Jump to content

Revell 1/72 VIIC C/41 Deutshes U-Boot “Atlantic Version”


Recommended Posts

It’s time to start another U-boat build.  
Revell 1/72 U-boat (Atlantic version).

This kit gives you several build options, decals to support those U-boats, and information pertaining to those boats such as when the hull was laid, commission dates, commanders, successes, and when, where, and how it was sunk.   
 

I am still deciding on which boat to represent. I do like the box art color paint scheme. If I’m not mistaken that boat was the U-997.

Laid down: Dec. 7, 1942.

commissioned: September 23, 1943.

Commander: Oblt. Hans Lehmann.

Successes: 7 patrols, 2 ships sunk, 1 ship damaged.

Sunk on December 13, 1945 by aircraft in Operation Deadlight.

 

52067135048_3d137812e1_b.jpg

 

Edited by Goji308
Photo issues, finally added.
  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here are the packaged sprues from the box. I believe the two sides of the hull were attached at some point, but were lose in the box upon my opening. 

52067220421_b885cc477f_b.jpg

 

I was very pleased with the aftermarket wooden deck by Nautilus on my last build so I picked up another for this build.    I am a big fan of Nautilus wooden decks.

 

Nautilus wooden deck

 

Pictured below are the decals sheet supplied in the box by Revell for the different Uboat configurations.  

52067707945_62fe18d16d_b.jpg

 

I plan on using this sheet of Photo Etched Details by Eduard on this build.   

52067220331_f2118f913d_b.jpg

 

More to come..,

 

 

  • Like 11
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome aboard Johnny & Mick!
I appreciate the company.  
Today my goal is to deburr the hull edges and inner rails where the large sprue had broken or come apart before I owned the kit.  One sprue connection broke pretty close to the model edge so it took a bit of careful blending to hide it.  I also want to make sure there are no bumps or burrs for later when I slide the deck in. 
I trying to decide whether build this kit with closed torpedo doors, or open. Strangely enough, I think am a fan of them being closed. 
I compare it  kind of looking at pictures of great white sharks eating seals and fish and it’s a pretty astonishing / exhilarating moment.   But it’s also really cool watching a GW shark gliding through the ocean and it just demands awe and respect.  I think I’m over thinking this.. :)

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tom, thanks for sharing preference regarding the Torp Doors and the reply.  
 

Tonight I fitted the torpedo doors into their placements.  They were pretty tight so I just carefully filed and sanded the profile of the door until they slid into place with less resistance.   I know the little hull bridge between the upper and lower doors is pretty weak and it does not take much to stress it.  

 

Dry fit.  

52078169602_306cede861_b.jpg

 

I held up the hull against my workbench light and I penciled where I want to grind the inside to open up the holes & vents. 
 

52079217418_ae1c8fc649_b.jpg


 

52079696635_50c468c5c4_b.jpg

Like on my previous build, I carefully removed plastic creating a controlled groove with the Dremel till the material in the slot almost falls out.  I then agitate the slot with an undersized drill by hand.  A light sand in the groove and you are left with a very clean precise slot or hole.  
An old toothbrush works well too.

  • Like 7
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I did my uboat with one side closed, one side open... but any choice you make is fine. 

Helluva noise dremelling those Flutschlitze, ain't it?😂 looking fine so far. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am following.

I have up to date built aircraft only, but I have the "Platinum Edition" of this kit in my stash. That would be my first sub.

Looking forward to follow this build and learn a lot.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Uncarina,

Yes, I have visited that website in the past.   Lots of great details and info there.   Great U-boat resource.  Thanks for sharing.  
 

VolkerR: Thanks for the reply and the follow.  I hope there will be something useful for you to takeaway in this build. Congrats on the Platinum edition in your stash.  I have the very same Plat Edition kit in my stash too. I am new to PE an there is a lot of it in that box.  
 

Today I caught up the opposite hull and finished all the holes, and “flutschlitze” flood slots. I also started filling in a few factory holes in the hull which will be covered by Photo Etch parts.  Nothing new and ground breaking. 
 

52080246327_7474011dea_b.jpg

 

52081517029_1157344550_b.jpg

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Goji308
  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Tom, yes,  I like the look of the hole openings vs the indentations or hole suggestions.  :)  Makes them a little more punctuated.  

 

I have been adding some of the PE parts to the hull.  Some of the parts needed extra attention blending them in and getting rid of mold lines.  
 

This is my 1st experience using PE and it’s been quite fun.   I brought a few pieces of acrylic home from work, makes a great bottom material to cut against.  
 

So far I use my Tamiya styrene glue to soften the plastic. Then I press down the PE part. Then I finish it off with a dab of extra thin CA.
 

