Bronco Type XXIII in 1/35th scale

[Warpatroller]

It may be a generic boat, but it is not a generic model! This is the prototype model for the Bronco XXIII Sub-Driver Fittings Kit. This model already has historical significance in the RC model submarine world. It was used to produce the world’s first RC Fittings Kit designed for a 1:35, injection-molded, non-midget submarine model. The first 1:35 injection kit to use the SAS Sub-Driver. The first 1:35 Fittings Kit to include crew figures. Feel free to correct me if I am mistaken about any of this..

And my personal favorite first, the first Fittings Kit, period, to have propeller design advisement (implemented) from a person with only “minutes” of practical RC submarine experience (building or assembling and operating of such models). In contrast, his years of reading on the subject and years of unassembled RC sub kit ownership has schooled him well. He even had been watching Manfred’s videos, on Youtube, over the past four years. Not realizing, until a few days ago, that “Knikebein”, on Youtube, is indeed, actually Manfred..

With minimal available tools, little practical experience, no Evercoat product application experience whatsoever, and no real workshop of any kind to attempt to do work in, I shall somehow get that sleek Elektroboot in the water and operating in a practical manner. I equate it to the German situation, late in the war, with the Allied bombing raids attempting to severely disrupt construction, combined with a lack of available workers with skilled labor experience (there are no Davids, or anyone who even comes close, out here in the desert).

I await Mike’s posting of the availability of the final production copies of said Fittings Kit. And, of course, photos of what the average man, with functional RC U-Boat dreams, will receive in exchange for his hard earned money..

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Good sleuthing, Steve. And appreciated. I'm interested in presenting a generic model, one showing the front-office equipped with working guys, going in/going out for a days work. Hence the heavy submarine coveralls for the enlisted guys and two officers. I represent the second officer with a 'dress' peaked cap thinking that he would want to carry on with appearances while the boat was within the break-water and sight of base brass.

Just about done with the guys -- tool making tomorrow.

[Warpatroller]

Most of the 61 fully constructed boats were in either acceptance trials or training phases by the end of the war. The photo I posted above, was taken during the boat's commissioning (into the Kriegsmarine) ceremony. All those photos that show the men in the dress coats are commissioning photos. Some Nazi Saluting, as you can see, was going on during those ceremonies as well. That was probably the only time that the party saluting occurred on board, being that is was a very "official" and noteworthy event. The "Monkey boat", is U4709, constructed at Germaniawerft. Photo taken at Kiel on March 3, 1945. Only 6 boats actually went on war patrol (all constructed at Deutschewerft). So the "Monkey boat" was not one of them..

Steve

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Looks a bit contrived for the camera -- these guys are in parade garb.

These were working boats. Coastal types, with short legs. Likely deploying no longer than a week, maybe just a day, depending on how long it took to loose the two weapons they carried. With so many sorties in such a short period of time I assume that all stayed in their working togs and only dressed up for when the Commodore came a calling.

David

[Warpatroller]

I commend your effort to even include figures, at all, with your fittings kit. David can do anything with these models.. What you do accomplish, in such little time, is amazing! And with Caswell breathing down your neck too.. Your good!

I think what you'd like to believe, in regards to the U-boat men, is probably a bit more true than you might think.. Those guys had an extremely high rate of loss. Life expectancy was only about two months. Three out of four never came back, when they put to sea. Especially, during the final year of the war, they knew they were on a suicide mission, each time they went out. But it was instilled in them, from their highly regimented training, to carry on the fight, to obey orders, for the Fatherland and the Führer. Defending the Fatherland, being I think, the more powerful notion in their minds.

Dönitz even gave a speech to the men, that indicated that they were buying time to get the new boats in the water (XXI and XXIII) so that when they got out in force, the tide of the war at sea would change in their favor. Continuing to send them out in the obsolete VII and IX boats, was to tie down Allied resources and hopefully buy some time, for a price..

Another crew photo from the tower of the little wunderwaffe you've been working on. Note that this boat actually has an emblem.. The three monkeys, hear no evil, speak no evil, and see no evil..



Steve

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

I'm getting desperate to wrap this epic job up! Got a few of the production tools done the last few days. These are formed from the harder mold making rubber -- this to insure accuracy as I cast up a set of production masters from each. The production masters, or copy masters, will be used to make multiple copies of the production tools. Time is everything in the shop, so if I can achieve three complete sets of parts per pour, then that's a money maker. More on the tooling later. This is as far as I got as of last Tuesday:



Four solid days of work on the figures and I can definitely say: I hate those ****ing NAZI's!!!!! Tomorrow should wrap up work on the three guys who go up into the bridge. "ALAAAAARM!!!!!!"

