lmagna

If glass is the standard but cost is a factor you could possibly look into these; https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073RMHXC8/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B073RMHXC8&pd_rd_w=h31wg&pf_rd_p=45a72588-80f7-4414-9851-786f6c16d42b&pd_rd_wg=4tDru&pf_rd_r=A9VP3VKVDKACGWQR6KJZ&pd_rd_r=0b69e76a-a8eb-4176-97ba-74f0f3202128&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExTTdHUjRIQ1MxMVVBJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzEyNDUyMzFGODdYRFoyQU5PSSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMTYxODI2MkVTOVBZSU1QMlY3JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Congratulations J Quite an accomplishment of a hansom little ship.

Hi Denis I am sure this set of mods will set your build apart from almost all other builds. See you after work.

No problem Kevin. Piet explained by email your relationship and what you have done for him and helping out in the little way I could was enough for me. I didn't get your PM but it is plain it worked. The only thing I kind of wished I had done was call Piet instead. But then he would never had time to post here for you as I would probably still be talking to him! It's been a while for me as well.

Kind of like this?

WOW, that does look like quite a problem. Is this the first time you noticed the difference?

Great find on the small parts Denis. It's no fun getting to the end and find that you have lost important stuff. The decals really made a difference as well. Have you started your next build yet?

One would hope so. Have a good time at the sea and eat.

Hi Yves I would think that the condition of the hull would depend on when you were to depict. Right after dry docking, at the begining of a patrol, end of a patrol, etc. I would assume that German U-Boats were much like American boats in that after they returned from patrol they were fairly well gone over before going out again even if that did not include dry docking. They tended to spend a fair amount of time at sea compared to other ships constantly underway with either the diesels or electric motors running full time. Also the batteries were under constant cycling and would have to be replaced quite often. Then there would be any updates that would need to be installed before going out again. Last but not least the crew would probably need a bit of rest before heading out. All of these things took time and I would think that at the beginning of each patrol the U-Boat would at least look in good condition. The effects of being on patrol would show on the painted surfaces first with probably little if any rust showing up at first, if at all. Here is an example of what I am thinking a few weeks at sea would look like: This is the U-505 when she was captured by the US Navy. She is a type IX, not a VII but I think the effects would be pretty much the same. Slight wear under the waterline, considerable paint flaking on the lighter gray part of the hull and superstructure with primer showing but no apparent rust. Some staining around the scuppers and freeing ports but still no apparent rust. Another picture from the same incident but apparently under different lighting looks like this: Pretty much the same except the staining around the bow. If it was not for picture #1 I would have said that the bow staining was rust. But if it is then why does it not show as pronounced staining in the higher resolution first picture? Based on these pictures I would agree with Mark and say option #2 would be the most realistic while still interesting effect to try for. The capture took place after the U-505 had been at sea for 81 days.

It's not the altitude that bothers me so much as going the other direction! That sudden stop at the end is what slowed me down in the first place! Right now she is watching one of her "How to kill your husband" movies on one of the women's channels. We need to get Denis back here and post some progress pictures, and he is off eating fancy food and partying it up! How rude of him, leaving us all alone and unsupervised in his workshop.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elmers-X-Acto-8oz-White-Multicoloured-8-25x8-25x8-25/dp/B00JKAZYIO/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=elmers%2Fx-acto+elmer's+colour+change+wood+filler&qid=1567627680&s=kitchen&sr=1-3 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elmers-X-Acto-E915-Multicolour-2-5x2-5x2-75/dp/B00IZOIWEO/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=elmers%2Fx-acto+elmer's+colour+change+wood+filler&qid=1567627852&s=kitchen&sr=1-1-spell

You have the proper word when you use "Hobble" John! I am now officially the slowest creature in my household! My wife is faster, the kids can outrun me, the dog and cat can run circles around me. The squirrels laugh as they run past on the power lines going from tree to tree, even the spiders in the back yard can keep up, and they are lazy! I MIGHT make it to the car first if I rigged the horn like an IED and triggered it remotely while standing outside the open door of the car! But even that might be overly optimistic.

