U-47 by RVB (Rick) - Amati - Scale 1/72 - Length 92.4cm or 36.38 inches - marketed by Model Shipways c. 2013

[Admiral Rick]

From the sub shipyard. U-47 in dry dock on 1-2-3 blocks (A very useful hobby tool) in primer before fine sanding and marking the waterline. 
Updated report from the Admiral

 

[Admiral Rick]

First coat of Liquitex Ivory Black in preparation for waterline masking. 

[Admiral Rick]

Sun is just coming up with light snow in the sub shipyard. Crew is working on the waterline. 1/16” 3M Vinyl masking tape has been applied over the black painted yesterday. The tape was then painted over with the same black to seal it and set aside to dry. When dry the crew will paint the hull bottom dark red. A brass cutwater was added to the bow and blended with the hull with red spot putty. 
Morning update from the Admiral

 

Edited December 27, 2025 by RVB

[Admiral Rick]

The crew fine sanded the cut water and masked the upper hull prior to painting. I have done  autobody restoration for years and found that materials used in autobody work extremely well if not better than what hobby shops offer for model finishing. The yellow auto masking tape is cheap, stretches on curves and is far superior to regular masking tape and does not leave any film when removed. Anyone who is a very serious modeler should check out auto body supplies. 
Next up having the crew paint the lower hull before the sun goes down. Remember the war waits for no one. 
Best the Admiral

 

 

Edited December 27, 2025 by RVB

[Admiral Rick]

The crew got the lower hull on one side almost finished. The entire crew turned in for the night. Until tomorrow. 
The Admiral 

[Admiral Rick]

While waiting for paint to dry one crew member my granddaughter started working on the name and a berth for the ship as it waits to join the war. My only problem today is “She has a Screw loose”. The rest of the crew took the afternoon off and headed to the local bar. 
Update 14:00 hours The Admiral 

 

[Admiral Rick]

Air brushing tip. 
When not using the magnetic clips for small parts so they don’t blow around double sided Alien tape works great. 

Edited December 28, 2025 by RVB

[Admiral Rick]

Well the crew finally got some color to the hull above the waterline after masking the area. We all pray the sea gull stays out of the paint. 
Update 11:00 The Admiral 

Edited December 29, 2025 by RVB

[Admiral Rick]

Well the crew finally got the hull painted above the waterline with Liquitex Basic Acrylic Fluid “Neutral Gray”. Joining the war getting closer by the day. Next on preparation for finish is installation of antenna wire needed to receive  necessary info that can only be decoded by our top secret enigma decoder, railings and the on deck bow cutwater needed when submerged. Future necessary painting before finishing and prior to launch are the bow torpedo tube doors. And final weathering of the hull so it appears that we actually have been engaged all the time. 
Update 09:00 hours Admiral Rick

Edited December 30, 2025 by RVB

[Admiral Rick]

16:00 hours

Crew finished installing the bow deck cutwater (soldered and filled).  
Admiral Rick

 

 

Edited December 30, 2025 by RVB

[Admiral Rick]

Well finally got the crew to unmask U-47 after respraying the upper hull a lighter gray. We were all happy with the way the waterline turned out. 
Update 1/2/26 at 16:00 hours 

Admiral Rick

 

[TerryPat]

It looks great! Nice work

[Admiral Rick]

Thanks Terry

I painted the waterline the way I usually do it but I was worried because it was so thin (1/16”). But it worked out well. I was debating using black auto pinstripe but I chose to paint it. 
Admiral Rick

[madtatt]

Hi Terry, a beautiful and interesting build.👍

 

However, there's one thing that's not quite right.

DKM submarines don't have a red underwater hull. The hull color corresponds to today's RAL 7016, or anthracite gray. I don't know how historically accurate you want your model to be, but I thought I'd point it out. 😉

[Admiral Rick]

4 hours ago, madtatt said:

Hi Terry, a beautiful and interesting build.👍

 

However, there's one thing that's not quite right.

DKM submarines don't have a red underwater hull. The hull color corresponds to today's RAL 7016, or anthracite gray. I don't know how historically accurate you want your model to be, but I thought I'd point it out. 😉

Hi Joelle

I know you are right because after I painted the lower hull I looked it up. I wish I had looked it up before I painted it. I went by the picture on the Amati box and they were definitely wrong. There is an extensive discussion of all the colors  the U-47 was painted during its years of service right down to the black tar on the wood deck. After I painted the hull burgundy with the waterline it was too late without extensive work to correct. I have enclosed the website of the hull colors for those interested since the discussion is very interesting. In a few short years every time U-47 sustained war damage and was repaired a different paint color was applied. 

