SM9 1908 by PvG Aussie - FINISHED - Das Werk - Scale 1:72 - PLASTIC - WW1 U-boat

[PvG Aussie]

I've bought the kit. Have the gear. Hope to share with others when I start in a few weeks. It should be a great change to the boats and planes I have made to date. I plan to weather this model as it had quite a distinguised history.

[RGL]

It’s a nice kit! 

[PvG Aussie]

I always like to start with plenty of research on the history of the boat and then any builds done by others.

History is covered by heaps of sites on the internet as well as the enclosed book found in the kit.

As far as previous builds are concerned, I have found the following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=-z9T2yxpHAg, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFrmrMl7JoU, https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235123886-progress-build-of-das-werks-172-scale-sm-u-9-german-wwi-u-boat/ (this last link has a great history coverage as well as a 'box opening'), and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A9IBHt-zAE (this link has three parts: build, painting and weathering. Quite useful.)

I'll now watch all of these and make notes on ideas I like and possible decisions I will have to make along the way.

Cheers,

 

[RGL]

Did you get the RCSubs upgrades? 

[PvG Aussie]

Yes I did, and I also checked out you excellent build of the same ship. I hope you don't mind if I get a few ideas from your U9?

Cheers

Ps I have a close friend in Canberra and hope to visit some day. Perhaps I could use the opportunity to check out your creations!😀

[RGL]

Our model show is  every November, I’ve slowly been digging away at having more ships there 

[PvG Aussie]

Our show is in February so if you want me to put your name down, just let me know. You are welcome to stay here among the ships and planes. This year was my first time in a regional competition and I won 'Best Ship', 'People's Choice' and 'Best of Show' with my 1/48 scale "Bounty- after the mutiny". These awards were a great surprise as I have only been modelling for a bit over two years.

I checked out your ships and they are truly amazing.

Cheers

Edited April 16 by PvG Aussie
Spelling error

[RGL]

It’s 1500 ks to Rocky from Canberra! No ship will last that trip and your summers are a bit hotter than ours! 
 

for the rest of you, it’s this far! 

[PvG Aussie]

Ok, maybe some other time!

[Scottish Guy]

Good luck with that submarine

[PvG Aussie]

I've started!

Today I:

1. Gave up on waiting for parts in the mail.

2. Slip proofed the walk areas on the top of the tanks. I used an old brush and Tamiya Putty and cleaned the edge with Tamiya Lacquer Thinner. I tried Tamiya Surface Primer but the effect was not textured enough. I am very pleased with the result.

3. Primed everything! What was grey is now black (SMS Surfacer Black).

Tomorrow I will start weathering the lower hull by 'black basing and lighter marbeling'.

Edited April 27 by PvG Aussie

[Scottish Guy]

Hi Peter, looks good so far. May I ask why you not tokk the parts out of the cast / sprue? In the past as I was doing plastic models (most likely space ships) I always cut the parts out of the cast, trimming them and painted (sprayed with an airbrush gun) the parts. I think it´s easier than fixing the cuts / trimmings after the parts are painted. But that is just my humble opinion. Would be interesting to read other opinions about it.

 

Micha

[PvG Aussie]

Micha, I did it this way because I find it easier to handle the parts while still on the sprues. There is no real problem with cut marks later on as it is only the primer and there are plenty of opportunities to paint the 'missed bits' later. I will probably do the same for the next stage so as to avoid getting my fingers in the way.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's report, I'll let you know if I change my mind.

Cheers, Peter

[Scottish Guy]

4 hours ago, PvG Aussie said:

Stay tuned for tomorrow's report, I'll let you know if I change my mind.

 

Looking forward to it Peter

 

Micha

[PvG Aussie]

I'm happy with today's effort eventhough my air brush played up badly with the low pressure required. So today I:

1. Masked the lower hull for painting.

2. Cut the hull pieces from the sprue because I didn't want to do 'fiddly bits' on big pieces. (NB: Scottish Guy!)

3. Did the first spot marbeling on the hull and tank tops. Used Tamiya Sky Grey XF-19 and 20A Thinner, (1:2), Retarder Medium at 10psi.

4. Did the second spot marbeling using Tamiya Sky Grey XF-19, Flat White XF-2 and 20A Thinner, (1:1:2), RetarderMedium at 10psi.

5. Applied the final coat of Tamiya Lijn Gray XF-77 at 20psi.

6. Applied a clear coat of 'rattle can' Tamiya Flat Clear TS-80.

Next time, I think I may add panel liner as well as stencil some tiny patches of a lighter colour onto the lower hull.

[Scottish Guy]

Looks really good, sorry to hear that your airbrush played up (gladly I never had such issues yet). But the results are amazing. I like the dark shade on the lap joints. Looks really authentic

And you made me blush lol to mention me . Looking forward to the next post

 

Micha

[PvG Aussie]

I think I'm reasonably happy with today's results. 

I firstly gave the hull another coat of Ljn Gray as the lighter grays underneath looked too light this morning.

