THE U-BOAT BUILD LIST - April 10 2023 blog update

This is my current build list for this UBoat project. It is a work in progress and may change as I learn more.
Here I will explain each build as an overview and then provide a link to the detailed post under my 'Silent running' section.

 

[Iron Mike]

Following with interest!

 

[Flyingbabydoc]

Very impressive and ambitious. You have certainly invested a lot of time and $$$ in this project. congratulations!

Cheers

Alex

 

[Sharkmouth]

I thought I was the only crazy one with excel files on project series...

The difference is that I believe you will complete them!

Regards,

 

[JSteinman]

And here I sit with burnout...

 

[moon puppy]

WOW!

 

[Duke Maddog]

This should be interesting. Kinda looks like what I do every week, only I don't have mine documented this well and thoroughly.

I'm gonna enjoy following this!

 

[Brokeneagle]

This should be interesting. Kinda looks like what I do every week, only I don't have mine documented this well and thoroughly.

I'm gonna enjoy following this!

...... this is only the left half of the sheet, so that it would fit. The right half has more build details as well as all of the update sets and where used. lower down(below what I have shown) has the quantities and types of armament needed for each tower and deck.

 

[lupanzer]

This should be cool!

Luiz.

 

[Brokeneagle]

This should be cool!

Luiz.

Lets hope so or all the work is for nothing!
Thanks Luiz!

 

[Brokeneagle]

So after a little more research I have changed and added some more details.
I realised I actually had 2 9C Uboats to build as early versions with the earliest being......
U-67. (Revell Kit #05166)
*This boat in 1940 had all the hallmarks of a typical 9C U-Boat in the early stages of the war - 10.5 cm & 3.7cm deck guns, small tower, small tower, wave breakers on the f'ward deck sides and one across the deck in front of the deck gun. These details will make this build a markedly different display to the later 9C builds, which is what this is all about.
U-509 (Revell Kit #05166)
* This boat will be similar to U-67 however over the time between, U-67 in 1940 and U509 in early 1943, the kit looses the wave breakers and gets the updated FuMO radar ARRAY across the tower front. The tower also gets a 'makeover' from the plain grey to multi-striped cammo bands.

U-441 (Revell Kit #05015 w/ Shapeways 3D Printed conning tower & details from kit #05163)
I have also swiched out the mid war 7C U-333 for another mid war Boat U-441.
U-441 was a very unique type 7C that was modified for a short period in the second half of 1943 to a Flak boat to provide escort to other Uboats. In late '43 it was converted back to a typical 7C but while it was a flak boat it looked completely different with 2 platforms with 20mm quad verlings and a 3.7 SKU30. One of the Quads was even mounted in front of the Conning Tower.
------------------------------------------
One thing I have certainly found with this project is the huge amount of detail changes involved in the progression of type 7C's and type 9C's over the course of the war. Each build will involve a miriad of engineering changes that I will need to monitor and list to make sure that I can get the sub to be as accurate as possible.
To help me achieve this I have turned to a number of aftermarket updates that are now available, which were not available 10 years ago when I built the 'Last Patrol' 7C/41 diorama. Companies such as CMK, RC Subs, Special Hobby and Shapeways 3D printing, plus the fact that Revell now have released 5 1/72 kits, enabled me to produce all the variations I want.
Revell kits - #05166, #05015,#05163, #05114, #05133. Special Navy kits #72001,#72002, #72006, RC Subs type 21.
Bring on the detail ......................

 

[Sharkmouth]

Well, I would like to know which kit to use for this and you seem far more knowledgeable. Can you guess why?

Regards,

 

[Piet]

No type 1a u boot model kit to my knowledge ,but the 1/35 Italeri Biber and the
1/35 Hobby Boss Molch midget submarines have a shark mouth option

 

[Sharkmouth]

No type 1a u boot model kit to my knowledge ,but the 1/35 Italeri Biber and the
1/35 Hobby Boss Molch midget submarines have a shark mouth option

Thanks Piet, I have those kits (as well as the 1/350th scale Biber from the AFV Club kit since there was more than one sharkmouth painted).

Regards,

 

[Brokeneagle]

U-438 was a type 7C that had a sharkmouth across its bow like a WW2 spitfire or Kittyhawk - showing on both sides - Revell Kit #05015

 

[Sharkmouth]

U-438 was a type 7C that had a sharkmouth across its bow like a WW2 spitfire or Kittyhawk - showing on both sides - Revell Kit #05015

I have not seen a photograph of this yet. I prefer a smaller scale and I have two Type VIIC, which one will be best?

Regards,

 

[Brokeneagle]

The right kit to use would be the AFV club Type 7C early version.
Here is an image from the net showing the artwork for the sub from uboats in focus.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Thanks, I saw the artwork but not any photos. I wonder if U-Boat in Focus #11 has any photos? I also have no clue what "early" means in terms of year. One kit is /41 (which I believe means 1941 refit) would that be late, mid, or ???

Finally, something I have no clue about.

Regards,

 

[Brokeneagle]

Thanks, I saw the artwork but not any photos. I wonder if U-Boat in Focus #11 has any photos? I also have no clue what "early" means in terms of year. One kit is /41 (which I believe means 1941 refit) would that be late, mid, or ???

Finally, something I have no clue about.

Regards,

Hey Saul, here are some more shots from UBIF #11.
'Early means before the tower and deck style change. Even though the designation is /41 it wasn't until after June '43 that the first /41 was launched and this date also coincides with the turm 4 tower configuration (larger extended tower with mutiple gun levels). I think it is also safe to say that all 7C/41's had a late model CT(Turm 4). This definately applies to the snorkel being added.

 

[Sharkmouth]

Hey Saul, here are some more shots from UBIF #11.
'Early means before the tower and deck style change. Even though the designation is /41 it wasn't until after June '43 that the first /41 was launched and this date also coincides with the turm 4 tower configuration (larger extended tower with multiple gun levels). I think it is also safe to say that all 7C/41's had a late model CT(Turm 4). This definitely applies to the snorkel being added.

Thanks! Now I will look for a book or site that shows me exactly what to backdate (but the kits have two different conning towers so I may have lucked out).

Regards,