Pictured below you can see the shaft support housings finished, lots of filling, gluing, and blending. I had to fill the divot under the flange arm foot for the support.  

52086743661_5db2a872d1_b.jpg


Blending in mold lines.

52084001859_45811b8611_b.jpg

 

Edited by Goji308
  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Over the last day or so I have been steadily going through and been prepping, filing, sanding and installing prop shafts rudders, the snorkel assembly, and misc details.

I can’t believe I did not remember to anneal the PE mesh at the top of the snorkel before trying to bend it.    Yes, I snapped it in half by accident.  
I Took a break and revisited it 20 minutes later. I put both pieces under a flame for a few seconds and bent them to shape.  After that they bent smooth as warm butter.
I am pleased the way it came out rolling the PE fragments over several drill shanks despite the setback.

52091604709_1844e43946_b.jpg


 I textured the plate area on the hull with my dremel rotary tool and sanded it down for a smoother look.  I’ll  also lightly sanded the rivets for a more subtle look that compliments the scale of the Uboat.

 

52091485511_f4a8ff71f1_b.jpg

 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Today I took one of my sons to a San Francisco giants baseball game.  Beautiful day at the ballpark.  We were treated with a cool fly over during the National Anthem.

52091262152_fe4a45be6f_z.jpg

 

After we got home, I like to think I was as careful as a surgeon removing the deck from the wood blank. There were a few contact points that needed several passes from the scalpel to free.  There was a small split in the deck so I added wood glue from the backside and made sure I got a little in the split.  I also added a little extra glue on the backside and added a small piece of paper to reinforce it.  Problem solved.

52092297728_c04de3503a_b.jpg

 

I also tuned the middle alignment fingers or key making sure there was no light passing through and they meshed evenly bringing both halves of the deck together.      I proceeded to sand the deck to fit paying attention to we’re it was overly snug.  Lastly I sanded and tuned the whole deck to length. Last thing I want to do is get it all ready for final assembly and have it resist falling into place. 

52092521859_c6e43f5b8a_b.jpg

 

52092782415_baca96e9fb_b.jpg

 

52092782395_767e8405a6_b.jpg

 

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A few days ago I was having an electrician come over to install some LED lights in our garage where my work bench is located.  I moved the model into our house temporarily in our home office which I assumed would be the safest place for it. After getting home from work my wife mentioned she accidentally knocked it over and handed me a ziplock with several pieces in it.  Luckily it was nothing major and I refitted the pieces back into the model and later filled any minor seams.  Close call.  
 

I have sealed/ conditioned  the deck and sanded very lightly.  I still am undecided  on which deck I will ultimately use; the styrene provided deck, or the real wood deck.  I was very surprised how detailed and featured the Revell stock deck is.  
I will be be working on both decks in parallel till the “One” stands out.  
 

After reading ahead in the instructions the snorkel attaches to a snorkel housing that is built into the stock deck/ one piece. So… if I want to use the wood deck I need a housing.   I could ether remove it and destroy the styrene deck and attach it to the wood deck … or I could try to make one from scratch.  I have not made anything like this before from scratch but it actually worked well.  I am glad I tried it.  It was a little rickety until installed.

 

52104046076_b7b923cdd6_b.jpg

 

52103022102_4415b699ea_b.jpg

 

52104082543_9525c63f31_b.jpg

 

52104082603_d6641ae8ee_b.jpg

 

52103022277_9cdb88a132_b.jpg

 

 

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like this scale of boats and ships. Details are better visible, everything is clearer and more realistic.

There is only one problem, where to store ready-made large models... :)

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, Goji308 said:

Luckily it was nothing major and I refitted the pieces back into the model and later filled any minor seams.  Close call.  

"Mit Bordmitteln zu reparieren?" -"sind schon dabei."

Thank goodness! There was a reason for my Boot to be the last thing (apart from some tools used) that was moved into our new house... 

 

As a U96-fan, I don't know much about the snorkel, but your work looks absolutely great, and I totally get the urge to work on both decks to see which one looks better. 

 

Am curious to see how the story goes on! 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Uncarina:  yes I have seen that article before but I am very glad you shared this with me.  It’s been a while since I’ve read it.  I will definitely revisit this.  
 

Dmitriy:  I agree these 1:72 Uboats are impressive in definition and scale.  I am running into space issues at home with my previous two builds.  I do have a 1:48 scale uboat to build soon.  I think a 1/32 might be out of the question.  My wife would intervene plus the cost of the model would be beyond my budget.

I thought I did have a letter “C” in the title. I think the problem is a left a space after the “VII”. Thanks for the mention, I’ll try to fix that.  

 

Johnny Tip:  my German is weak & rusty. Thank you for posting in German though. I do try to figure it out before asking my wife or google to translate it.  Thanks for the encouragement.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...