U-552 by yvesvidal - FINISHED - Trumpeter - 1/48 - PLASTIC - Type VIIC U-boat

[Don_]

Hello Yves,

 

The exhaust exited through the upper section of the pressure hull through the internal grinding valve as shown in Simons drawing...

 

Regards,

Don_

Edited December 17, 2019 by Don_
added info

[yvesvidal]

9 hours ago, Don_ said:

Hello Yves,

The exhaust exited through the upper section of the pressure hull through the internal grinding valve as shown in Simons drawing...

Regards,

Don_

Thanks Don for these complement of information. Obviously, Trumpeter did not know about these peculiarities, or decided to skip them.

 

Yves

[RGL]

Or made a bad copy? 

[yvesvidal]

Still toying, yes literally, with the front bulkhead. I have decided with some spare parts to replicate the fan system, used to bring fresh air and extract used air from the inside of the pressure hull. Of course, Trumpeter does not provide the second set of fan/turbine as well as some of the pipes and it is very regrettable.

It takes a lot of butchering and gluing of the pipes to get to a decent and matching results. I have also added the electric motors which are driving the turbines, as these parts were not designed by Trumpeter. Please do not ask for the electric wires of the fan motors....

Close up on the little wooden desk. Barely visible against the wall, is a German print indicating essential operations of the Diesel engines. On the wooden desk, is a schematic of some of the numerous pipes circuits and a large pen. Not yet visible, is a small light to the left of the red control hand wheel. The micro wires are coming above on the bulkhead.

We now have quite a few pieces to put together. However, before the final assembly, I still have to work on the walkway.

Yves

Edited December 19, 2019 by yvesvidal

[yvesvidal]

For those who wants to know what is on the desk, your wish is my command...  

Yves

Edited December 19, 2019 by yvesvidal

[mtaylor]

Wow.. unbelievable.   As for the fan wiring.... just say it's in the conduit.  By the way... is that a pencil on the desk?    

[yvesvidal]

7 hours ago, mtaylor said:

Wow.. unbelievable.   As for the fan wiring.... just say it's in the conduit.  By the way... is that a pencil on the desk?    

Most likely, I don't think they had ball pens yet and I doubt they used fountain pens inside a submarine.

 

Yves

[Katuna]

Stop stealing my ideas! Lol! I can't build as fast as you and you keep beating me to the punch. I too have all the original Plates downloaded as well as the translated versions. How were you able to shrink them down so small and still retain some of the detail?

 

It's those little details that most people will never see that add the most. Keep up the terrific work.

[Don_]

Heilo Yves,

 

The print is interesting, but it is for the Type X B U-Boat (mine layer)...

 

Regards,

Don_

 

Photo Title (corrected) - US Navy inspects the German U-Boat Type IX D2/U-873 (Left), and Type X B Mine Layer/U-234 (Right), interned after Germany's surrender at the US Naval Base in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 

[yvesvidal]

Don, you truly are the expert. I may have to change it.... I am sure the rivets counters will argue with my choice.....

 

Yves

[yvesvidal]

Moving on with the walkway. Basically just a few parts according to Trumpeter, but a nightmare to assemble..... That table made of photo-etched parts is ridiculous and a challenge to the nerves.

You can see the result of my assembly on the picture..... a disaster. Sometimes, it is good to show the casualties of modeling, as most builders only post their success: 

Trumpeter should have offered a table made of plastic parts and it would have been so much easier to assemble. instead, I decided to do mine with the "legs" of electronic components, bent and inserted in the walkway, after drilling #60 holes. A lot easier and so much sturdier. Quite realistic too:

When all is painted and said:

I have no idea what this table is used for. Is it used for mechanical jobs? Don, can you chime in and enlighten us?

 

Yves

 

 

Edited December 20, 2019 by yvesvidal

[yvesvidal]

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

Edited December 20, 2019 by yvesvidal

[Don_]

Hello Yves,

 

I'm no expert; just an old retired dude interested in U-Boats! At one time when I was a bit younger and had more patients, I had some model building skills. However, not to your level of detail and patients (keep up the excellent work)! In my personal opinion, Mr. Tore Berg-Nielsen is the sole remaining expert on the Type VII U-Boat. Previously, Maciek Florek (snake doc was his internet handle) from Warsaw Poland was a U-Boat expert and translated many German U-Boat documents including my U-Boat Type VII C training manual for Jerry Mason's website uboatarchive.net. Sadly, my very dear friend Maciek Florek passed away on 2 August 2017. In "Skizzenbuch" on page IV, I dedicate the book to the memory of Maciek Florek...

