Landlubber Mike

Incredible work as always!  Very nice job, thanks for sharing with us.

Wow, that detail is amazing.  
 
Greg, if you don't mind, I was wondering if you could share any tips on fixing the railings to the model.  Do you use CA?  White glue?  Do you pre-prime and paint before attaching?  I'm close to adding the rails to my 1/700 destroyer and am wondering if there is a proper way to go about it.  The PE is so thin, that I have to do it right the first time or it will look like garbage.  Thanks in advance!

Yves, this is absolutely incredible work.  Just caught up on your log and I'm just completely astounded.  I would have given a thumbs up to every one of your posts, but I didn't want to blow up your notifications box   Nice job!  
 
For flags, you can also see if you can find a cloth/vinyl flag.  They are easy to fold and add PVA to hold the creases in place.  I've seen some take aluminum foil and paint it but my guess is the flag is too complicated in design to do that.

This looks really amazing - a big testament to Chris' skills as a designer to make a model with such detailed focus on developing a skeleton for the model that ensures its stability and accuracy.  For me, having to figure out where to cut gunports, modifying the skeleton so it all fits together accurately, etc. in other kits were very aggravating.  In this kit, Chris looks like he's set it up in such a way that you can spend more time building and adding details, which is what I most like about modeling.

Well, I followed the Chuck Passaro's recipe (thank you Amateur) and came out with something which is more realistic than the plain fabric flag. Not perfect, but a lot more palatable: 
 

 

 
Slightly worn out by the harsh Atlantic weather....
 
Yves

Incredible work as always!  Very nice job, thanks for sharing with us.

Yves, this is absolutely incredible work.  Just caught up on your log and I'm just completely astounded.  I would have given a thumbs up to every one of your posts, but I didn't want to blow up your notifications box   Nice job!  
 
For flags, you can also see if you can find a cloth/vinyl flag.  They are easy to fold and add PVA to hold the creases in place.  I've seen some take aluminum foil and paint it but my guess is the flag is too complicated in design to do that.

Yves, this is absolutely incredible work.  Just caught up on your log and I'm just completely astounded.  I would have given a thumbs up to every one of your posts, but I didn't want to blow up your notifications box   Nice job!  
 
For flags, you can also see if you can find a cloth/vinyl flag.  They are easy to fold and add PVA to hold the creases in place.  I've seen some take aluminum foil and paint it but my guess is the flag is too complicated in design to do that.

Well, well, well.... We are coming very close to a closure, so to speak. 
 
As previously mentioned, I have taken the difficult decision to use the Combo Trumpeter/RCSubs gun on my model. The Eduard is very nice and will probably find its way on another display with a couple of torpedoes and the infamous Enigma machine (at 1/48th).
 
All the rigging is complete and has been done in the following way: 
- Around the conning tower, all the wires are extremely thin copper wires soldered to the PE parts provided by RCSubs. Let's not forget that Trumpeter completely gave up on the rigging and most details of the deck.
- The antennas are made with 0.5 mm diameter rubber wire. This prevents any dramatic accident if a hand or curious nose was to come in contact with the rigging.
- The ceramic insulators are simply replicated with Playdo putty, painted in rubber black.
 

 

 

 

 

 
The flag is made with real fabric and was procured through England. The Svastika may be disturbing to some, but that is the price to pay for realism:

 

 

 

 

 
It is a big and heavy model. More details to come....
 
Yves
 

Yves,
 
Difficult decision indeed. You could place one on the sub itself and the other as it’s own static display since they are both beautifully crafted. 
 
-Brian

For the main 88 mm gun, I just found out that EDUARD was proposing a resin/brass kit for the Trumpeter kit. For $20 on E-Bay, I decided to purchase it and give it a try and see how it compares to the Trumpeter gun, spiced up with the RCSubs PE. At first look, the details on the EDUARD kit are extremely impressive and this kit is a project in itself: 
 

 
Lots of parts in this little kit: 
 

 
And lots of explanations and assembly sheets. EDUARD proposes two ways of assembling the gun: Submerged or ready to fire: 
 

 

 
I will take the submerged option as this is how I am representing my model (no little people on the deck).
 
Yves

Folks,
 
This thread is not over yet. I am sharing my time between work, friends, and many other projects. However, the U-552 remains in my mind and I am awaiting some parts to make a final decision, regarding the main gun of 88 mm.
 
