I'm in the process of building an XXI and I would like to build the boat that had a white top, however, I cannot seem to be able to identify it or find some better pictures of it.

There is U-2511 which had a white conning tower:


But what about this one? Anyone know which boat this is?


Does anyone have any better pictures of the white boat?
Thanks!

Ahoy Ion,

I'm not sure about the first boat. Joe Passaseo, Grauwolf, would be your best best to answer that one. As far as the second photo, I would bet dollars to donuts that what you see there is ice and snow on that boat. That would make an excellent subject!

Kenny

Thanks, Kenny. I've thought of snow/ice actually, considering most of them were assigned to Bergen, but I wasn't sure. It would definetely make an interesting subject though, and I still would like to know which boat that is.

On a different note, here is another picture of U-2511 and now it appears that the upper side of the hull is white as the conning tower. The question is whether the picture is deceiving or if the upper side was indeed of the same color (white). And what color would that deck be in? Grey?

EDIT: On a different thought, this may not be the same picture/boat since you can see a type XXIII on the first picture (to the very left), but on the second, there is a type VII? on there.

EDIT2: Nevermind, it looks like the same scene, just taken from the opposite side. On this picture the XXI boats are: U-2506, U-2511 and U-3514. I'm still confused about the color of the upper hull looking like the conning tower...

Ahoy Ion,

I will look around in my references and try to help out with the XXI.


Here is a link to a excellant document by Dougie Martindale on u-boat colors
great reading and reference.

http://uboatcolours.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/index.jhtml

Cheers,
Joe

Thanks Joe, you've been a lot of help with all my modeling questions!

From studying different sources, I have decided to paint both the conning tower and the upper hull white (probably WEM Schnellbootweiss) that will be washed and 'dirty' as seen in my picture. The deck, I will probably paint jet black (as mentioned in the u-boat colors source) and then try to weather it with some white/'snow'/other junk. It does look close to the hull grey of the other boats, so I might do that instead.

The boat here:
http://uboat.net/gallery/index.html?gallery=Models-A
looks similar to what mine will look like, except I intend to make the color the same for upper hull and conning tower and my deck will be black/dark.

If you do find some more information though, let me know. I've also inquired with sharkhunters, but I don't know how much help they will be as some of their editors are a special kind of individuals.

Thanks again.

Hi All,
What type of boat is the one on the outside of the 'trot'?
It looks very small.
Tom

On the first picture? An XXIII

Hi ion,

In the very first image you posted of U 2511 it looks like the XXI had a white tower and an upper hull that is an unidentifiable grey. I've heard quite a few times that it was just the tower of U 2511 that was white.

The dark patches in the second image might be areas where the paint has peeled away to reveal a darker grey paint or the undercoat underneath. Note that the patches are at the front of the tower, and a small area near the bow - both these areas are where paint peeling often occurs.

Cheers,

Dougie Martindale

PS Keep away from Sharkhunters - they are not reputable.

Hi

I would say it's Adalberts Schnee's Typ XXI
I'll check my books and let you know something...
Skipper

Ion,

I hope you don`t mind me coming in this late, for what it is worth I have been speaking to a German Friend and fellow U-Boot modeller who is also one of the persons behind the soon to be released periodical "U-Boot im focus"and happened to mention this thread, he has told me that he belives the colour to actually be "Schnellbootweiss" a pale Grey colour normally found on S-Boots, which is pretty much the conculsion you had come too any way.

All the best

PeteV

Thank you VERY much for your replies! I really appreciate them!

My boat still has quite a bit to go until painting. I just got done with drilling out about 170 port holes on one side of the hull and started the other side. Thinning out the plastic from the other side proved very helpful as my holes come out a LOT better now than on my XXIII.

Anyway, it is decided then, WEM Schnellbootweiss on upper hull and conning tower, WEM KM dark grey for bridge and WEM KM antifouling (dark grey) for lower hull.

Now the mistery about this boat still remains. It now appears that the entirely white boat on the first picture is the same boat as the white boat on the 2nd picture, except more weathered (which also is a mistery... maybe bad paint? or painted in a rush, in inproper conditions...such as cold weather, in dock at bergen? why did it deteriorate so badly in less than a year?). The boat on the first pic if you look closely also has the dark grey deck, judging by the little posts for tying down lines.

Anyway, so it appears that the boat in the very first picture, with a white conning tower only, is either a different boat, or painting the conning tower was just the first stage to painting the hull white too. Let's hear some ideas!

Hi Ion

To answer your question on the degradation of the Schnellboot Weiss, it could be because of a couple of things:
- quality of paint (remember that it was applyed in the later period of the war)
- the way the paint was applyed (over a waterproof paint)

It's only natural that it weathered that way...

And I would go for white only on the ct
Still looking for confirmation on Adalbert Schnee's u-boot

Skipper

Man these boats and black & white pictures are certainly deceiving. Here's some more fuel for the mistery fire:



This one seems like it might have a white, or early grey top, but on other pictures I found on websites, it appears the boat is dark.

Another interesting pattern I have no idea about:

If anyone is curious about some further research on the U-2511, follow this link:

https://modelshipwrights.kitmaker.net/forums/92126&page=1#763834

I think I also found another white boat, but I will have to confirm it. I'll post once I found out more.