Shar2 Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Nice one Chris I don't know the size of the propeller but if it needs to be changed here are a couple of possible sources This one accepts commissions if the don't have the right size/style http://www.gsitek-props.co.uk/categories.asp?cat=10 http://www.raboesch.com/index.php/en/online-store-en/marine-accessories-uk/brass-propellers-uk?limitstart=0 Cheers Kev They've got a very nice selection of propellers. Thanks for the links Kev. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bull Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 (edited) Pictures in the old 'Mystery of X5' book would make you swear that they were painted in the lighter grey, such as the Duxford machine, but then you can look at different pics of the Gosport machine and it looks black in one, and much much lighter in another! I reckon mine will end up painted in whatever I can get a spray can of, LOL! Edited June 3, 2015 by Mike Bull 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismac60 Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 I brought one at Salisbury, dont know why, it just happened. I was drawn to it like a magnet and paid £36. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 With regards to colour scheme did a little digging in my own expanding library, highly recommend Underwater Warriors by Paul Kemp contains a few chapters on the X-craft with detailed development notes. In development mountbatten pink was tried and discarded, the standard submarine scheme of the time was adopted, black upper surfaces with grey sides, the XE class where black all over. one exception to this where the two craft used in operation overlord. They were painted yellow ochre, stone and hookers green (as depicted by the accurate armour release). A few things to note are that X-5 onwards were 51ft 71/2in long being longer than the two prototypes by approx. 7ft. The XT class was shorter being 51ft 4in long and the XE class being longer at 53ft 1in. X-51 class HMS stickleback etc were 3inches larger in the beam. Hope this helps all intending to model them, as I will be when I get mine LOL All the best Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bull Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Cheers Chris. So according to that, the basic, Operation Source X Craft were painted like this model here- http://modelkitsreview.com/brengun-1-144-midget-sub-x/ - only I can't discern that from any actual photos of them...hmm! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyC Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Well done Chris - nice digging! And well done to Gosport too! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Mike I think the link youve added has got it wrong as all photos ive seen show the same colour to the waterline, i suggest inline with standard WW2 navy practice on submarines there would be a line just below the waterline, also a dark grey would have been used, not a light grey as per the model. As my previous post it stated black upper surfaces and the top curve of the hull would qualify as upper surface. See photos from my visit to Submarine museum Gosport. All the best Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bull Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 Definitely inclined to agree re the model I linked to being incorrect- there's just NO sign of any such paint demarcation on any archive photo- but there's no sign that I can see of anything else, either- they appear to be just the one, uniform colour- unless the difference was so slight, it just didn't register in the B&W shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bull Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 Received the kit today- and very nice it is, too. Waiting now on some high-res reference shots from someone who was involved with searching for X5 a few years back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bull Posted June 6, 2015 Share Posted June 6, 2015 Have now seen some high resolution pictures- some of X6 just after building, showing a discernable half and half light/dark paint scheme, BUT, looking very much as if the craft simply wasn't fully painted yet. There are other shots, particularly of X5, where it is unmistakably just one dark shade all over. I think everyone who has been painting their X craft one uniform dark shade of grey have got it pretty much right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radpoe Spitfire Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 At some tim I'd like to build an x-craft. Lived at Gaunsborough when I was very young & proud of the fact that one was built by Marshall bros at thier Gainsborough factory. Do any of the kits available represent this vessel as I believe it is one of the survivors 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Started building this kit on holiday, it is going together very well but that propeller needs to either be replaced or have the blades enlarged. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Hi Radpoe, the following were built at Gainsborough X24 & X25, I would go with building one of these two as they can be represented by the merit kit at 1/35 or at 1/72 by pavla, chorosozy. Also XE1 to XE12 were built at Gainsborough in a consortium with Broadbent. But these X craft were longer, see previous post. X-24 is on display at the submarine museum Gosport. All the best Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radpoe Spitfire Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 (edited) Hi Radpoe, the following were built at Gainsborough X24 & X25, I would go with building one of these two as they can be represented by the merit kit at 1/35 or at 1/72 by pavla, chorosozy. Also XE1 to XE12 were built at Gainsborough in a consortium with Broadbent. But these X craft were longer, see previous post. X-24 is on display at the submarine museum Gosport. All the best Chris Hi Chris, Thank you for the info, I'm sure I'd read somewhere that the Gosport example was Marshalls built, however it was also my understanding it was the sole one to be built in the town. I remember my parents telling me it was tested I the River Trent to along the wharf front. Many thanks again Adrian Edited June 18, 2015 by Radpoe Spitfire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient One Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 I believe that a firm called accurate armour brought out an x-craft, does this have any more detail on the periscope air intake etc than the merit model? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 Hi Ancient, not to my knowledge, the accurate armour one is OOP and @ £235.00 compared to £45.00 for the Merit X-Craft enough said. At 1/35 its at a scale that you can super detail if you want to, there is a link in this thread to show someones build of this kit including detailing the schnorkel and periscope. All the best Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient One Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 Thanks Chris for the info: but do you know if there are any plans drawings etc of the periscope and air intake etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted July 4, 2015 Share Posted July 4, 2015 I personally haven't come across them, but if you contact the submarine museum using the form on the page link below, they night be able to help. https://www.submarine-museum.co.uk/what-we-have/research alternatively a visit to the submarine museum might be in order as X24 is on display. All the best Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient One Posted July 5, 2015 Share Posted July 5, 2015 Thanks Chris, I was hoping that someone may have had the Accurate Armour kit, but at that price perhaps not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tone Posted July 13, 2015 Share Posted July 13, 2015 HI, If anybody knows what propeller should be fitted to the merit kit can they pass it on to those of us who are eagerly awaiting the result of the research going on . cheers TONE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Hi Tone heres a blown up photo of what it should look like, this is of an X-craft in production, basically your looking for something similar as stated there are numerous sources for props. Will let you know if a match is found. All the best Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 What diameter of prop are we looking at do you think Chris? Cornwall Model Boats have a lovely selection of 3 bladed props for sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Hi Dave had a look, guesstimating 25mm diameter, if you can measure the width of the dive planes on your merit x-craft, as haven't got one yet. I could be a bit more accurate but based on scaled 1/144 x-craft it comes out at 25mm (1/35 equates to 34" dia. would assume 36" (3') as engineering wise would be foot increments which comes back to 26mm dia. so 25mm is a safe bet. Had a look at cornwall models best prop for the job LH 25mm as link below http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/R146-M2.html also found this on fleabay which fits the bill, as not too sure of the centre profile of the one above http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRASS-MODEL-BOAT-PROPELLER-25mm-3-BLADE-RIGHT-HAND-M4-/191500130500?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2c964c18c4 All the best Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Yeah I was looking at those, but think the three blade type D is a better fit, it even had the pointed boss. http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ecornwallmodelboats%2eco%2euk%2fcgi%2dbin%2fss000001%2epl%3fpage%3dsearch%26PR%3d%2d1%26TB%3dA%26SS%3d25mm%20%20type%20D%20propeller%20%26ACTION%3dquick%20search&WD=type%20propeller%2025mm&PN=R162%2dM3%2ehtml%23aRAB162_2d10#aRAB162_2d10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted July 14, 2015 Share Posted July 14, 2015 Could well be Dave, but to me the blades look too wide, difficult to tell blowing up photo. But the pointed boss is a plus, I agree best of the bunch. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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