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

It is reported that Hitler once lamented to someone, "I have a National Socialist air-force, a Prussian army, and a Catholic navy".

It's my sincerest hope that most of the Reich's navy were simply good German soldiers doing their National duty; and were not the goose-stepping idiots who knew of and/or practiced genocide. Yes, I know that's a conceit but I cling to it whenever the model work gets me up so close and personal with the subjects history as to force me to think of just what it is I'm representing here in model form. So: no Party salutes on my bridge. Ever. Nor will that battle ensign fly from the portable flag staff.

What my figures will depict are three guys in submarine cover-all's. One enlisted guy with his garrison cap, the CO with his dirty-white 'soft' peaked cap, and another officer with a dress peaked cap. The head-gear appropriate for a boat either returning or leaving port for operations.

Wish I had time for a deck-hand with heaving-line in hand, but I'm rushed to put this fittings kit to bed.

Very nice shots there, Warpatroller. Thank you so much for sharing them here. Good stuff!

As applied to motion picture special effects miniatures -- work Ellie and I did starting in the late 80's -- the term 'practical' denotes features on the model that either did or appeared to perform a function. The annotation and like instruction from the productions Art Director, noted in the productions story-boards and miniature working drawings. So, when I say 'practical torpedoes', I'm saying that the model will employ what appears to be working torpedoes -- they'll travel in the water, but won't go boom.

David

[Warpatroller]

I cast up a bunch of blank 1/35 figures, selected three of them and chopped them up, gave them covers, and am finishing up posing them into realistic postures -- achieving a look like three guys up there who actually have things to do.

They had something to do, in particular, while they were in port. Give the Nazi Salute! You gotta have one of the figures saluting.. Otherwise, I will have to break an arm off and modify it so the little man gives a proper salute. "Pappy" Dönitz had them well trained. The whole Reich was crumbling around them and they were still saluting and throwing themselves into the fight. You gotta love the determination of these guys.. Plus taking time to implement the Kriegsmarine Honor Roll Clasp award in March 1945. The game is over and they are still concerning themselves with designing and producing awards for the men! They just didn't know the meaning of the word "quit".. Kind of like me, one day, even if it kills me, I will have a proper and "practical" (I love it when David says that) model XXIII uboat terrorizing my local lakes..

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Nazi's! ... don't you just hate them. Especially me, after six hours on my butt working out the three bridge watch-standers -- masters from which I will make a tool to produce parts for the soon to be released Bronco 1/35 Type-23 fittings kit.

I cast up a bunch of blank 1/35 figures, selected three of them and chopped them up, gave them covers, and am finishing up posing them into realistic postures -- achieving a look like three guys up there who actually have things to do.

[Kazzer]

Too Funny!! :wink:

Don't encourage him! He'll start wasting time writing more nonsense here!

[celticwarrior]

Too Funny!! :wink:

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Dave, how did you get the hull cut so perfect? I can never do it.

Because I'm a frig'n God ... that's how!

http://forum.sub-driver.com/showthread.php?2158-Bronco-Type-XXIII-in-1-35th-scale/page16

"Bow before me, I am the Great Invader Zim!"

[Tugfan]

Dave, how did you get the hull cut so perfect? I can never do it.

[Warpatroller]

Though the BJB TC-5040 silicon mold-making rubber is not advertised for high-temperature work, I find, in a pinch (when I run out of TC-5050), that it will work fine with white-metal work. This evening I made some test shots with the tools, and they are holding up just fine.

Now to make some holding fixtures for the bell-cranks so I can drill and tap their set-screw holes. Time permitting I'll shape the propeller dunce-caps, bore and tap the set-screw holes, and work out how the production propeller shaft and bearings will go. Another long night/early morning ahead of me ...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]19699[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]19700[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]19701[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]19702[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]19703[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]19704[/ATTACH]

I see the propeller is coming along.. These white-metal props will need to be strong to withstand the months of rigorous patrol duty that my boats will eventually undergo. Remember to shape the "dunce-caps" using the "God Hub" images as a guide. The final motivation wheel part of this boat will be a masterpiece of craftmanship! The thrust performance it will provide shall be legendary.. After all, this is a fittings kit that is fit for a God, is it not?

By the way, when will a Special Edition propeller be available in titanium? That is the one I will need for the boat that sails over to the English Channel to harass Andy.. Manfred should get one also..

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Sacrificial pasta? Please!!!!!

In the past I would insert a stud of appropriate thread-cut in the tool to form the required bore, but that was too much work. With a holding fixture (designed to hold up to four pieces at a time) the work goes very quickly.