Steve D

More progress today, far less went wrong. I managed to fix the screens in the way of the gangway with 5 amp fuse wire, I've had that in the drawer for 20+ years, first time I've found a use for it, you never know as they say. I also made a some folded canvas (torpedoes, gun etc) are often shown covered with canvas, it had to be stowed somewhere, the hiding places are there for people to discover. Also finished the ladder and gangplank which are stowed behind the gun platform against the stanchions, and started rolling coils of rope, there will be more of that once its finished. Generally, it's getting suitably cluttered as the real vessels were. Warning, weathering coming.... It's interesting, looking at pictures, some are clearly staged and I'm guessing the boats were cleaned up specially. Some were not and they show quite dirty boats, not helped by the fact they were painted white! So, my model is dirty, no apologies. However, the torpedo and the mines are clean, they would have been loaded for the voyage and so not had a chance to get much dirt on them. Also, bear in mind that the decks were covered in canvas, hard to swab that, its going to get dirty, just as the waterline will be impacted by sitting in a bunker with oily water sloshing around. There was a war on..... Shocking right? I've tried to grade the dirt on the canvas screens so it rests more at the bottom, please forgive my clumsiness, this is not a core skill of mine, I still have an immense amount to learn when I see some of the other threads of people who actually know what they are doing when it comes to painting and weathering Port side, perhaps a little better, lighting is weird in this shot... Detail for Arjan, remounted dinghy with correct tie-downs The rear with the gun platform, the start of the rope coils, the gangway stowage and two smoke buoys Looking towards the bridge, all platforms done. I'm actually quite pleased with the timber paint effect on those two platforms which I printed in the end. All the other timber is actual wood so making those platforms match is not something I've much (actually any) practice in. Note the checker plate steps, cut from an etched sheet I bought years ago, its O gauge running plate, works a treat So, the mounting pillars need turning, the single (for scale) crewman needs painting and some more rope trivia adding, tomorrow sees it in the house and waiting for the oak base in 10 days time. One more post to come and then it will re-appear in RFI Cheers Steve

I know Stuart, they had literally no deck space, shows they were only really designed as short duration raiders, not intended to stay as sea for any length of time Steve

Looking great Pascal

Thanks Rob, I continue my solitary campaign for the use of papier mache in ship modelling

Hi Arjan, Aaahhh, too late I'm afraid , I mounted it on transverse beams with the inverted hooks you can see on the other pictures tying it down. I'll just pretend you couldn't find that last picture, or I'll think it through overnight, maybe its not too late... As for the smoke float label, if I'd had that picture, I'd definitely have made a transfer. Again, that one really is too late now but I really do appreciate you finding these images, they've been a great help Meanwhile, I really am on the last leg now, just that last platform to finish painting and then the trivia to add. Progress today on the torpedo straps, bit more weathering touch-up, still more to go, the second long side screen, the mines are now fitted and the rear chain installed, where did the day go, doesn't seem like much progress? The anchor chain is installed through the sheave and chain stopper and into the pipe, tiny shackle made but not painted yet, just visible in brass above. There will be mooring ropes and poles to add to the forecastle as well. I still have to add the gangway chain and screens, the aerials and more weathering and varnish but it's almost done now. In this shot below you can see I've added wooden seats to the Bofors Cheers Steve

Small lines like that are usually hydraulic or air systems, looks like some kind of cut off/flow valve Cheers Steve

Hi Arjan, Thanks again for the original pictures, I'd not seen two of them before. It's a really interesting question that I don't know the answer to and that may be why I've not fixed it yet. It seems too flexible to just dump on top so it should sit in some kind of cradle , back to studying pictures... I also have no clue what those wheels could possibly be for, very strange Cheers Steve

