Hello fellow submariners,

Just wanted to share a photo of a new u-boat project.
This is the tower from the Revell U47 kit in 1:125 scale.
I have started converting it to a Turm IV, for my next
Type VII u-boat. Don't know yet what boat I will model,
but will kept you all informed and more pics will follow.

Have a nice day and happy modelling,

Joe

Morning Joe!

This Turm looks great so far...
Are you going to scratchbuild all the flakvierlings and the schnorkel?

Skipper

Hello Skipper,

How are today? Cold and rainy on this side of the Altantic.

Yes I will have to scratchbuild the zwillings and the vierling. I am doing some research now; it seems that some of the
Turm IV's had a zwilling/vierling or zwilling/3.7cm combo. It
will all depend on the particular boat that I will model and
I would like to find a boat that also was snorkel equiped.
This will mean replacing the kit deck with sheet plastic to replicate the wood decks of the snorkel equiped boats.
Quite a project but a must have in my collection!
Will send pics as the project advances.

Have a nice day and happy modelling,
Joe
.

A challenging project. There were so many tower variations for the Type VII and IX. I built a series of them in 400 scale that came from POland Mirage I believe the company is. They were real cheap too, Something like $7 apiece

Joe,

if any references are needed, please ask

Skipper

Hi, great work Joe, fantastic. One question Joe, the lower hull in your u-boat u-96, have a colour similar to blue, but exactely which is the colour?
Because I have sevaral Tamiya blues and I Don´t know if it is neccesary to make a mixture between colours?

You can help me?

Thanks Joe, and this new proyect is fantastic.

happy day.

Hello Miguel,
Hope all is well with you.
These are the colors I used on U96

Lower Hull: Tamiya XF24 Dark Gray. Afterwhich the area was
lightly washed with a darker wash of the same color.
Just add some black. And rewashed with a lighter shade; just
add some white. NO PARTICULAR MIX; just a couple of drops.
This was the procedure. The slight bluish cast could be from
the paper background.
The deck: Tamiya XF64 German Gray
The upper hull: Tamiya XF66 Light Gray and then drybrushed
with slightly lighter shade.
Hope this helps you out.

PS Kreigsmarine flag and some decals are in the mail,
should be crossing the Atlantic just about now.

Have a nice day
Joe

Miguel...

Just in case you missed Grauwolfs U-96 MOD feature:
http://www.armorama.co.uk/forums/61538&page=1

Skipper

Thank you Joe, thanks Skipper, yes I see the review but I need more explanation and for me it is a good opportunity for to learn. Remember I'm working with this model and I would like to make my u-boat with a lot of details as Joe's u-boats.

Joe Ok thank you, I'm waiting this e-mail, when I will received this I will confirm you,

Thank you Joe for the paint process. Your explanation is very good for me.

For my u-boat I'm thinking to aplly in the lower surface Tamiya Field blue Falt, and I need later to apply lights effects with...I suppose mixing the base colours (Field blue) with Flat white.
I don´t know if this method is correct, but I see your lower hull and it is similar to blue colour. The dark grey is very dark and in yours photographs the lower hull is fantastic.

Thanks Joe, I'm waiting this e-mail. And I suppose anther day I will ask another questions.

Thanks

and happy day

Hello Miguel,

I took a look at Tamiya Field Blue XF50 and I find that it has too
much blue in it.
I stuck to Dark Gray XF24, for the lower hull, seems to be a
better shade, at least for me. Don't forget that after you do
the weathering, the dark gray will will look different.
The shades you see in my photos are also affected by the
reflecting light coming back from the blue background.
The actual model is slightly less blue and more neutral in
color.

Hope this info helps and will glad to help with other questions.

Have a nice day and happy modelling!

Thanks Joe, OK, I will take the dark grey as base colour, and later I'm going to make the weathering with this colour mixing with white (for light colour) and with brown colours for the (dark colours). I thinking also to mix the brown with the fash fresh in order to obyain the oxidize in the lower hull.

Joe I have not received the e-mail. I suppose that I have any problem with my address. You can probe with [email protected].

Thanks Joe,

Hello Miguel,
Como estas amigo!
I think there has been a misunderstanding. I did not send you
an e-mail. I actually mailed to you, by postal mail, some
Kreigsmarine flags and some decals, that I made for you.
That is what I meant when I said that they should be crossing
the Atlantic by now. I don't know how long it takes for mail to
Spain but check your mailbox at the end of the week.

All the best to you and when your u-boat is done, do post
some photos.

Happy modelling!

Hi, Joe, how are you? Sorry, I had not understood you. OK Joe, I'm very happy by your amiability with me. For me it is a present. Thank very much for all. When you need anything , say me, please. OK I hope your e-mail post in my home, I'm sure that this post will save "my life" . Ah, congratulation for your great new work, is fantastic. I hope your evolution because I'm sure than your work will be very good.

In my u-boat (revell 1/125), I'm working with the lower hull and the conning deck simultaneously. When this work will be more advanced, I will take photographs.
Since you know, your u-boat is my reference.

Thank you Joe, for your e-amil post, when I receive your post, I confirm you.

PD: Joe I'm working with the periscopes. My idea is to take the original periscopes and to put over there (around all diameter and lengh) Tamiya putty. Later I suppose I have with a "dremel machine to file the excess. I don´t know if this procedure it is correct. What is your opinion, Joe. Thanks for all my friend.

Best regards and happy day.

