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

[yvesvidal]

Thank you Katuna for the precision and excellent picture.

 

Yves

[yvesvidal]

Folks,

 

I just could not cope with that empty front part of the KontrollRaum. Something had to be done. It is a real shame that Trumpeter did not come up with a better plan, especially in light of the fact that most of the controls of the vessel are done on the starboard side of the room. Thus, I have tried to make it a little bit more interesting by building from scratch and spare parts (from the original kit), a semblance of the two control wheels, used to steer the front and rear diving planes. Also note the two big push button valves, located inside the wheels (on top of the BBC box).

I basically used two spare wheels, two extra tanks and scratch-built the other parts, to resemble as much as possible the diving station, while still providing a full view on the compartment and attack periscope:

Adding two sailors (planesmen) at the 'helms': 

I know that this assembly is not exactly prototypical, far from it. However, it has the advantage of filling up that empty space, brings more realism and will push the observers to ask questions about that specific aspect of the operations. 

 

The planesmen were using two major valves located inside the wheels, to move the diving planes of the submarine. The wheels were only used in case of failure of the main hydraulic system and probably required a lot of strength and many turns before getting any results. The tanks located at their feet, contain the compressed air (or liquid - Please Katuna, I need your help) to move the massive diving planes.

 

Yves

 

 

Edited April 15, 2020 by yvesvidal

[lambsbk]

That is over the top Yves.

[Old Collingwood]

Excellent work   just like we are being transported back in time.

 

OC.

[yvesvidal]

Thank you Folks. I truly appreciate your encouragement and support.

 

Yves

[popeye the sailor]

you've made some really great progress since I last looked in    lots of fine detail....and it all looks so real.   nice to see the sub assembled to the point your at now....really shows how much work you've put into her!

 

really great   job!    this is one huge model!

[cog]

On 4/15/2020 at 10:36 PM, yvesvidal said:

I basically used two spare wheels, two extra tanks and scratch-built the other parts, to resemble as much as possible the diving station, while still providing a full view on the compartment and attack periscope:

Did the Germans have a broadcast special on the BBC?

 

Very super detailed build, Yves. All the lovely crisp scratch built items ... c'est superbe!

[Katuna]

I get it. This is penance for acting like a know-it-all about the bilge pump, isn't it? Sorry, refrigeration's my thing so...

 

The bottles at the planesmens feet are oxygen bottles. Back up for when the scrubbers start to get plugged on extended submersions. I would guess sitting on the bottom.

 

The dive planes as well as the rudders are electrically controlled. I'm not sure if the handwheels are mechanically connected to the dive planes. The rudders have the emergency manual control in the aft Electrical/Torpedo room aft of the Port Electrical panel.

Edited April 18, 2020 by Katuna

[Katuna]

Oh yeah, your dive station looks great. That is a much needed addition to the Control Room. Well done, sir.

[yvesvidal]

Just a quick update. I have been working on the crew of the Kontrollraum and will be closing the lid very soon: 

 

"Kaleunt" in position for the periscope. Another officer ready to climb the ladder to the conning tower: 

Navigation officer studying the maps:

That fellow is entering coordinates for the torpedoes crews: 

Bird's eye view, before sealing the coffin: 

Yves

 

[BobCardone]

Superb work, Yves!

Now all the small details you put in are combining to make a total composition. A scene that tells a story and gives a snapshot of what it was like in those amazing machines.

[yvesvidal]

Kontrollraum module is completed. Ceiling has been glued, painted and electrical wiring is done: 

It is unfortunate that Trumpeter did not provide the extension of the sail to the pressure hull (where the ladder and periscope pass...). The back truly looks like a pressure hull, fully enclosed. I am making sure that there are no light leaks that may seep through the deck:  

A few details of the finished module: 

For the claustrophobia lovers...

The Kaleunt is busy watching outside:

Overall, it is one of the largest modules, and definitely the heaviest due to the amount of resin:

Installed in the hull, it fits nicely, leaving unfortunately that gap between pressure hull and sail. Not much will be visible, but I may have to remedy that lack....

Yves

 

 

 

 

[cog]

Lovely detail and a well made "module". I have to say those men look like convicts in their "uniforms"

[yvesvidal]

3 hours ago, cog said:

Lovely detail and a well made "module". I have to say those men look like convicts in their "uniforms"

Thank you Cog. Yes, the uniforms are not exactly uplifting and I may have used a color (German grey RLM) that is more appropriate for other things.

I have to say that their fate is probably worse than the fate of convicts as more than 30,000 of them died in these steel cans, drowned or asphyxiated.

