC/41 was a slightly modified version of the Type VIIC, and had the same armament and engines.
The main difference was a stronger pressure hull giving them a deeper crush depth and lighter machinery to compensate for the added steel in the hull, making them slightly lighter than the VIIC. A total of 91 of these examples were constructed during the war.
Only one Type VIIC/41 remains today; U-995 which is on display at the Laboe Naval Memorial, north of Kiel in Germany.

The keel of U-292 (which this model depicts) was laid down on the 12th of November, 1942 and launched on the 20th of July 1943.
She was finally commissioned on the 25th of August 1943 under the command of Ltnt. Werner Schmidt where she would spend the next 8 months operating with the 8th "training" flotilla, until the 30th of April, 1944.

On the 1st of May 1944 she transferred to the 1st Flotilla for "active duty" based out of Brest in France.
Sadly, just 26 days later on the following 27th of May, she was sunk in the Norwegian Sea west of Trondheim (position 62.37N, 00.57E) by depth charges dropped by an RAF Liberator of 59 Sqn. All 51 hands on board were killed in action.

A somewhat inglorious end, but hi-lights just how dangerous submarine operations had become by this late stage of the war.
Only one in four German submariners would survive the war.

The kit

An inexpensive kit, that is quick and relatively easy to assemble.
I found the rear dive planes and rudder assemblies to be a little fiddly, as well as the railings on the conning tower... but not too much of an issue if you take your time. I did encounter a few molding seams on some of these more delicate parts, but were easily removed with some miniature files.

Extreme care needs to be taken when removing these parts from the sprues so as not to break them.
I'd highly recommend attaching the railings into position before attempting to remove the seams to prevent these parts from flexing and snapping.

Completed 28th February 2022

31 images
1:144
Completed
1:144 Deutsches U-Boot German Submarine Type VII C/41 'Atlantic Version' (Revell 05100)
Type VII
3R Wehrmacht Kriegsmarine (German Navy 1935-1945)
1 U-Flotille U-292
1944 - Brest FR
 

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