My work on Trumpeter's kit continues but i have ran into a major glitch (which is bugging the crap out of me).
Here is my problem and I would appreciate your guy's help.
My life was nice and peachy (regardless building the Trumpeter's kit, anyway) until I ran into this picture:


I was originally planning on building U-2360 using the Trumpeter's parts #5 and #6.
After seeing this picture I have done some additional research and found out that Type XXIII over the course of the war had four different sails installed (Gesloschenne Brucke and three different Offene Brucke):
My German is pretty bad but I'm guessing that it means open/closed bridge?


I have seen couple builds of Mod.557 on the net and like the closed CT version a lot.
So here is my problem: there is a major contradiction in two available pictures of U-2360 I have.
According to this one (at least IMO) the U-2360 had the "open bridge CT installed":

Contrary to this picture (which makes me believe that U-2360 was one of the testing boats for the "closed bridge"):


I have built both versions of the sail so far (trying to figure out which one is gonna actually end up on the hull) and tried to take similar angle picture (sorry for "taped" CT, I'm still working on the interior).
As you can see the CT [u]HAS TO BE[/u] the "closed bridge " because proportionally it just does not make sense... On the other hand the "closed bridge" version had only single hatch on the top and there are TWO people standing on the top of the sail. How, the heck, they both fit in there??? This is blowing my mind.... Dang!


I'm a real stickler for historical accuracy and I am at dire straits. I'd appreciate any help I can get on this mess.

My conclusion:
The U-2360 had two sails installed in her career: streamlined "open bridge" and "closed bridge" prototype.
I'd prefer to build the "closed bridge" version because I like it.
So here is my dilemma


Also, the Mod. 557 seems to be missing the bow hatch... If the photographer just took the picture of extra two feet down...


As Jan's signature says "It´s happy days for modellers...", I have to add "...but sometimes it sucks!"

actually I don't think that it is such a problem:
the sketches show 4 different CT- models, used for MODELS in towing- experiments in Vienna (no open sea there, just the danube...). a completely closed CT (plexiglas) was only used in a very early experimental boat, IIRC. Abb.4 doesn't show U-2360, Your photo clearly shows that there is no bulge on the front, just a straight line up (and then in).

the "en face"- photo doesn't show a completely closed CT (geschlossenen brücke), no hatch visible, the upper rim is just turned inwards (I like that too, very clean configuration). showing no real effect, it was later changed in the normal config.
the front hatch for the dinghy was on every boat, maybe except some very early experimental boats.

some more points:
the completely closed CT was to be made vom plexiGLAS, the outlook had to stand somehow, that's why it's higher.
the en face photo is made from the same level as the upper rim of the CT, Your photos are shot slightly from below. the upper rim doesn't seem to be higher than on normal boats.
the extend of the opening for those two guys can be evaluated from the position of the antennas (see sketches on AMP- forum and the photos made from above). intersteing question: the form of the cut out: rectangular? circular to the front?

so You'll have to make a completely closed CT from clear plastic, remember: they still had to use the ÜZO (Überwasser- Ziel- Optik, overwater bearing device) somehow! the closed CT is a little bit "what-if"? which is o.k...............

forgive my english............

Very nice progress Libor.

Thanks, Kenny.
Update coming soon.

Gentlemen,
my work on both builds continues.
Thank you for all the great info and opinions on the conning tower configurations. After careful and long consideration here is what I decided on:
I will be using the streamlined (non-closed version of the CT, kit parts numbers 5 and 6) because even with your great posts there is no proof how the cut-out on the top looked like (i.e. it's shape/size).
On the other hand this picture clearly shows the CT configuration:


Also, (and that's my main reason) open tower will give me the opportunity to super-detail the interior of the CT and therefore add more details to the model.

So here is my decision on the CT:



No worries, the closed CT will not end up in a trash because I already have in mind small cute "diving" diorama.

Ok, now some pictures of the progress:
Started on some detailing of the U-2360 tower (scratchbuild and some PE leftovers)



Also I replaced the kits incorrect bow holes:



The quay for the U-Hai diorama:




Still not finished but continuing nicely.
Any questions, please let me know.

Gentlemen,
here is the promised update. They say that picture is worth of thousand words, so just few quick points:
-the "water" is just painted blue square (far from finished) to give me an idea of the overall composition
-all the weathering (on the dio and on the CT) looks waaaaay to sharp on the pictures. On the model is really subtle and life-like (I hate taking close-ups with flash)
-the rowing boat is scratchbuild and I created it because the 'water' part of diorama looked too empty
-the interior of the U-2360 CT is partially reference, partially educated guesswork

Now the pics. CT detailed, painted, washed and weathered ready to be glued together




And the diorama progress:








TBC...

you sure put a lot of effort into that little boat - and it pays off!

I have been thinking, what are your plans with the quayside, its a quite big area to fill in and won´t it detract from the boat ??

