S.M. U9 - Das Werk - 1/72 (static)

[DrSchmidt]

The exhaust tubes for the petroleum motors were erected using a cable pull. To make that work from the horizontal position one need as deviating point, that was realized with a v-shaped bar. I used 0,3 mm spring steel wire as cable. Over the cable I put a short piece 0,8 mm brass tube. The brass tube was the glued at the right hight and connected with the v-bars which are made of 0,8 mm brass wire. As the spring steel is quite solid, the whole assembly is rock solid as well.





Then the exhaust were then anchored using rigging thread as were the rescue buoys that were onnected to their below-deck winches.





Then the dive plane protection struts were rigged. What looks like blocks are turnbuckles...a triffle chunky but O.K. on the final boat.







Then the search light found its place in front of the conning tower and the 3,7 cm machie gune on the foredeck.







Finally I put the boat on its stand. The base plate is 19 mm maple wood. I gave it a nice edge using a router, stained it mahogany and sealed it with a clear coat. The supports are 3D-printed and painted old brass. The name plate is 3d-printed as well.

[trout]

Wonderful rigging! It really makes the other details pop.

[DrSchmidt]

Actually I'm really bad at rigging. I folllow some threads on a different forum where some guys do miracles rigging ancient sailing ships. This is just thread and superglue . But it looks good, nevertheless....

[DrSchmidt]

The last Detail, that had to be added are the foldable masts for the radio antenna. I depict the late version of the boat that had hydraulic mast actuation. As the plastic of the kit is brittle and not very stiff, I decided to replace the masts by self-made brass versions while only using the kits mast base. The masts were made of 0,8 mm, 1mm, and 1,2 mm diameter brass tubes that were threaded onto 0,5 mm steel wire. The still wire also served as connecting pins for the mast base. The counter weights, drive rods and rigging points are from the RCSubs PE set.









The masts were painted neutral gray and the put onto the support blocks on the port tanks using 0,5 mm brass axis. The rigging was dine using 0,3 mm rigging thread.









Then the antenna was rigged using 0,15 mm black copper wire and then the conected to the fixing points on the deck and the insulator mast.





The masts finally got their A-struts made of 0,5 mm brass wire and their final touch ups ....





The search light got its electric cable....



And the boat its flag.....job done.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

A beautifully executed display piece, Doctor. A study in stunning, eye-popping detailing.

David

[DrSchmidt]

Thanks David. That's waht I like about those old boats. Lots of detail and old technology from a time where they still were finding out how to design and operate thes boats.

[DrSchmidt]

Final addition to the Boat...Das Werk have created 2 sets of resin figures (3 man each) specifically for the U9. 3 Man for the bridge and 3 man deck crew. I got mine via eBay from Australia (cheapest option). The figures are highly detailed and modeled in very realistic, living positions. Quickly built and painted. Great addition to the kit that gives the boat this little extra...