Ahoy shipmates,
I recently picked up a couple of these u boats, for my collection.
Today, I took the plunge and started a build.
This ICM u boat is very nicely detailed and moldings are crisp.
Once built, they will be an excellent representation of the type.

After closer inspection and comparing it to my reference material,
I must sat that ICM completely missed on the outer torpedo doors,
the kit is basically devoid of the half clamshell type doors. So
this is the first area I worked on, as I want this detail to be
at par with the rest.

Here are some pics comparing the before and after work that has been
done so far.

The area was cut open and door (shutter) is made of heavy gauge foil.
I am quite pleased with the result on the starboard side...
now on to port.

Once I have finished both, I will move on to open all hull vents.

Enjoy and thanks for looking,







Photo comparing the before and after...definitely
must better.



Cheers,
Joe

Nice kick-off Joe,the work on the tube door is a great improvement on the basic model

Great start !

Thanks guys.

Just started thinning out the inside of the hull so that I can
drill out the vents.

Photos later.

Cheers,
Joe

That new door looks much better. How did you form it? Al

Hi Al,
I basically cut a piece of aluminum from a baking pan, taped
it on the inside, for later removal and painting.
Then I took a burnishing tool and started to shape the door
from the inside towards the outside. The burnishing tool has
a ball head attached so you get that nice clam shell effect.

Cheers,
Joe

Nice start Joe,

Modifications to bow tube doors look the business, innovative.

Watching with much interest.

Si

Thanks for the explanation Joe. Al

Wow, that torpedo door came out nice.

Thanks Michael.

Yes it does give the sub a much better look.

It would be a pity to leave this area untouched.

Cheers,
Joe

Ahoy Joe

Nice start.

Thanks for sharing.

I am really looking forward to following this build.

Cheers


Sean

Thanks Sean

A small update

Opened up some flooding holes on the lower casing, aft of where the dive planes will be installed.

Now onto the ones around the torpedo tube, this is going to be tricky as the plastic
in this area is quite thick and needs to be shaved carefully.



Cheers,
Joe

Dremel with a "ball" grinder?

Hi Julian,
You got it!.....Dremel with a ball grinder from the inside to thin the plastic.
Then a combo of a pin vise with a #70 drill bit and no:11
Xacto blade and finally a dental root canal file.

Cheers,
Joe

Ahoy mates,

A small update.

Finished up the vents around the torpedo doors. What a job!
This area of the hull half is extremely thick. As such, some
internal structure will have to be built to compensate for all
the plastic I removed, to allow me to drill out and file the vents.

I believe this kit is actually based on the Vesikko.

Having carefully viewed many photos of the IIB hulls. it
seems that the re=enforcing strips, circled in red, were not
present on the German IIB's. I will remove them once
I confirm this matter.
All works out anyways as ICM has these running right into
the circular openings. Go figure.



Cheers,
Joe

Great patience drilling all those drainage holes, realy tidy work.

Interesting re the reinforcing strips. Saw a preserved IIb near Helsinki, don't know the origin of this boat, but here are a couple of pics, firstly the whole boat.



And a close as I can get on the bow,



The strip by the tube is definitely there, and looks like the upper one is too, right on the colour demarcation.

Si