Hello Miguel,

The procedure you going to undertake is quite alright.
What I did, was to take a piece of thick styrene sprue and
shape it into a conical shape using a Dremel tool. On the top, a small piece of brass tube was added and the periscope
shaft was glued inside this. Details were added using small pieces of styrene and brass wiring.

Hope this helps and let me know when the decals arrive.
Talk to you soon,

Joe

Hi, Joe, Thank you very much another time. OK, I'm going to try your method in order to obtain the periscopes.
I'm very happy than you can help me. Don´t worry, when I will take your post e-mail, I will say you.
Another question, Joe, you can say me which are the moddifications about of 88 mm and 20 mm guns? only fine wire? or sprue also? I'm thinking to buy the hands wheels of the Aber PE?
what do you think about this?
Thank you and happy day.
I hope to see soon.

Joe,
Sorry to weigh-in so late on this post.

What can I say? I find it incredible that you can take such a Plain-Jane kit and make her a beauty queen. I truly admire your scratch building abilities and aspire to reach that level some day. The level of talent that lurks within Big A is staggering...

Fantastic to say the least.
Steve

Hello Miguel,
How is the u-boat coming along?
The 8.8cm was very modified with bits of styrene and brass.

The hand wheels are modelrailroad photo-etch.

The 3.7cm was scratchbuilt. The best reference for close-up
photos of the 8.8cm came the Andreas book "DasBoot". The
photos of the 3.7cm that I found at the dream-arts web site
were very helpful.

Have a nice day and happy modelling!

Joe

Hello Steve,

Thanks for the compliments.

Scratchbuilding is not all that complicated. Just takes a little
extra time and patience.
The old Revell kit is just screaming to be modified. It is quite
a nice little kit, too bad it has never retooled. Could
be built into quite a little jewel. Yes I know RoG released the
1:72 version which I own but have yet to build but for now I
am enjoying building the 1:125 version in many variants.
takes up alot less shelve space and primarily because I
like the challenge. So when parts are not available,
lets make them!

Give it a try, have a nice day and happy modelling,

Joe

Thank you Joe, I take your references about the guns. I just finish the lower hull with any modifications. In this moment I'm working with the periscopes, uzo, and the tower. In the next days, is probably I can start with the guns. I need to paint the deck of the conning tower. When I will finish these details, I started with the splashguard in the connig tower. It is a difficult work, but I'm going to try. When I received your present (post mail) I will send you one e-mail.
Thank you Joe, I hope your new work with impatient. I send photos of my u-boat when I have it more advanced.
Thank you and only one thing. Have you the Andreas's book? Is it good?
Thanks, happy day, Joe.

Hello Miguel,

Yes I do have the Andreas Miniature book "DasBoot". It was
very expensive here in Canada but it is very good reference.

The book covers general u-boat history in WW 1 and WW 2.
It has many pictures of interest and the modelling section
very good reference.

Look into it, since Andrea Miniature is located in Madrid,
maybe the price is better over there.

Have a nice day and talk to you soon.

Joe

Thanks, Joe, Ok I will see this book. Andreas have a great work with u-boat models. I remember that Andreas have modelled the u-boat revell 1/72 with houses, decks, soldiers..... I see any photographs. It is fantastic. I will see your internet page in order to find this book. Thanks Joe.
I hope to see soon. And when I continue with my work is possible I will need your help (You know ...more questions). Thanks. and happy day.

Hello Miguel,

Just for the record, the u-boat you are referring to, in the
Andreas diorama "DasBoot", is in fact an Andreas team
creation of the Type VII-C, in 1:32 scale. This model is
huge almost 2 metres long and very expensive. It is a
beautiful model but at that size and price, I will rather
model many smaller u-boats and create my own
miniature Kreigsmarine! :-)

Take care and will help with any questions.
Have a nice day,

Joe

Hello Joe, how are you? Thanks, it is true, this diorma is fantastic. I don´t remember the scale, yes I forget, is 1/32 scale. this work is great. I hope still, the post mail. In this week is possible that I will receive.
Thnaks Joe, In the next days I will write more question.
Thanks and happy day Joe.

Hello Joe, how are you? here I have it. Fantastic.

I have just received by mail your letter. I don´t know as to thank you, really. It is wonderfull. Thank you very much Joe. You are a great friend.

It is a wonderful detail and I am very satisfied. That I can say to you, that I am grateful for it to you very much, that when you need something of my (books , documentation) , some buy from Spain that works out for you cheaper... I can send you when you like. Not problem.

Thank you very much for all Joe. Now I need your explanation about the decals and flags. For example, teh decals... I need to cut the decals near to the border or It is not neccesary ? because the background of the decals is the blue colour.

The process is to cut near to the border, put the decals into the water and later into the model.... Is OK?

Thank you very much Joe, but later when you can, I need your explanation about the decals. I have one photograph with the u-554 devil (in red). it is big, but I like to know what is the method...you method.

It is fantastic Joe, thank you , remember, when you need anything, you send me one message.

Happy day and as you say....happy medelling. Friend.

Holla Miguel,
I glad to hear you received the decals. To use just cut like other
decals, very close to the art and dip in water. Will work very well
if the paint under the decal is glossy and then over coat with
flat varnish(Testor Dullcoat or mircoscale Dullcoat).
If you are building a boat displaying the "Running Devil"
ie U552, let me know and I could make you some decals
in the scale of 1:125.
Have a nice day and happy modelling!

Joe