Thanks for spotting the color discrepancy 

Best Rick

 

[Admiral Rick]

Update 15:00 hours 

The crew just finished painting all extra water intake ports. We are getting closer by the hour to join the war and starting another build. This one went quicker than I could have imagined. I should have finished it 12 years ago instead of tossing it in the closet. I should look to see what else I have in there. 
Admiral Rick

[madtatt]

Hi Terry.

 

It's very unfortunate that Amati is letting its customers down with such errors. It just goes to show that companies don't think it's necessary to do a little research before launching a product. Especially since the effort required to gather this information is extremely small.

 

Despite everything, you're making a great model out of it. 👍

[Rick310]

Rick,

Great job, beautiful result!!

Boy, you completed that fast!!

Rick

[Admiral Rick]

Update 13:00 hours

 The crew is shaken up today and my First Mate looks as freighted as she was working on the Picket Torpedo. I have to report even though we are still on dry  dock we were depth charged so to say. In weathering U-47 with Vallejo Model Air orange rust (just came in) it worked terribly with the airbrush. The more I attempted to correct things the worse things got. I should have quit while I was ahead but like a ———-I plodded on knowing I should just quit. Am I the only modeler who acts like this. I don’t think SO! 
The best part it’s nothing that can’t be fixed. The rust weathering at the end looks OK but the lower hull below the waterline needs some attention. And the crew and I need to remake the periscope which broke from the depth charges. 
That’s the report for now. Tomorrow’s another day. 
Admiral Rick 

 

Edited Sunday at 08:20 PM by Admiral Rick

[Admiral Rick]

As usual the crew went back to work and remade the periscope. The remake turned out better than the resin one that came with the kit. As I said before the brass in the kit is beautiful but the resin pieces leave something to be desired. We installed the periscope and retiring for the day. 

[Admiral Rick]

As usual the crew went back to work and remade the periscope. The remake turned out better than the resin one that came with the kit. As I said before the brass in the kit is beautiful but the resin pieces leave something to be desired. We installed the periscope and retiring for the day. 

[Admiral Rick]

Well a new and brighter day for the crew. We decided to wipe the acrylic overspray on the hull with 91% isopropyl alcohol and almost all of the overspray wiped off leaving minimal touch up. It also minimally melted the the acrylic paint surface and allowed it to flow out glassy smooth. It was a high risk procedure but it worked out great. In the future I wouldn’t hesitate to wipe acrylic paint surfaces with isopropyl alcohol to remove imperfections and overspray. The crew was very happy with the results because it gets us closer to joining the war and they didn’t have to repaint and mark the entire lower hull!! And the crew was very happy in how the periscope repair turned out. Far better than what came with the Amati kit. 

Update 07:30 hours

Admiral Rick

[GrandpaPhil]

Rick,

  The U-47 looks amazing!

[Admiral Rick]

Thanks

Terry

Brad 

Phil

Bob
Yves

you are all official crew members when we launch!! 
Admiral Rick
 

[Admiral Rick]

Finally got the crew to finish shaping the periscope with auto glazing and spot putty which feathers out wonderfully before applying paint. 
Update 15:00 hours 

Admiral Rick 

Edited yesterday at 08:02 PM by Admiral Rick

[GrandpaPhil]

I got dibs on the engine room!  
 

It’s been a few years, but I think I still remember how to work on a marine diesel!

[Admiral Rick]

Phil were you a marine mechanic. I have a friend who went to Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Cape Cod and was trained to run the engine room.

You got the job as senior in command of the engine room. 
I’m putting Terry in charge of the torpedo room. 
Other positions will be assigned in the near future.  
Crew members can sign up for positions they desire. First come first serve. 
Admiral Rick 

 

[GrandpaPhil]

I spent about a year working on a workboat 20 years ago.  

I spent most of my time working in the engine room.

 

I am skilled at making machines work.

Edited yesterday at 09:56 PM by GrandpaPhil

[Admiral Rick]

What kind of work did you do on the boat Phil. It sounds like it was a year interesting adventure. 

[GrandpaPhil]

It was a supply boat in the Gulf of Mexico tending the oil rigs.  I helped the Chief Engineer and worked the deck as needed.

 

I had an AB (Able-Bodied Seaman) license and was frequently utilized as an oiler.

 

I learned a lot that year.

Edited 22 hours ago by GrandpaPhil