Hello everybody,

Here are pictures of my binoculars. I think to be over with them for now -- at last.
Off to the targeting computer...



Cheers,
Robert

I collected this series of MG15 pictures on the net which I think could be of some interest to us for our painting references.



Robert

Hi Robert,
Your binoculars/targeting computer look fine. Thanks for the MG pics.

Cheers,

Arjan

hello Robert -

Lovely work on the binoculars - nicely done! The MG pics are helpful as well.

Chris

I have just gone through my kits stack and I noticed that the mg 15 is also part of the Dragon WWII German Infantry weapons Part 1 set. It contains two of these guns with double drums and a bipod. It really looks nice, think I will buy another set. At the moment they can be obtained at the reduced rate of € 5 in Holland :
http://www.1999.co.jp/itbig05/10056563.jpg

Arjan

Arjan -

Thanks for tip - I just found and ordered a set!

Chris

A fine pic of a Kriegsmarine commander's uniform:


Arjan

I am enjoying this thread, and my progress is slow and steady with my boat. However I do have a question regarding dry dock and dock yard cranes. I am trying to find out about dry docks and what cranes were used with the S Bootes. The Wiper book has a S Boot sat in a dry dock cradle at Le Havre, did each part of the cradle move or did the 'boatyard' move each section as required?

There seems to be precious little information about the S Boote bases but did they dry dock the boats under cover like the U Boats? If so what size cranes dod they use to load the boats with (torpedoes etc) as I don't think I want to scratch build a S Boot tender.....

Finally the Italeri kit does have a few creative additions! But on the centre prop housing should those seems be raised welds or recessed channels, not that I am suggesting that Italeri dodged a few detail points of course!

Best wishes to all, and maybe we can expect a few more crew figures this year, and hopefully an MTB too.

Regards

Brian

Hello Brian,
here's a pic from the Bordeaux- U-boat-shelter, box 3

and I believe the S-boat-shelter were very similar

there is a portal frame - normaly running on rails on the shelter wall (in this case stooped) - with a traveling trolley, so every point of the box could be reached by the crane.


Michael

Hi Brian,
I don't know the answer to your questions but there's a third pic of the Le Havre sequence in the American Schnellboot section on the Schnellboot site:

Today I've been trying to solve the riddle of how the front of the Kalotte was connected to the foredeck. There are several pics which seem to show that there was a chamfered piece of metal in the centre (not unlike a bulletsplash-guard on armoured vehicles) and L-shaped profiles on the sides. The pic bottom left on page 56 (squadron) shows what I'm talking about. A shot of the Lang boat page 25 (top right) seems to confirm this idea. Needless to say Italeri were oblivious of this matter. Unfortunately the Cammett Kalotte also seems to be wrong in this respect , in that it has a single straight strip with rivets but this only represents the top of the L-profile and not the top of the chamfered part in the centre which was noticeably wider/higher than the L-profiles.

Cheers,

Arjan

Hi Arjan & Michael,

Thank you both for the pictures, I may have to improvise some of my cradle but that really is not an issue. The size of the finished diorama could well be an issue, although I was not planning a full size shelter or planning to add a partial roof, although a little creative modelling may be called for (works well for Italeri, why not me!) during the design.

I like the Le Havre cradle it would appear that is was hoisted up the ramp and that each section appears connected to the adjoining part. Such a shame that wartime photographers did not think about 'our needs' now!

Best wishes to all.

Brian

Couldn't resist adding a signalman to the pulpit on the bridge:

More photos here:
http://cs.finescale.com/forums/2/1120447/ShowPost.aspx#1120447 " TARGET="_blank"> http://cs.finescale.com/forums/2/1120447/ShowPost.aspx#1120447

Fine looking German S-boat officer you posted there Arjan. Also found the MG 15 info interesting (Mol Modelbouw is having a sale of Dragon armour at the moment, 50% off certain models, and by happy chance I had just purchased the German weapon pack)
cheers,
Julian

Hi Julian,
Your figures and radar look great. It would seem you are far too modest about your figure painting skills . I especially like the officer figure a lot, where did you get it? I also made the most of the Spring discount at Mol

Cheers,

Arjan

Great pictures you've posted Julian, and beautiful model too!

This is S-133 on April 19, 1944 at quay after indubitably having engaged Brits in a dogfight.