Ideology can be such horror, sometimes. I think this is the last war machine I am building....although I have the Bismarck and a couple of other war pieces in store....

But my future kits if any, will be fun, historic, and dedicated to the well being of human kind.

 

Yves

Edited April 23, 2020 by yvesvidal

[yvesvidal]

Major milestone achieved today: the Kontrollraum has been glued to the hull.

 

After running the wires for the conning tower.... 

The Kontrollraum is permanently glued in its cradle: 

Not clearly visible here, but the top of the ladder hatch access has been plugged with an end piece of one spare torpedoes tanks, sitting outside of the pressure hull. Trumpeter provides quite a few of these, and two are only necessary on a Type VIIc submarine. The piece fits perfectly and extends the hatch to the conning tower. In addition, no light leak will be possible, under the deck.

 

The last compartment will be glued when the entire wiring is completed and verified. This is now where we stand: 

Yves

 

 

 

Edited April 23, 2020 by yvesvidal

[Jack12477]

Beautiful Yves ! But I have a question. How much of this exquisite detail will be visible when the model is complete? Is one side going to be clear plastic. Would be a shame to hide all of this interior detail.

[yvesvidal]

Jack,

 

You need to go back a few pages and take a look at the starboard side of the hull: it has been opened in multiple places to give a very good view of each compartment.

Yes, it would be foolish to build all these details and then to not be able to see them.

Thank you for following.

Yves

[G.L.]

Congratulations on finishing this scene, Yves. It looks like you're getting close to the end result now.

[yvesvidal]

Almost there, yes. I am trying to finish a nice and reliable electrical circuit and to not get mixed up with all the wires: 

I am using a lot of heat-shrinking tubing to keep all the various circuits (modules) independent of each others. 

 

Finally, the rear batteries compartment module is inserted. I will not glue it, as it sits very tight and sandwiched between the others. It will allow me to access some of the wires if anything goes wrong one day.

The enchilada is almost completed, at least for the inside of the hull. I still have to bring some modules to life by placing a few more crews, inside: 

Now, a lot of soldering remains to be done....

 

Yves

 

 

[lambsbk]

Absolutely beautiful Yves.

[Osmosis]

Yves,

 

What stunning work. You have created so much more that just a scale model. You have really brought this subject to life for us. Not only with your skills at building and adding detail but with your narrative as well.

 

Thanks for sharing this.

 

Edited April 24, 2020 by Osmosis

[Katuna]

She's looking really good, sir. Coming together very nicely to say the least. You're getting into the home stretch now.

[popeye the sailor]

so many words to describe....I can't decide which one is best     so detailed and the best rendition of sub anatomy that I have seen!   so good to see her all together with the starboard skin on........she looks absolutely stunning!      you've done an amazing job!

[Old Collingwood]

I think Denis  has summed it up  perfectly  no more words to add  - just jaw dropping gorgeous.

 

OC.

[mtaylor]

I would think that just about any nautical museum would be quite pleased to take that off your hands, Yves.  Since the supply of superlatives has been used up by the others, I'll just say "wow!!!! I love the way she came out.".

[Kevin]

Just catching up, fantastic build, i can assure you that it is one of the strangest feelings ever to have an intense control room, and have two planesmen controlling depth and course, when you are not facing direction of travel, depth keeping is an art, and hard to judge, trimming of a vessel up or down when you then lean left or right as a result

[thibaultron]

Fantastic work! You might want to put a crewman with a mop and bucket in there, in case they decide to launch her!:-)

[yvesvidal]

Thank you so much for all the encouragements, the "Thumbs Up" and the support. Today was a major milestone with the completion of the electrical circuit: 

As you can see, we do have a lot of wires, connectors and adjustable resistors. Everything works, which is refreshing: 

First, the lights circuit: 

Then some special features: 

Display in the Radio Room.... The Sonar screen died during the construction :-(

The dangerous job of checking electrolyte levels in the Batteries room.

Fuel tanks lighted under the Kontroll Room. The main ballast was supposed to have some light too, but the LED is obviously too weak to penetrate through the greenish water....

The rear batteries compartment.

And the galley.... My camera does not cope very well with these light scenes and I will ask a professional to take some pictures, when the model is completed.

 

It is a very large model.....

There is still plenty of details to address and tons of work on the deck and conning tower. We are getting there....little by little.

 

Yves

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2020 by yvesvidal

[Old Collingwood]

Truly Amazing,   any thoughts of what you will do with here when finished?    She is Museum Standard    and I am sure many many people would love to see her  (when we are back to some degree  of normal)

 

OC.

[cog]

C'est magnefique ... extraordinaire