Cheers/Jan

Thanks Jan,
I've been thinking the same thing. There will be few barrels and crates up on the top and I thought putting one truck up there too but I can't find one in 1:144 and you are right I don't want to detract from the model.
I will see when it's finished...

I don't think You'll have to fill that area!
just take the courage to leave the quayside empty, with just a spot of activity at the boat. so the empty area will push up the boat.........and it gives a broad aspect!

I'm a bit confused: when it's u 2360, the You can use the opel blitz...............?

I'm very interested!

sincerely

ralf

I might do just that.
I have already ordered some bags/boxes set from Preiser (in N-scale, 1:120 is pretty close to 1:144).
Also, the diorama is U-Hai in late 50s so (as you pointed out earlier) I cannot use Opel Blitz as Bundesmarine used M.A.N. or Unimag trucks.

I've made quite bit of a progress on U-2360 yesterday. Will take some pictures and post them soon.
I have one question, though: did U-2360 have wooden "deck"? I'm not sure about it because I have read somewhere that towards the end of the war Germans were running low on materials (including teak wood used for the planking).

Majority of building on U-2360 is finished (just a small stuff which will be added after painting: screw, RDF loop, schnorchel, flagpoles, antennas and periscope). I have decided to go with the original open CT on the kit. I'm still not sure if I got the closed one right, plus I'm missing all the interior pieces for it anyway and it would be too much scratchbuilding. Anyway, the closed CT will not get thrown away. I will either buy another Trumpeter kit or turn it into small "diving" diorama.
I just bought on Ebay U-boot Im Focus (issues 2-6) so maybe I use the closed CT to build U-2330. (According to pictures it had some interesting CT variation)

The models are ready for pre-shading (you can see where I marked the lines with pencil on the U-Hai, the ICM's kit lacks the detail on hull and CT)

Nice lineup

I would consider replacing the railing on the turretsides on the topmost boat, if it still had it in this version ?

Otherwise I´m looking forward seeing some paint on these boats.

Cheers/Jan

Hi Jan, I thought about it but based on my reference pictures I can't tell if the boat had railing or not...
So rather than create (an over-emphasize) what might have not been present on the original boat I decided to stick with just a "hint" of railing and go with the original one.

Anyway, here's another update;
U-2360 is pre-shaded (it seems lil' too harsh in the pictures but I'm fairly new to airbrushing - bought my Paasche only about a week ago) and I just found out that my yellow Humbrol dried out so I have to wait to get some more (for the yellow training stripes) before I proceed. Finished all "small" stuff: propeller (thinned the blades with exacto), schnorchel and RDF loop. The last two weren't very satisfactory OOB so I scratched the loop (using only the original pole) and made modifications to the schnorchel to make it look little bit closer to this:


Here's the result:


U-Hai is painted (still have to do the bottom of the hull) and I have started on filling all the floodholes with flat black to simulate "openings". The job is very tedious...
I have used this technique on small holes on my 1/144 Type XXI and the results are satisfactory.
These pictures are taken only after one touch-up:



TBC...

Just two quick pictures of my progress:
Yellow went on first, then the top cover of grey. UAK rune is airbrushed on.
Waiting till tomorrow for the paint to thoroughly dry before masking and painting the bottom.

I plan on weathering both boats at the same time:

I just airbrushed the bottom dark grey and while the boat is drying I sat it right next to my finished Type XXI. Couldn't help it, had to snap a few pictures:

Continued working on the U-hai diorama. The boat is finished, it just needs one last clearcoat (tomorrow after decals dry).
Started to figure out the overall composition:

and couple of close-ups



Still have three more figures to be placed in the diorama and (as you can see) none of the boxes/barrels/cans are painted.
Also, the "water" is still just a blue square.

I'm thinking about getting a bottle of Magic Water, I've seen some very good results with it.

hello Libor,

it's always nice to see your beautiful boats!

(did U- Hai have the bali antenna on the Schnorchel?)

sincerely

ralf

Good catch, Ralf!
You are right, the FuMB 3 Bali was not installed on the top of the schnorchel of U-Hai. It just had the "stub" on which it was originally installed.
Thanks for pointing out my factual mistake!

Hi,
finished work on U-2360 today. Here are some pictures.
Sorry for the cluttered background and "working" stand, also the flash makes the weathering and "rust" way too sharp (in reality it is nice subtle).
I'll try to take some pictures outside when it's sunny without flash





Work on diorama also continues (no pictures this time, not much to report, I'm afraid). Just ordered bottle of Magic Water today. Will update when it arrives.

The work on the U-hai diorama continues: I have built wooden "frame" which will contain Magic Water when poured in, I also airbrushed the color of the water green (fits the Atlantic better IMO).
Still have to paint all the barrels and crates, thought. Also have to find the correct size thread to moor the boat. Overall the work is almost finished, hopefully the next update is going the one of the finished project.
Some pictures:



Also, I am already thinking about my next build: most likely ICM's Type IIB in 1/144. Stay tuned for the conclusion of this double build and start of a new one...