1/35 Schnellboot S-38 & harbor scene

[2Step]

And the next questions comes up, this a bit more general. Weathering... I already stated that I would want to keep it subtle. But getting ready to paint the white on the hull, I was wondering what about the weathering of the underwater hull? Barnacles, algae at the bootline ... and so on...

 

Any opinions, experiences? I think it is an area often neglected by the modellers. I am not sure what to do, probably also ignoring it, but I wanted to put it out there for discussion.

 

Cheers

[2Step]

I added the sideskirt ( @Steve D ) and the fire hose, alas the hose had to go at the ammunition locker as there was not enough room at the vent.

 

 

Cheers

[Steve D]

[2Step]

@Steve D Hi Steve another question for you if I may:

in your WIP thread there is a picture of your model (posting of 16 Feb 21) where it shows two bottles/containers attached to the port side of the cover of the hatch to the crew quarters/galley (NOT the bigger Nebelkanne/smoke generators).

 

Could you tell me what they are for, please and thank you?

 

Cheers

[Steve D]

30 minutes ago, 2Step said:

it shows two bottles/containers attached to the port side of the cover of the hatch to the crew quarters/galley

They are small smoke buoys, Nebelboje.  They seemed to be stored randomly around the deck on various images, I think they were grabbed and thrown overboard.  That space seemed a good spot, not much science I'm afraid, I just like cluttered decks.  My models are never exact, what I hope to do is give an impression of the vessel in service

 

 

Cheers

 

Steve

[2Step]

39 minutes ago, Steve D said:

They are small smoke buoys, Nebelboje.  They seemed to be stored randomly around the deck on various images, I think they were grabbed and thrown overboard.  That space seemed a good spot, not much science I'm afraid, I just like cluttered decks.  My models are never exact, what I hope to do is give an impression of the vessel in service

 

 

Cheers

 

Steve

I couldn't agree more with your statement what a model represents: The IDEA of how it was. Sometimes details that cannot be proven by original pics still make the model, IMHO, more "real" (see the location of my firehose). And yes cluttered decks are nice. It gives detail and scale to the model. That's partly why I chose the "harbor scene" as the deck would be less busy while the boat is at sea.

 

Follow up question: the measurements in the drawing are in inches, centimeters, in the 1/20 scale?

 

Thanks for the info. I did see that drawing, but figured it was related to the Nebelkanne, although it didn't seem to match (and had a different name, but sometimes things get lost in translation).

Cheers

[Steve D]

58 minutes ago, 2Step said:

the measurements in the drawing are in inches, centimeters, in the 1/20 scale?

In my opinion, those are actual size measurements in cm, the scale is irrelevant.  They were small and easily manhandled

 

Cheers

 

Steve

[2Step]

Slowly reality is beginning to match my inner vision of the Schnellboot. Hull painted and decks installed. The not totally opaque white primer over the grey plastic of the kit is good enough for me, resp. close enough to Schnellbootweiß No weathering on the hull yet

 

Deck houses etc. dry fit as of now ...

 

 

cheers

Edited January 23, 2024 by 2Step

[2Step]

"Heiß Flagge und Wimpel!"

 

Ok, with the raising of the flag, I guess the boat is officially comissioned ... although I have not seen any picture with nor have any idea where the pennant (c/o pennant) could fly. If anyone has any ideas ...

 

 

Also: port torpedo tube is loaded. The picture does actually not look nearly as good as the actual thing. I used some of Uschi van der Rosten polishing powder (Steel), which I am a big fan of for metal surfaces. Maybe I will have a better pic later.

 

 

I also added some printed (paper-) detail to the machine telegraph. It did not come out as well as I hoped for, on the other side, you don't see it really well either when the wheelhouse is closed. So it probably stays as is.

 

 

And finally, another question: are the torpedo tube ends really just monchrome in Schnellbootweiß? No bare metal or other colors? Firing button in red? I have not found any good pictures or drawings that I trust. And furthermore, still wondering where/how the loading apparatus was attched at the tube end.

Maybe @Steve D, you have something in your traesure chest?

 

 

And I was still too chicken to start weathering the hull yet

 

Cheers

Edited January 26, 2024 by 2Step

[Dmitriy1967]

I am pleased to observe this building. You create a masterpiece so easily and naturally. Very smart and natural weathering.

[2Step]

30 minutes ago, Dmitriy1967 said:

I am pleased to observe this building. You create a masterpiece so easily and naturally. Very smart and natural weathering.

 

you make me blush ...

 

Actually, weathering is my biggest concern right now, as I don't want to wreck the whole thing by overdoing it, but also want to show some wear and tear ...

 

But it does help if you think that this very moderate ammount of weathering looks natural, as I probably stick with this approach.