In the meantime, I thought it would be worthwhile sharing with you some of the links and documents that have helped me all long the construction of that great model. Without these documents and archives, my model would not be what it is today as the Trumpeter kit can be sometimes a little bit crude and lacking details. This is even more obvious towards the end and specifically regarding the deck, guns, rigging and conning tower. It feels sometimes as if the designers of the kit, ran out of steam and decided to wrap it quickly in order to bring the kit to market. The Trumpeter instructions does not address at all, all the details of the rigging and antennas normally visible on the deck of these submersibles. Guns and anti-aerial defenses are lightly brushed over and no real information is given by Trumpeter. The last view of the instructions, is basically how to slap all the various modules into the semi-hull and be done with it.
 
Fortunately, there is a lot of material available on the Internet and in books, covering the German Type VII-c (and others) submersible.
 
The books and documents I have used and would highly recommend, are: 
 
 Type VII U-boats by Robert Stern
 
 
U-Boat Owners Workshop Manual by Haynes (interesting but lots of errors and confusion with other submarine types).
 
 
Vom Original Zum Modell Uboottyp VII C by Fritz Kohl and Axel Niestle (in German).
 
 
SECRET U-Boat information for U-Boat Type VIIc by Don Prince
This document can be obtained online at: http://www.uboatarchive.net/Manual/Manual.htm and is a must read.
 
The Wolf Pack - A collection of U-Boat Modelling Articles
The document can be downloaded at https://amp.rokket.biz/docs/the_wolf_pack_compr.pdf
The Wolf Pack 2 - Another collection of U-Boat Modelling articles
 
Again, the document can be dowloaded at: https://amp.rokket.biz/docs/the_wolf_pack_2.pdf
 
After all the reading, it is good to go outside and tour the real thing, in Laboe Germany: 
 

 
I will add more information regarding the source of data, in a following post.
 
Yves

The crew is in place, around the diesel engines. It is the last piece of details on this compartment, before sealing it with the pressure hull. A few pictures....


Everybody is very busy....






 
Let's enjoy all these perspectives, because it will not be possible again, when the pressure hull is glued on top.
 
Yves
 
 

We now have reached a point, when serious decisions must be taken. Assemble or not assemble?

I am sure you all agree that it needs to be put together. Therefore, here are a few pictures: 




And the silly pictures...




I hope you have enjoyed being reduced to 1/48th scale and taking a tour of that interesting compartment. Next time, we seal it with the ceiling..... but first some crews....
 
Yves

Katuna, you beat me for the posting. Yes, of course, I noticed these wonderful and historical pictures posted by RAYMIC1 on the models.rokket.biz forum. 
Quite a different perspective: 
 

Those diesel engines are colossal: 





Finally, a picture taken from the library of "Das Boot".

 
Yves
 
 
 
 
 
 

Before we dive into the model, let's present the Diesel Engines compartment. First, from the official blueprints: 
    
     
    The U-Boot Manual offers a technical Comparison between the two types of engines used on the Type VIIc: the M.A.N. and the G.W. The main difference is in the forced induction: On the MAN, the induction is done through a turbine driven by the exhaust (Turbo-charger), whereas on the Krupp engine, the compressor is driven by a belt. The G.W. engines were much better and more reliable and MAN engines were retrofitted  little by little, before the submarines were sunk......
 
  M.A.N. Krupp (G.W.) Number of cylinders 6 6 Piston displacement 57.8. liters 57.8 liters Piston speed 7.2 meters/second 7.2 meters/second Efficiency 82.5 81.0 Speed 470 RPM 470 RPM Supercharger speed 10,900 RPM 10,900 RPM Performance 1400 SHP 1400 SHP Stroke 460 mm 460 mm Cylinder diameter 400 mm 400 mm Length (whole engine) 5630 mm 5600 mm Width (whole engine) 1400 mm 1400 mm Height 2810 mm 2895 mm Engine weight 38.476 tons 43.440 tons Weight to power ratio 13.75 kg/SHP 15.5 kg/SHP Fuel oil consumption (+) 0.165 kg/SHP 0.182 kg/SHP Supercharger Buchi Exhaust gas turbine B.B.C. Roots type charger G.W. Fuel oil regulation Over flow adjustment Chamber volume by means of beveled edge adjustment   From a size and shape perspectives, both engines are very similar: 

The fantastic characteristic of these Diesel engines is that they could run in both directions (reversible) thanks to a very ingenious mechanism to change the distribution. You only had to stop the engine, swing a lever to change the distribution at both end of the engine, and restart it. It would then run in the reverse direction. The operation did not take very long (less than a minute) and could be performed with one or two mechanics.
 