One can notice a hanging rope along the port side. This could well confirm your reassessment on where the anchor was positioned on the E-boats. I agree with Arjan, this is a very unusual and unpractical place to stow an anchor. Now, it raises another question: where was the rope stowed itself?!!



Robert

Thank you Arjan and merci beaucoup Robert, the officer is an Alpine miniature figure (35057: Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler officer Max Wünsche, Kharkov)Beautiful molding but his heavy gloves tend to clang with the bare hands of the Azimut figures. Glad you jumped in on the Mol offers, I treated myself to the Dragon Jagdtiger, E-100, 88mm flak and the Marder 2 panzerjager. Also the SPG crew, panzer crew and the weapon set. Also considering a few other models if I can smuggle them in without my wife catching me
Robert, my compliments for the micro surgery you performed on the torpedo guidance computer. Magnificent work but completely beyond my capabilities.
Cheers,
Julian

Whoot ! 101 posts ! I just made 1st lieutenant, my mum will be so proud............................

Julian -

Looking very good and I like the added touch with the signalman! I am jealous of your progress, life (children, in-laws and that pesky job) are all conspiring against me!

I managed to paint the grey decks and now I am masking off everything prior to spraying the white...

Chris

Thanks Chris, I am absolutely convinced that the builds that you, Arjan and Robert are working on will eclipse nearly every other build of this kit around at this time. The mods you guys are making are really fantastic and that is also the explaination for what appears to be more progress on my build, being that my build is nearly all OOB, where as you are modding and improving nearly every facet of the model. Can't wait to see your HaJu with "warpaint" on.
Julian

Hi Chris,

Is it too late to ask if you could post pictures on your painting work with comments on color indications and how you resolved problems encountered? That could be of great help, you know!

Sort of "half off the topic."
I noticed John Murphy, editor at Model Military Int'l., who started a series of articles on the Schnellboot assembly, illustrated with pictures of the restoring S-130, has quitted the magazine after the third issue.
Does anyone know were John has gone to and if he plans to carry on (on his own or with another British models magazine) his such good covering on our model?

Robert

Making questions and replies.
Robin Cammett told me on the phone today that John has recently left for another magazine in the States but should more likely to continue his series with Model Miltary Int'l.
Now I feel relieved! For those who knew his articles, he was skilled and his craftinesses to improve the Italeri model, whether it was for the painting, assembly or pieces to be modified levels were just superb.

Hello everybody,

Here's at last the second part of the torpedo-targeting column. I had by chance a spare wheel at the same dimension than the supplied Italeri model which looked more accurate to the one depicted in the picture showing the inside view of the 'Lang' cockpit.
I know I should be working on the cabling next but for some reason, I feel like leaving it for later...



I am looking forward to start working the upper structure of the bridge!

Cheers,

Robert

Hi Robert,
I like your targeting column very much. I take it you aren't going to add the treadplate after all .

Arjan

I did Arjan!

Instead of a big one, I made two small treadplates on both sides. My way to compromise.

Robert

Hello Robert -

Everything is taped and covered as I am painting the hull red color right now. Once I get her righted and unmasked I'll post some in progress shots. I will have a house full on in-laws this evening - without warning so I have spent the day cleaning instead of working in the man-cave

Chris

Magnificent work on the targeting computer Robert. Can't wait to see your S-100 painted Chris. My S-100 build is running down now and because of the waiting time for oil painted mini me's to dry I am slowly starting my next project (which will horrify you detail purists ).
[url] http://cs.finescale.com/forums/1135642/ShowPost.aspx [url].
cheers,
Julian

Hi Julian,
I have a sneaking suspicion you will spray your paper panzer in a most extravagant camo scheme. Fortunately for you we live in a free country that doesn't ban excesses of this nature

Arjan

That is one of the big dangers of the "1946" panzers. I don't have a flamboyant cammo in mind but I will not be doing the bog standard 3 colour ambush cammo. I saw a very nice (and very subdued) 4 colour urban camouflage scheme on a Trumpeter E-10. Scheme was based on an actual British Army urban scheme consisting of square shapes to blend in with buildings etc. The E-100 is a huge tank but the model seem rather tiny after working on first my Chebec and then the S-100 for altogether nearly two years. Still some work to do on the S-100 but the end of the build is very much in sight now.
Julian