 

Regards,

Don_

 

FYI - The Ball Point Pen was invented in the USA in 1888, see the following website:

http://www.historyofpencils.com/writing-instruments-history/history-of-ballpoint-pens/

 

Sold on Ebay - WWII WW2 German Wehrmacht Officer Soldier Black Bakelite Ballpoint Pen

Edited December 20, 2019 by Don_
update

[7Youngs]

11 hours ago, yvesvidal said:

That table made of photo-etched parts is ridiculous and a challenge to the nerves.

You can see the result of my assembly on the picture..... a disaster. Sometimes, it is good to show the casualties of modeling, as most builders only post their success: 

Agreed...... mine ended up in a similar state. But no photo of the remains!

 

I scratch built a replacement stand using plastic sheet and rod and bits of the PE. I like your idea of using component leads though - I wish I had thought of that 🤔 - it's a lot easier!

 

I'm guessing that this was a maintenance/repair bench. The cylinder may have contained oil, or was a heating element. The vertical pipe should go up to the deck head so it's fed from something above?

 

PS. A word of warning - when you fit the deck head (ceiling) you may find that the fresh air fan mounted from the bulkhead hits one of the boxes on the deck head. I rectified this by cutting down the shaft on the right-hand side of the fan and re-attaching to the pipe.

[yvesvidal]

12 hours ago, Don_ said:

Hello Yves,

I'm no expert; just an old retired dude interested in U-Boats! At one time when I was a bit younger and had more patients, I had some model building skills. However, not to your level of detail and patients (keep up the excellent work)! In my personal opinion, Mr. Tore Berg-Nielsen is the sole remaining expert on the Type VII U-Boat. Previously, Maciek Florek (snake doc was his internet handle) from Warsaw Poland was a U-Boat expert and translated many German U-Boat documents including my U-Boat Type VII C training manual for Jerry Mason's website uboatarchive.net. Sadly, my very dear friend Maciek Florek passed away on 2 August 2017. In "Skizzenbuch" on page IV, I dedicate the book to the memory of Maciek Florek...

Regards,

Don_

Don,

 

I have read some publications from Maciek. 

 

Thanks for all the good info you are providing to this thread and for your fantastic book.

 

Yves

Edited December 20, 2019 by yvesvidal

[Don_]

Hello Yves,

 

Both the exhaust blower (Port) and the supply blower (Starboard) were sealed around the blower motor. Not open around the blowed as indicated in the model.

 

Regards,

Don_ 

[CapnMac82]

On 12/19/2019 at 9:53 PM, Don_ said:

FYI - The Ball Point Pen was invented in the USA in 1888, see the following website:

And, there is a US Patent for a "no tip" shipboard inkwell (had a very wide conical base) circa 1908.

 

Ink was very much a part of maritime life. 

The Disbursing Officer had a knock-down desk with a double-acting drawer that was set up where appropriate.  The Pay Book, showing earned pay and all debits against that pay listed out, per sailor.  The Sailors, each in their turn, then approached the DO who pointed out the amounts for the concurrence of the Sailor.  The Sailor then "made his mark" in ink, in the paybook.  The DO placed those funds paid out on his side ofth drwaer, and the sailor then opened the drawer from his side and drew his pay.

 

Since pay might be in specie or bullion, this is why the Disbursing Officer, at least until electronic debt/debit cards were introduced, wears a side arm as badge of office on payday. (They also accompany bullion or specie paid out to draw fuel or supplies in foreign ports.)

[yvesvidal]

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

 

 

[Blue Pilot]

Every time I think wow thats amazing what more could you possibly add, you continue to astound me with taking it to even higher level.  The mechanics look great!

[mtaylor]

Yves, super well done.   The figures really give a sense of size of those engines.  I didn't realize the cylinders were that large.

[Don_]

Hello Yves,

 

The engine room crew makes a great final touch to your U-552 display! To give a real life prospective of the huge size of the piston liners and the pistons... I have attached a photo of a piston from U-505 (probably an onboard spare) - U-505 is located at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry.

