1:35 mideget submarine "Hecht" (Micro Mir) - display model

[DrSchmidt]

The "Molch" project was so much fun and I really enjoy the result. So I thought by myself, that a second one, also with interior, would be nice. The midget sub "Biber" would be nice but hard to realize, as the torpedos are positioned in a way, that would make the opening for a cutawya display very, very small and nothng could be seen inside. The "Seehund" would be much better in that respect, but it was a real sub with a very complex interior. That's wouldn't be a small side project bit a full blown research and build job. Not what I'm looking for right now. So it boils down to the fourth and I guess least known one, the "Hecht". Very simple Hull with a single torpedo hanging below the keel. Plenty of space to position an opening for the cutaway display and a simple but interesting enough interior. So I started as usual with a 3D cad model. Gonna be fun....here's what I got so far.

The boat was a big failure as it was slow, had a very limited range and it was almost impossible to control the boat. In the first versions i hat no dive planes but trim weights that were controlled by spindle drives. Slow and very ineffective. Later on stabilizing fins at the stern and bow planes were added to almost no effect. The boat had a gyro compass and was armed either with a magnetic mine attached to the bow or a torpedo underneath the keel. In latter version, the nose held three extra batteries.

A bizarre little boats that never saw combat but were solely used for training crews e.g. for the Seehnund.

[rwtdiver]

Andreas,

I do not believe that I ever saw your RC version of the "Hecht" boat! I can imagine it was a great looking boat. I for one am looking forward to seeing your display model of this boat!

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat."

[DrSchmidt]

I never had a RC version....what I wrote about the boat, that it was almost impossible to drive, was about the original ones. Nevertheless, there arc RC versions by OWT and RCSUbs

[rwtdiver]

I never had a RC version....what I wrote about the boat, that it was almost impossible to drive, was about the original ones. Nevertheless, there arc RC versions by OWT and RCSUbs

OK! Sorry for the misunderstanding on my part. Now that I read your entire description, I see what you were saying. None the less we are all looking forward to seeing this model progress, so make sure you keep those photos coming!

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat."

[DrSchmidt]

A little more progress....the seats are in, the AEG AV 76 electric motor is sketched as is the motor-generator for the gyro compass and the aft trim weights for the dive angel control

[DrSchmidt]

Here's a first sketch of the pulley mechanism that was used to position the trim weights left and right of the commanding officer (back seat). By shifting the control stick back and forth a geared frame set an axis in motion that scrolled the wires that were connected to the trim weights. The Kinda medieval ....

[DrSchmidt]

And a more complete version with the pulley mechanism for the rudder....



And in the boat....quite crammed in there.

[GwenB]

Nice work! That thing would have been totally claustrophobic-making...

[tifosi12]

Nice work! That thing would have been totally claustrophobic-making...

Could be worse, could have been a Marder.

[DrSchmidt]

I think as long as it is a death trap it doesn't matter how much space you have ;-)

[DrSchmidt]

A little bit of progress....I've detailed the motor converter for the gyro compass. I got the dimensions from a blueprint and the details like service openings, cable feedthroughs and such from photos of an identical converter that can be found on the starboard electric motor of U-995, the last remaining VIIc. In front of the engineer, on the gyro compass casing was a Papenberg depth gauge. I designed mine from a sketch out of Gabler's book "Unterseebootbau". The sketch is depicting a depth gauge like it cn be found in U-99f, so I guess it's just fine for the "Hecht"....

[DrSchmidt]

The compass repeater on port and the depth gauge on starboard are in. On top of the negative tanks are alkaline cartridges for the air renewal. Getting more and more crammed....

[DrSchmidt]

Little update.....more alkaline cartridges and detailed racks. Started sketching the speed controller (cylindrical shape with hand wheel) on the starboard side of the front seat (engineer)...

[DrSchmidt]

Further progress....the electric motor was coupled to the prop shaft via a two-stage belt gear reduction. That and the thrust bearing block are in place. Left and right to the prop shaft are a compressed air and an oxygen bottle respectively.

[DrSchmidt]

The big parts are done....last bit was the cooling equipment for the gyro compass on starboard....