Next I started playing with the algae look by adding SMS RAAF Dark Slate which I applied with a hard brush. Then followed this with a larger brush wash with the same paint. I also started on the deck 'timber look' which I intend covering with hair spray and a very dark grey or even black so that I can weather walking areas to show the timber underneath.

I'm not sure, but I think the green and timber look ok.

 

Edited April 29 by PvG Aussie

[PvG Aussie]

Some old people like to talk about their illnesses. I Don't! Just say that I didn't do any modelling yesterday and I only started late today. But what a great afternoon it was.

My PE parts arrived today and I primed them. Also I masked and painted the light grey areas of the hull (Weathering will have to wait). It was a pleasing few hours.

Ps. Thanks for all the 'likes' and special greetings to those that are 'following' me.

[PvG Aussie]

Not much done today. Too many distractions. However, I did weather the deck hatches, Tamiya Dark Iron XF-84 over hair spray over a mix of rust colours. I'm pleased with the results. Tomorrow I want to weather the main deck with it's timber look underneath.

Edited May 2 by PvG Aussie

[PvG Aussie]

A great day!

Firstly, I glued the two halves of the hull together. It was a bit of a challenge and it took me an hour and a half! I'm happy with the result.

Secondly, I dry fitted the deck and it was excellent.

Thirdly, I weathered the deck with hair spray and a top coat of Vallejo German Grey. It is meant to look like tar brushed over timber decking. The result looks a bit grubby but that may have been how it was. Feedback would be appreciated as I may have over weathered it.

Thanks for all the 'likes' and comments. I thoroughly enjoy checking them first thing in the morning.

[king derelict]

The deck looks very good. I would think the exterior of a submarine is a nasty environment. Your model is coming along very nicely.

Alan

[Javelin]

I'm no specialist on submarine decks, but in those days subs spent most of their time on the surface. I would imagine their decks would not be that dirty, much like the hull above the waterline as algae etc. wouldn't get time to get a grab on those parts.

I would imagine they'd keep it cleaned as much as they could to make it less slippery as well. 

The ageing and tar of the wood would probably give some contrasts, but not sure if it would as visible as what you made.

 

That said, most people won't make that kind of considerations when looking at your model. If the weathering of the deck matches the rest of the build and you're happy with it, that's fine. 

[PvG Aussie]

Thanks for the likes and comments.

The biggest danger with weathering is 'going overboard' (excuse the pun), so I think I will clear spray, hair spray and final German Grey spray the deck again. I made the error of weathering without letting the top coat dry properly and I washed off too much. Thanks for your thoughts.

Edited May 4 by PvG Aussie

[PvG Aussie]

Better? I think the deck weathering is far more subtle. I also added the previously weathered deck panels, as well as Black Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color. I'm happy with the results.

 

Edited May 4 by PvG Aussie

[Scottish Guy]

1 hour ago, PvG Aussie said:

Better? I think the deck weathering is far more subtle. I also added the previously weathered deck panels, as well as Black Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color. I'm happy with the results.

 

Sadly I can´t give more than one thumb up. Looks much better and much more realistic. I love that sub, never have done one myself but that one looks really good.

 

Micha

[Javelin]

Definately better. Looking forward to see it matched with the hull! 

[PvG Aussie]

Another great day!

• I had fun with kit and aftermarket 'tubes'. The fit required cutting and sanding but it did work out. (The black one is for engine exhaust, and the grey one is an air intake.)
• The underside parts of the deck were then added.
• I started on the coning tower and dry fitted it to the deck to check the fit. Obviously it isn't weathered yet, maybe tomorrow.
• I'm happy with the look of the deck so it may not be long before I glue it onto the hull (ok Javelin?😉).

Cheers,

Edited May 5 by PvG Aussie

[PvG Aussie]

It's coming together! (Thanks for all the likes and comments)

 

Yesterday I added decals to the hull and conning tower, using "Tamiya Mark Fit'. Tricky because of the debth decal sizes but I am very pleased as they look great.

 

The next job was to nervously start the weathering. I mixed two rust colours using a combination of Vallejo German Orange, Artesania Latina Hull Red, Royal Blue and Deep Yellow. The colours are ok, but I think I want to add a black, grey or brown wash to give an overall aging appearance and play down the possibly excessive weathering on the port side air tanks.

 

A Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color (of 1/1 Black/Grey) also added a little extra but is not very noticeable. I think the straight black would be too dark.

 

Cheers, Peter

 

 

 

Edited May 7 by PvG Aussie

[PvG Aussie]

An easy day today.

I finished the weathering on the hull and conning tower.

 

I just realised that I forgot the air vents on the side air tanks (all 34 of them!).

Better get started now!

 

An hour later and they're on.

Cheers,

 

Edited May 8 by PvG Aussie

[PvG Aussie]

Little time so little progress yesterday. Today has been better.

 

Managed to repair, paint and weather a join on the aft deck, also installed diving planes fore and aft. (Forgive the terminology. I'm no submariner by any means.)

Added the propellors, stays, flag pole and bollards.

I have two questions where I need help:

1. What are these red things on the deck, and
2. What is the best way to display a decal flag? (I read that using tin foil allows for good shaping.)

 

Cheers, Peter