 

Regards,

Don_

Edited December 24, 2019 by Don_
addition

[marktiedens]

When I was in mechanic`s class in high school they had a tugboat engine in the lower level.  The cylinders were so large an adult could stand inside one & barely see over the top.  They could not fire it up during normal school hours because it would shake the whole building!   Stunning work on your sub!

 

Mark

Edited December 24, 2019 by marktiedens

[Blue Pilot]

Amazing, I wonder if they were prepared to do that kind of heavy maintenance at sea or did they cary spares like that to have on hand for after they limped into a shipyard?   Long ago as a C-130 First Mechanic we carried spare parts but nothing that would require special lifts or cranes.  I can only imagine looking at that piston the size and weight of the engine head!  Even simply changing the piston on a car is a big job so I am guessing if they carried this as a spare it would be for use in a maintenance facility or am I wrong?

[yvesvidal]

I suspect that this kind of maintenance could not have been done at sea. This is just a way to show how the engine was made, the sheer size of the cylinders and to allow the observer to see the complete engine in the background. It is a model and not a representation of how it was used during a sea patrol.

 

Many thanks for all the "likes" and support. It is very motivating.

 

Yves

[Old Collingwood]

Keep up this Great work  - your determination at this scale in creating a masterpiece is a joy to follow.

 

Hope you and yours have a loverly holiday  peace and health to you.

 

OC.

[yvesvidal]

 Merry Christmas to all and my Best wishes of Health, Love, Friendship and modeling passion for the New Year.

 

A few updates on that Christmas day. The Diesel engine compartment is now completed and the pressure hull has been installed. The two pieces of pipes for the exhaust as well as the fresh air ingress pipe have been glued and sanded flush with the bulkheads. I have added an extra air tank on the pressure hull, tanks that were used to crank up the diesel engines.

The electrical wiring has been completed and verified. We have four white LEDs in series, requiring close to 11 Volts to illuminate. With an adjustable resistor, I will be able to harmonize the intensity of the light, with the other compartments. The current is about 3 mA. The LED above the wood desk is a micro-LED and provides a more classic and yellowish color than the ceiling lights.

It is now time to insert the module into the hull. Again, at this point, it is difficult and delicate to go back. The existing wires are carefully inserted in the slots provided by Trumpeter, on each bulkhead. The module inserts in the rear compartment, through the torpedo recess and two large pins, hidden by some apparatus. The module is only glued on the front bulkhead. 

Closing the starboard hull, this is what we will be able to see: 

You see the importance of creating the side tanks openings: 

And a couple of pictures for the claustrophobic's: 

Folks, I have reached a point where I have two modules to build and countless details to finish on the deck, conning tower, guns and on top of each module, when visible. Some electrical work needs to be completed, as well as some paint touch-ups and light weathering in multiple places. I will finish this model but have decided to take a little break from it and tackle instead one of the two  projects I have at heart. One of them (there are many...) could go in this forum as it is boat related. The other one, not being something that floats on water would have to be developed in the "Shore Leave" section. Whatever is being done, I will provide a link to keep you updated. 

 

The Type VIIc will be placed back in its box (yes, the fully assembled hull fits) and stored for a few weeks or months. 

I wish you all Happy and Relaxing Holidays, and passion, fire and energy for many projects.

 

Yves

 

 

Edited December 25, 2019 by yvesvidal

[Shotlocker]

Wow, after that laborious informative and educational masterpiece, you do deserve a well-earned break. Well done, sir! And I wish you all those Happy and Relaxing Holidays as well.

[mtaylor]

Breaks are needed, Yves, unless we want to get burned out.  I look forward to seeing your other projects and then this one when you return to it.  

[Katuna]

The engine compartment looks fantastic. I'm amazed that, at the pace you have been going that it took you this long to hit the wall. On a project this size you need side projects to break up the monotony of the same thing over and over.

 

Definitely throw us a link to your other endeavors.

[popeye the sailor]

catching up on your sub Yves........the engine room is really awesome!  complete with lighting,  it is an very well detailed model to be sure.  I hope you had a super Christmas.........I hope the New Year brings us back to htis wonderful project