   
One of the most incredible task during the construction, was the insertion of the massive Diesel engines into the Pressure Hull. This was done through a large opening on top of the pressure hull, which was then welded once the electric motors and diesel engines had been inserted: 

A smaller and similar opening was also made in the pressure hull, for the insertion of the front electrical batteries.
 
Once installed, the Diesel engine compartment was very full and always maintained in a very nice condition (which is not the case with the Swedish crew, as you can see on the picture):

The picture above shows the Swedish crew that took possession of the U-995 at the end of the War. That boat is the only Type VIIc in existence and on display, in Europe.
 
The air intake was provided by the two openings at the top of the sail. These two intakes were funneled through a large duct, running above the Control Room, the rear compartment, the kitchen and entering on the roof of the Diesel room. Thus, fresh air was injected in the Diesel room for the engines (and the crew....) to breathe. I have included the schematic below, for those who wish to understand some of the intricacies of the propulsion system: 

I will be adding more technical data as we move along with the construction. The above should whet your appetite.... 
 
Yves
 
 
 

While the detail on your version of this sub is quite spectacular, my father would probably just shudder to see it.  In 42 he had to risk the dangerous Atlantic crossing on a troop ship to England.  Their convoy only lost one ship, but he was on deck to see it go down.  When his trip started he was apprehensive to be sure, but with a little over half of his journey remaining after that, the fear factor really went through the roof.  He said he never felt so defenseless in his life. 

Incredible work as always!  Very nice job, thanks for sharing with us.

Interesting that in that video, there is a "cover" of Playboy magazine by the foreward head which didn't start publishing until the mid-50's.   Otherwise, nicely done but I do agree with the blue LED's.

Check Veneersupplies.com. Very reasonable. I cover both the veneer and the base with Titebond Wood Glue, let it dry and then iron it on. Works like a champ.

Incredible work as always!  Very nice job, thanks for sharing with us.

Do you believe in Miracles and co-creation?
 
As some of you who are following this saga may know, I have been in search for some spare parts and sprues for this rare model. I want to be able to duplicate certain components of that huge model to make it more attractive and interesting.
 
My attempts at contacting Trumpeter (through Joanna, their sales rep in China and even the local distributor in the USA) were crowned by a complete lack of response and interest for my requests. Obviously, once you buy the kit, you are on your own and Trumpeter will not help you. I have dealt with other plastic models companies in the past (Italeri and Heller) and they have always been responsive. Trumpeter is way too big to take care of a remote and obscure customer in the far land of America. 
 
And then the miracle happened, when I had given up and started building painstakingly some parts myself: 

Being subscribed to the Nautilus Drydocks newsletter, I received one day a presentation of the Trumpeter U-552 model recently completed for a customer. The model was exquisitely finished but did not show any interior details. It was basically built as a regular model, with the hull and conning tower. I decided to contact the owner of the Nautilus Drydocks and inquired if he would be willing to sell me some spare parts for the rear compartment and engine compartment. He counter-offered by telling me that I could get all the parts left over from the build for an unbeatable price.

Today, I just received the complete set of parts allowing me to literally build a second interior with all the compartments. Truly a miracle and the proof that we can co-create what we want if it goes along with the desires of the Universe. This will allow me to build the second electric motor and many other things making this model, hopefully better and more complete than what Trumpeter intended.
 
A very grateful THANKS to Bob from the Nautilus Drydocks for allowing me this unique opportunity.
 
https://www.rc-submarine.com/
 
This link will take you to Bob Martin's web site. Here you can enjoy some of the magnificent models, Bob has been realizing: 
https://www.rc-submarine.com/copy-of-gallery
 
Yves
 
 

Here is a picture (taken from a forum) showing both models for comparison: 

Yves

Sort of an update: Mediator has been on hold because I unexpectedly had to use the work bench for a sudden domestic job. This prompted me to make a box to hold everything in one place until the shipyard is re-installed, hopefully in the next few days. I have sorted out some of the old material that caused me a headache by twisting. It is in the bin.
 
The break from the project has had a positive effect: I am itching to get back to it. Also, the bashed hull has remained stable with no sign of the warp re-appearing or the sub-deck 'pinging' out of place.

Thank you John, I have used the time Mediator is off the bench to dig around for more of her history. It has lead me to some mildly surprising conclusions, number one being that there were squillions of small commercial vessels at the time and there were very few records. I am hopeful of finding out more of the circumstances of her loss when I can get back to the National Archives in person, but who knows when that will be?.
Been pondering whether to make a ship's boat for her. There is a small work surface in my study I could set aside to tackle the task as a separate model. With winter banging on the door this suits in many ways.
 
Bruce