Couple of pictures to show progress. I'm not finished with the weathering yet so no comments until its done. It's a bit dark in some places and uneven, but getting there. This vessel is going to look lived and fought in, not pristine from the dockyard The first long side screens are in along with the stanchions. The screens are laced to the top rail/wire rope using 0.01" braided wire rope which I think gives a nice effect. These two screens are painted but not yet weathered which is why they are lighter than their surroundings. The gap is where the gangway goes, it has a chain which is not fitted yet. One tricky detail I only spotted this morning is the top rail is solid to the gangway and wire rope thereafter. Luckily, 0.7mm brass rod fitting into the top loops, crisis averted I've also been painting the torpedoes, but they are not complete quite yet, still here they are to give an impression of the end state. The bracket straps will be fitted once they are finally installed. The port side rear platform still needs finishing, hence it's missing from this view Soon be on to rope coils, ladders aerials, and other trivia Steve

I promised you papier mache, well here it is. For the handrail screens, I make up a former from some wood, varnished it and that sprayed it with mould wax. The strips of white tissue paper were cut and then fed through a bowl of weak (probably -6 to 1, I didn't measure it) wood glue and water and laid in the former. I use 6 layers of tissue paper, don't know why, seems about right for stiffness. When this has dried overnight, it is like a stiff card but it retains some ripples etc that add to the deffect. Here is the bowl and the former The 10 x 2 mm timber edges do two things. They lead a slight round to the edge when cut which I will need to lay it over the top wire and they make it easy to cut and strip from the former. The other useful aspect of this is that when I'd cut them out, the centre top piece is perfect for the long vent canvas skirts (see earlier post for a feature no-one seems to add to their Schnellboot models) Here are my 6 skirts ready to prime and the two long strips that I will use to make the handrail dodgers, note the rounded edge. Not sure what the camera decided to focus on in this shot, not the model certainly. Anyway, skirts fitted I've also made a start on the weathering. This time I'm combining AK washes with the pencils. This shot shows the torpedo launchers with some weathering detail added, still WIP I also completed the torpedo racks in brass. The long sections are 2 mm x 1mm channels section with that kink soldered, (those little gaps need a bit of filler). It looks like the kink it there to allow the sling to by pulled free as they seem to lift the torpedo with a single centre sling. Getting both sides of the kink even defeated me as you can see Hard to tell here, but the cross brackets allow for the deck slope, I probably over-engineered that bit.... A last look back..., note the start of the weathering on the torpedo door and the slight crease in the forward vent skirt, that's what papier mache will give you, try doing that with anything else. The rounded top fitted perfectly to the edge moulding I expect to complete this weekend, bar some final fiddling of extra detail (ladders, ropes, anchor chain etc) and the stand pillars, Steve

Nice

Home straight now, completed the second torpedo tube launcher, ~40 pieces of brass, only three etched, the rest scratch built from section, I think it is slightly better than the first. Mixture of hard soldering, normal soft soldering, solder paste and superglue, used more of less in that order Here they are together in primer located in the hull Quite a bit of finishing done on the deckhouse, basically its complete now bar weathering, all glazing done I also completed and fitted the Bofors platform, including rigging the handrails, though this shot seems focused on the mines, on the rear one nearest you can see I've started some highlighting The handrail rigging is done in 0.010 inch multi-strand wire that looks remarkably like wire rope, the terminations through the top loops use 1 mm tube ferrules 1.5 mm long. Note the crazy stanchion angles, simulating real life In this shot you can also see the shielded stern running light and the rear middle stanchion holding the lifebuoy Torpedo racks tomorrow and fitting the deck edge stanchions, now in final colour Cheers Steve

Thanks, its these little things I love Steve

hi Arjan, Some excellent figure painting there Looking at this picture again, I noticed the skirt hanging down from the forward long vents, circled in yellow below. Do you know anything more about this detail, seems an interesting feature to add Cheers Steve

It just takes clean metal, clean flux, a lot of heat and a good supply of replacement brass for when it all goes horribly wrong

Vallejo neutral grey, from their Kriegsmarine set (71.051) Kriegsmarine Set

its a plate (or bar, I have two bar drawplates) with a reducing series of conical wholes drilled in it that you draw wood or soft metal through progressively to round it and gradually reduce its size, used by jewellers and watchmakers. Mine belonged to my Grandfather who was a watchmaker. The conical shape acts as an cutting edge. Very useful for making very small dowel from square section Steve