I do use them most of the time, like when I am listening to music or watching something. But sometimes............ Like when she is watching one of those stupid court shows........... 😈 I just can't resist. No, I think after almost 40 years of having to put up with me she would not want to miss out on the personal satisfaction of doing it herself. She would probably make it slow and painful!

You just made my wife look at me with the look of death Denis. I turned this on during one of her one of her NUMEROUS court shows and almost lost my life!

Great to see you back and doing so well on your schooner Daria. Looking forward to seeing more of your progress.

As you said OC, different people react to personal difficulties in their own way. Your way is mostly to leave it out where all can see and share. Others not so much. As you can see, the people here can accommodate both types of people with room to spare. I hope it all comes together a little better for you in the coming months and all works out for the best.

Well here we go again. I am not much of a lighthouse person normally but I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with on this one. The lighting kit looks pretty top quality as well. Don't forget the popcorn.

I think that should read 1.1" guns. 11 inch guns would have been almost as large as the main guns.

Too bad on the RC part of this build ir3. But it happens to almost everyone at one point or another. It is good to see that you will finish her as a static build. Just as a forewarning. You may find that RC steam, even in kit form offers a whole new set of engineering issues in getting it to work properly and reliably. Once you get the bugs ironed out though they are interesting to operate and certainly impressive to watch.

Great job on a unique subject Mike. You have truly made a model to be proud of. Hopefully it is located in a place where it can be admired by all.

Has anyone tried this stuff: https://www.vms-supplies.com/flexy-5k-pe-product-overview According to stuff I have read and at least one video that is out there somewhere, it appears that this stuff is both stronger by a considerable margin and flexible as well. It appears that it comes in a number of thicknesses and setting times. The only real place I have seen it sold here in the US is through eBay and is shipped directly from Poland. I bought one bottle so far for use on my Houston build when I can get to it. It has a multi piece hull made of resin and I wanted to make certain the bond was extremely strong. I have not opened it yet as I have not started the Houston build and don't want it going bad after opening. They also seem to carry a bunch of other products for weathering, texturing, painting, and so forth.

Good luck on the carpal tunnel work. That is at least one part that is still working somewhat OK on my rapidly deteriorating body. My wife went through it a number of years ago due to the typing she had to do on a daily basis at work. She has been fine ever since. I expected that I would have to face it as well, after years of shooting relatively heavy caliber hand guns, but except for a little glitch in my right thumb at the upper joint where it meets my palm, that hurts a little more and is stiffer than it should, it does not seem to be an issue. But then I suppose I could fall on my hand going UP the stairs and break it too just for good measure. You never know what a stupid klutz is capable of! There may be little of note when it comes to the painted waterline on any ship, especially cargo ships. They float at one level empty and another when not. I believe Liberty ships were noted as being very unstable when not carrying cargo and they would pump harbor or river mud into the holds to bring them down to proper ballast for ocean sailing. I know that I have seen a number of pictures of Liberty ships that did not show any hull red at all. In fact I think this was more common than not. I also think, (And other more knowledgeable people here could clarify it better) that proper depth was established with the Plimsoll Line, normally located somewhere close to midships. As you can see there is quite a range depending on conditions. You have a wide number of settings before you are "wrong" if that is possible. I was thinking that the heavier draft of the Meany and possibly the later Vance as well, was because unlike a conventional Liberty, she no longer had holds and had a greatly increased top hamper making her a little tender in cross seas or other conditions that would make her want to roll. So to compensate they just ran her deeper in the water than would be normal for this class of ship. Just a thought on my part and not to be confused with any real knowledge!

I must say that you have confused me a little Steve. On picture #1 it shows the red waterline painted close to the 10 foot line. On the Meany it appears that she is resting at 16' and the boot is at the 22' mark. You chose to set the boot at 14'. Was there any reason for choosing this depth, or was it just arbitrary? Just curious.

I think that if you take your magnifying glasses off you will see that those guns are 5". I agree with the others though. She is really coming together and filling out. Just enough color to make her interesting without compromising authenticity.

If I had a location like that a block away and I was a little shorter on three back and one ankle surgeries there would be no way I would have ever stopped running RC ships. I am officially jealous!