Recent uboat pictures

[Von Hilde]

Thats a good question. I stumbled on a site for a model company awhile ago, looking for other boats, and found one in a couple scales, One being 1/72 but, I didnt bookmark since they had no U Boats. I think they built RC subs, and had a conglomoration of hulls to chose from, and running kits to go with. Most likely an expensive avanue to go down. I remember back in the late 50s there was a huge model put out by one of the big 3 ( Monogram, Revell, or Lindberg) I looked this morning for antique models of it. There were several in smaller scales, but none in 1/72. Ive been comparing the lines of the XXIs and the Nautilus, in the center section of the hull, and your right about the subtile differances. But, I can turn two tall boy budwiser cans and a couple scraps if plastic and some stix into a musem quality Henley, with the help of a can of flat black, and a bag of toy civil war army men.

[modelnut]

Oops. Forgot to mention the crappy Lindberg IJN and a couple of XXIII's, also in 72 scale.

VH, who makes the 72 USS NAUTILUS? I know I have seen it mentioned before but a search turned up nothing.

- Leelan

[Von Hilde]

Since you have a combat kit, you should just graft the bow section and stearn section to a 1/72 nautilus cutting the sections to come out with the appropriate overall liength. Basiclly had to do that to my Combat Type IXD2 get close to eyball scale. The VIIC kit got from them is a little small as well. That may become an external view project someday. My IX tower had to be scratch built to scale, because their 's was way too small, and I had to scratch the entire aft section to come up with the OAL. Still its closer to a type C2, by a couple mm, but looks good next to my other 1/72s. If you want, Ill give you a hand with building a tower and deck for the 21. if you want to try to save the hull, and run it. What are the dimentions of the CMK hull? And did you get any drawings?

[modelnut]

I bought the Combat Models kit --- before everybody told me not to.

Once I got it and measured it I saw that it was nowhere near 72 scale. HO, maybe, if you squinted really really hard. But not 72. Not even close enough that you might scratchbuild a plug to bring it up to snuff. So it is sitting in my shed. I might use the hatches if I give up and scratchbuild my own. Otherwise I wasted my money.

There is a 72 scale XXI available from Czechoslovakia I have heard. But the export duties or tariffs drive the price way too high to consider.

So I am hoping someone in the States may eventually fill the void.

40 and 48 scale are just too big for me. Besides, I am building a fleet in 72. So far I have two u-boats, two GATO's, a tiny Seehund, and a Japanese Type-A mini-sub. And I am scratchbuilding Jules Verne's NAUTILUS. And I have the brand new Moebius SKIPJACK.

VH, that might not be a bad idea. I will look into it. It will have to wait a while though. The budget just took a hit from the 350 scale Polar Lights Starship ENTERPRISE kit. And I am hoping to get Casswell's subdriver for the SKIPJACK in the spring after taxes. But the resemblance between the USS NAUTILUS and the XXI is unmistakeable.


- Leelan

[Von Hilde]

I think you could use a 1/72 Nautilus kit for the basic model, and scratch build the tower and details, if you want to stay in scale. Or try to do with the combat models mold of the xxi. It would be a fun project. I would like to scratch build one in 1/32 or even 1/24

[alad61]

It does have that look to it. Nice lines with a subtle lethalness and especially for a sci-fi geek like me, just enough retro sci-fi feel & look too. I have been eying the precision one off and on for a bit now, but my experience at matching and or building a WTC for it The Titanic keep having me hit the close button.

[greenman407]

I dont know of any in 1/72 but Robbe makes one in 1/40 and precision pattern in 1/48.

http://precisionpattern.biz/subs/sub_xxi.htm

[modelnut]

Scuba DivingNice pictures of the Type XXI. I just wish there was a model of that boat in 72 scale.

- Leelan

[greenman407]

[modelnut]

Cool! The lower portions look like they could be painted black.



- Leelan

[greenman407]

Yes, this forum is the place. We can all benefit from what Mike and Dave have put together. Once again I apologize if any of these pictures are a reprint. Also, by special request, if there are any pictures that are too small for your taste, let me know and I will see if we can enhance it.

[Von Hilde]

OH BOY!! Good collection today. A bunch of u 889 capture . Some of the pics of it say unknown u boat. They would be the ones with the boat in Shelburn Harbor (sorta looks like the rock of gibralter) under two flags. 2 flags signify that there still germans aboard running the boat. That was surrendered after VE day off Newfoundland, by the Canadians, who comissioned it into their Navy for about 8 months, then transferred to the USN in 46. It was de engineared for a few months because it had the latest FUMo radar,and other acustic gear, then used as a target for torpedo practice in 47. Im not sure where it went down, but recently an underwater arcioligest found an unknown, "mistery" sub by side scan sonar. The pictures I saw, sure looked like a type IX with a 2 tower and it was off the coast in New England. I know we sank a bunch of stuff up there after the war. Similar incident down here when a recreational diver found one of the type XXIs that was used for early ASROC tests. The big mistery was what kind of sub was it and why was it all full of holes. They even had the History Channel people involved in the quest to find out what it was and why. Hell, they shoulda just asked me, and saved them 3 weeks in paradise "searching" and diving in the day time then nothing to do all night but hang out on Duval st an enjoy the nite life at the expense of Hugh King productions.

[greenman407]

[greenman407]

Right on time.......as usual.

[greenman407]