Stuart, I must admit, I didn't think it would work either, amazing stuff Cheers Steve

Quick update of toady's progress, mostly spent working on the Bofors platform Cross beams installed to support the decking And some time later, the decking in place, seemed a shame to paint it. Note the conical vent that fits under the gun and the kitchen chimney, awkward.. But paint it I did and then sanded it off where the wear might occur Gun painted here but not weathered yet, wooden seat bases to add still, stern light installed by open hatch On other stuff, I managed to glaze the windscreen and narrow viewing slots at the front of the open bridge with Kristal Klear, brilliant! and get the Acorn transfers done, printed at home on transparency paper (sorry, that shot's a little out of focus) The rest of the glazing will go in tomorrow, frames are painted ready for the clear plastic, running multiple build fronts..... Steve

Did I ever say I hate stanchions... well its still true, boring repetitive things to make. Still, today I was not going to leave without them finished Still not fixed here and they are still in primer, but at least they are all done. Then I turned to the Bofors platform and the rear frame in particular. One of the things about building this stuff in brass is that, careful or not, it ends up a little bent, actually just like the real thing. Take a look at pictures of these platforms and all the stanchions are at different angles and bent a bit. My model follows full size practice in this regard Quite frankly, I was just relieved to see it done. The flat straps kept melting before the solder, maddening, I should know better after all these years... Starting to run out if things to make now, second torpedo tube and the torpedo racks (well the last two of them) and then its on to final paint. I've made the mould for the canvas screen that I will make in papier mache, will lay them down tomorrow. The skip has arrived for clearing the garage , the move will be upon me very soon.... Steve

Thanks Dmitriy, 3D printing, being retired and under time pressure from our house move have all speeded this one up, hopefully not at the expense of quality. Future projects will not be so rapid Cheers Steve

Thanks Stuart, I love those mines, way better than some boring depth charges. Just wait until they are finished and the detail is highlighted, I think they will sing Cheers Steve

More progress, no rest for the wicked... Mixing up making things with painting, to keep the variety. Here's some staged shots of where I've got to, most stuff still loose. Note the smoke machines and mines, these are painted all matt black at this stage, more stuff to pick out and then weathering will lift the dull black appearance and help show the detail on the print which is really cool. Gun platform awaiting the last stanchions, coming soon. What you can't see but I'm really pleased with is the scuttles on the open hatches which I managed to glaze with micro kristal klear , brilliant! Moving along, lots of progress on painting the deckhouse, vent platform still in primer here, other one needs finishing View from the bow, searchlight not fixed, looks like it slipped, glazing panes on the windows still to add So, overall coming on nicely. Lastly, a sight to please, the end of the simple stanchions And then in primer, note also lifebuoys in the background, ready to fix. The cylindrical thing in the middle is I believe, a rope canister. It's clearly visible on one of the photographs so I included it, think it was also red from the image, seems the same colour as the ring. They mount to the deck house sides and the single ring is held on the rear stanchion, stern light assembly between the mines. Much thinner and slightly larger rings than RN Cheers Steve

Rob, Yes I'm sleeping, thanks . I agree, the Bofors came together quite well and quickly. When you start these projects, you're never sure (well I'm never sure) that you can actually make every item to a standard that does it justice. The deck house has actually been the major challenge, copper really helped here, not sure how I'd have done it otherwise. I'm looking forward to seeing it painted and weathered, Thanks again for your kind comments Steve

Greg What a great story, I'd love to have a go at that sim. If you need any help or drawings, just PM me, I've now more or less redrawn the entire boat and all the components, as much time spent drawing as building really. Most of the printed stuff will rescale to 1:72, albeit with some loss of detail so again, please reach out, I'll be happy to help Cheers and thanks for the nice comments Stvee

Thanks for the kind words David. As I get older, the tools get better so hopefully they are compensating for my reduced dexterity. It's a really interesting model, I'm enjoying it and have some great detail still to include plus of course weathering to bring the shiny back to a hard fought war boat. I'm under real time pressure this time as I've said, I'd hate not to finish before we move as I'll be out for months then as a house project will take precedence.... Cheers Steve