Always lurking just out of view...
Last year I posted a photo of my Heng Long Tiger 1 and Panzer IV tanks, and in the background was a 55" U-Boat... I thought someone would notice, but no one did. I suppose that's how easter eggs are supposed to work!
Now that our Bancroft brand has been announced, encompassing RC Seagoing vessels, it's finally time to update this build thread on my 1/48 scale 1400mm (55") Type VIIC U-Boat. I'll be posting these in an odd order, based on whatever photos are on the storage harddrives I happen to have with me. #BlameCoronavirus
In time, I'll reorganize the thread, but for now, let me know if you had any questions.
To start off, I am not a 3DP master of patience like RCJetDude, so I didn't 3D print this kit, but rather did it the old fashioned way and bought it. It's a 1/48 scale kit molded from ABS and designed as both a static display kit and an RC-Ready kit. The "RC-Ready" aspect of the kit simply means that some areas are designed to facilitate moving surfaces and easier disassembly. For example, the main hull is divided into three sections: Forward, center, and aft. Each section is composed of a port and starboard half. The forward section and aft section screw into the center section with molded in brass threaded inserts, making disassembling and servicing the RC sub's WTC ("Water Tight Cylinder") much easier.
The rudders and diving planes also arrive in the kit with brass inserts molded in and steel rods to hook up control equipment.
I have notoriously little free time, so I decided to finish the boat as a static display first, then go back and install the WTC later since it only takes an hour or so to install the first time and just a couple minutes to access and service thereafter.
The forward, center, and aft sections are shown below. The ABS kit is molded nicely and these sections aligned for the most part. Based on reference photos, I decided to grind down the panels to represent buckling under high pressure at depth, and also to pock the center sections fuel tank bulge area to represent pitting. This is an extreme example, but models' weathering and wear is typically exaggerated for effect, so I'm taking similar artistic license here.
In preparation for an functional RC Sub, I made the entire conning tower magnetically detachable, and did the same for the conning tower's gun deck. This aligns with the position of the WTC's solenoid which turns on the watertight system on the inside from the outside. A quick coat of primer and I'm happy how the surface treatment turned out. In real life, it's less contrasty than these photos imply (due to the studio lighting exaggerating the shadows). The deck also comes in three parts to coincide with the three sections.
I like how this is coming together! The shape of the Type VII U-boat always appealed to me, its bow reminiscent of a katana's kissaki.
I'm using enamels and lacquers on this sub for enhanced durability compared to the water-based acrylics I normally use on a foam electric RC airplane.
With just the primer coat and two colors (rust and custom blue/gray), the submarine is beginning to look the part. It needs about ten more colors of paint and weathering before I seal it all in, but I'll save that for the next update.
Last year I posted a photo of my Heng Long Tiger 1 and Panzer IV tanks, and in the background was a 55" U-Boat... I thought someone would notice, but no one did. I suppose that's how easter eggs are supposed to work!
Now that our Bancroft brand has been announced, encompassing RC Seagoing vessels, it's finally time to update this build thread on my 1/48 scale 1400mm (55") Type VIIC U-Boat. I'll be posting these in an odd order, based on whatever photos are on the storage harddrives I happen to have with me. #BlameCoronavirus
In time, I'll reorganize the thread, but for now, let me know if you had any questions.
To start off, I am not a 3DP master of patience like RCJetDude, so I didn't 3D print this kit, but rather did it the old fashioned way and bought it. It's a 1/48 scale kit molded from ABS and designed as both a static display kit and an RC-Ready kit. The "RC-Ready" aspect of the kit simply means that some areas are designed to facilitate moving surfaces and easier disassembly. For example, the main hull is divided into three sections: Forward, center, and aft. Each section is composed of a port and starboard half. The forward section and aft section screw into the center section with molded in brass threaded inserts, making disassembling and servicing the RC sub's WTC ("Water Tight Cylinder") much easier.
The rudders and diving planes also arrive in the kit with brass inserts molded in and steel rods to hook up control equipment.
I have notoriously little free time, so I decided to finish the boat as a static display first, then go back and install the WTC later since it only takes an hour or so to install the first time and just a couple minutes to access and service thereafter.
The forward, center, and aft sections are shown below. The ABS kit is molded nicely and these sections aligned for the most part. Based on reference photos, I decided to grind down the panels to represent buckling under high pressure at depth, and also to pock the center sections fuel tank bulge area to represent pitting. This is an extreme example, but models' weathering and wear is typically exaggerated for effect, so I'm taking similar artistic license here.
In preparation for an functional RC Sub, I made the entire conning tower magnetically detachable, and did the same for the conning tower's gun deck. This aligns with the position of the WTC's solenoid which turns on the watertight system on the inside from the outside. A quick coat of primer and I'm happy how the surface treatment turned out. In real life, it's less contrasty than these photos imply (due to the studio lighting exaggerating the shadows). The deck also comes in three parts to coincide with the three sections.
I like how this is coming together! The shape of the Type VII U-boat always appealed to me, its bow reminiscent of a katana's kissaki.
I'm using enamels and lacquers on this sub for enhanced durability compared to the water-based acrylics I normally use on a foam electric RC airplane.
With just the primer coat and two colors (rust and custom blue/gray), the submarine is beginning to look the part. It needs about ten more colors of paint and weathering before I seal it all in, but I'll save that for the next update.
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