 

Cheers

[Steve D]

57 minutes ago, 2Step said:

you have something in your traesure chest?

Few torpedo tube images, not sure they help much

 

 

 

 

And I agree, weathering is always a challenge....

 

Cheers

 

Steve

[Andy H]

Impressive work! 😎

[2Step]

Thanks @Steve D

 

I had not seen most of the pictures and some others only in very small. Big help!

 

Cheers

 

oh ja - and just noticed - in German too

 

Edited January 26, 2024 by 2Step

[Steve D]

26 minutes ago, 2Step said:

in German too

Kein Stein blieb auf dem anderen

[2Step]

Now that I am practically done with the tubes, I found this video:

 

 

 

Now, this is the device installed on the first German Schnellboote AFTER WWII. However, they also launched the G7a torps, same as on the S38 class. I think I just "steal" the details and try to adapt to "my" launcher. The 3D modell shown in the video as well as the device located at the German Navy museum kind of give an idea how the loading mechanism worked, so ...

 

Note: the guy who made this video actually build a 1/33 scale modell that can fire the torpedo!! Alas, video is in German...

 

Cheers

Edited January 26, 2024 by 2Step

[Courageous]

Some nice work going on here, looking the part. When it comes to weathering, I'm like you, very cautious with the whole weathering thing. The thing that I get told is 'less is more'.

 

Stuart

[2Step]

7 minutes ago, Courageous said:

Some nice work going on here, looking the part. When it comes to weathering, I'm like you, very cautious with the whole weathering thing. The thing that I get told is 'less is more'.

 

Stuart

 

Yep, I prefer to run a tight ship and all cleaned up and ready for inspection!

[Bertie McBoatface]

52 minutes ago, Courageous said:

The thing that I get told is 'less is more'.

That’s only half the quote. It should read “Less is more, but more is better.” 😉

[2Step]

19 hours ago, Bertie McBoatface said:

That’s only half the quote. It should read “Less is more, but more is better.” 😉

I think the old sailor's saying actually goes: More helps more

[2Step]

Eureka!

 

I finally figured out the loading mechanism (kinda)...

 

I realized the wheel for winding up the cable to pull the torpedo into the tube is hidden underneath the funny shaped extension on the tube assembly. After realizing that I believed the funny shaped part to be a cover for the actual wheel (as in the video of the more modern launcher you can see a wheel and the cable). I also thought one of my pictures confirmed that. Suddenly it all made sense! So, full of enthusiasm, I sawed of the piece and replaced it with a scratch build whell. Unfortunately, I was fooled by the picture (the part was probably only dirty or in a shadow), and it seems after (too late) more investigation that the wheel is always under the cover and the cable is going in via an opening on the bottom of the "cover", which Italeri conveniently left out when rendering the piece.

 

Rather than replacing the sawed off piece, I still decided to stick with my original idea. So here it goes ....

 

 

The cable looks a bit funny when going around the two pulleys, which will be corrected when the torpedo gets actually installed.

 

Last problem: the two little knobs to the outside of the tube on the side wall. I've seen on other builds (S100?) that two handwheels get attached there. Those are included in the sprues, but not mentioned in the instructions. I have no confirmation either way on original pictures. So, I might just install them to have the more "really-complicated-technical-equipment" look to the whole thing.

 

Cheers and thanks to all who helped me here.

[Steve D]

Are these the wheels you refer to?

 

 

Just wondering

 

Cheers

 

Steve

[2Step]

I don't remember where I got the pic. On the first look it does not look like a S38B/S100.

 

 

You can see the two knobs the wheels could go on in the pic in my last post, beside the port tube on the outside wall, to the left of the red sign.

 

As your pic seems to be of an older boat, they could have moved them to the side with the same function, whatever that might be ...

[Steve D]

Makes sense 

[2Step]

Progress report: mostly just attaching seperately build pieces to the hull:

 

stern

 

 

Midships

 

bridge

 

 

I decided to include the squirrel decal, as the drawing has appeared on several boats in the Black Sea, why not this one

 

 

Some details are still missing. One has to be careful not to forget it later ... Also: I just realised a big mistake: I forgot to scratchbuild a ladder for the open hatch in the stern to galley and aft crew quarters before glueing the deck on (the black hole now cleverly and partly covered by the crew member in the picture above). I am not sure how to fix that

WARNING: The pics might include some items to just hold freshly glued parts in place.

And, as always, another question:

can anybody confirm that the antenna cables had NO insolaters??? I have not one pic that clearly shows one, however some 3d renderings where insolaturs are included. It kind of would make sense to have them, but without proof....

 

Thanks for looking - and hopefully responding.

 

Cheers

Edited January 30, 2024 by 2Step