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I have been a bit absent from this site for a while. Nothing untoward you understand but I am determined to get this boat finished for the Norwich dive in next year. It is without doubt the most difficult undertaking I have ever been involved with.
For those that don't know, the model is the result of a 15 year research project from myself and my Old friend Ian Lawrence, who sadly died earlier this year. We met just before Christmas last year and he asked me to finish the project as he knew he wouldn't be around to help. He passed over to me around 100 A3 sized etched sheets of nickel silver and some part finished masters for the hull.
I have no drawings, no instructions but a load of books on U-Boats and it is form those books that I am gleaning information as well as photographs of the wreck of U534 now located in Liverpool. Many of the etchings have been superseded by later ones (improved design) and sorting them has been a nightmare, but I am on the right track. The idea, back in 97, was to construct a model U-Boat to museum standards that would could be a source of reference for other modellers who wanted to build a similar boat. All panel lines, welds, rivets etc are reproduced as per the prototype as near as available information allows.
The decision to model a type IX was simply because it is a model that is not often duplicated (unlike the type VII) and U107 was picked because her first skipper was Karl Doenitz's son-in-law and as a result was well documented.
The masters for the hull have been completed and a hull,superstructure and pressure hull completed. The scale pressure hull has been cut away to accommodate one of my own design modules that will (in time) be removed. The reason for it's removal is that I hope that one day the model will end up in a museum somewhere so that everyone can see it as a reference and will be a lasting testimony to Ian.
The pictures below show the model in various stages of assembly, I hope you like them. I shall post pictures once in a while as progress continues and hopefully this time next year it will be near its shakedown cruise. Please do not let this model put you off the idea of building a Type IX. The extents Ian and I have gone to are extreme to say the least.
A superb model can be built by using Model Dockyards GRP hull of U505 and Dave Merriman's Sub-driver. The deck would have to be scratch built but is not that difficult with patience, a sharp scalpel and plasticard.
For those that don't know, the model is the result of a 15 year research project from myself and my Old friend Ian Lawrence, who sadly died earlier this year. We met just before Christmas last year and he asked me to finish the project as he knew he wouldn't be around to help. He passed over to me around 100 A3 sized etched sheets of nickel silver and some part finished masters for the hull.
I have no drawings, no instructions but a load of books on U-Boats and it is form those books that I am gleaning information as well as photographs of the wreck of U534 now located in Liverpool. Many of the etchings have been superseded by later ones (improved design) and sorting them has been a nightmare, but I am on the right track. The idea, back in 97, was to construct a model U-Boat to museum standards that would could be a source of reference for other modellers who wanted to build a similar boat. All panel lines, welds, rivets etc are reproduced as per the prototype as near as available information allows.
The decision to model a type IX was simply because it is a model that is not often duplicated (unlike the type VII) and U107 was picked because her first skipper was Karl Doenitz's son-in-law and as a result was well documented.
The masters for the hull have been completed and a hull,superstructure and pressure hull completed. The scale pressure hull has been cut away to accommodate one of my own design modules that will (in time) be removed. The reason for it's removal is that I hope that one day the model will end up in a museum somewhere so that everyone can see it as a reference and will be a lasting testimony to Ian.
The pictures below show the model in various stages of assembly, I hope you like them. I shall post pictures once in a while as progress continues and hopefully this time next year it will be near its shakedown cruise. Please do not let this model put you off the idea of building a Type IX. The extents Ian and I have gone to are extreme to say the least.
A superb model can be built by using Model Dockyards GRP hull of U505 and Dave Merriman's Sub-driver. The deck would have to be scratch built but is not that difficult with patience, a sharp scalpel and plasticard.
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