Robbe Type XXI - Build status

[salt6]

Any new progress?

Any new progress?

[rkc]

Quick question to those with

Quick question to those with the robbe kit.

The XXI had a very distinctive part of the hull in the centre towards the keel where the lower hull was left exposed without plating. have robbe done this? or is the hul smooth all the way to the keel.

cheers
rich

[k225]

The type XXI build is

The type XXI build is going well taking my time building it right out of the box. The kit is huge! 2 metres when complete. The center section and bow section are now joined with the WTC in place the length of these sections is 4 ft 6 in. I am now working on installing the motors and servos.
Have ordered the book Anatomy of the Ship Series Type XXI U-Boat to help in my research before I finish up.
Rich the hull is smooth all the way to the keel.
So far the build has been fairly easy.

[rkc]

Thanks k225

The book is really

Thanks k225

The book is really good, loads of good photos and super detailed line drawings.
Shame about the centre section being smooth, but i dont know if later XXI's were smoothed over. The AOTS book doesn't show this very well, only the line drawings indicate the centre was left unclad.

I do have another XXI book but am at work and cant remember the title, will post later if i remember.

cheers
rich

[rkc]

For k225

The other book is

For k225

The other book is "German U-Boat Type XXI" by siegfried Breyer, Schiffer Militayr History, ISBN 0-7643-0787-8.

Its quite thin, but lots of good close-ups of the conning tower. I dont think any of the photos are duplicates from the AOTS one.

regards rich

[JWLaRue]

The XXI had a very

The XXI had a very distinctive part of the hull in the centre towards the keel where the lower hull was left exposed without plating. have robbe done this? or is the hul smooth all the way to the keel.

It *sounds* like you are referring to a Type VII and not the XXI........

The Type XXI has a very smooth appearance to it. Perhaps you are thinking about the lower ballast grates that run along either side of the lower hull, centered around the the conning tower?

-Jeff

[sam reichart]

Jeff-
Hemay be referring to the

Jeff-
Hemay be referring to the indentation that the XXI has above the keel in the center of the boat...you know that area where it curves in and runs along the length of the hull?
Like the old Rocky Mountain Type XXI, that hull was "smooth" all along, and didn't have this familiar indentation. In fact, I think Doug mentioned his original Rocky Mountain boat had to be modified extensively to have the correct hull shape.

This indentation is seen on Doug/Matt/Paul's hull kit.

[rkc]

Yep thats the area sam,

Yep thats the area sam, thanks.

It appears to have been an area of the lower hull that was left exposed for some reason. I have only ever seen one photo that showed it. That was a pic of a swedish recovered boat, lying on its side in dry dock.

If anyone out there knows of other photos that would be great, as the drawings show this area clearly but it is difficult to visualise how the plating was arranged at the two ends of this area.

Apart from that ommission what does everyone building a U2540 think of it?

regards
rich

[sjgusmc21]

RKC,
This is my first RC

RKC,
This is my first RC Submarine and my first time working with 'blown' plastic. However, I am a experienced scale modeler, so from that aspect, I absolutely love it. I have the Robbe U2540, and man, is this thing big. I really underestimated the size of it when I purchased it. But that is OK with me, as it gives me plenty of room inside to experiment with. The only drawbacks I (IMO) have seen is that the seams do not 'bond' together, as they are not perfectly flat when mating the hull half's together. But that is easily fixed (as with anything that is plastic). I also have built my own 'box' that contains the two from servo's for the retractable forward dive planes, as the one that comes with the kit is really fragile, or at least in my opinionit is. As for scale and looks, I think it is pretty darn nice, and what is missing, can be easily fabricated/etched in. I was skeptical about the plastic and the sheer size of this sub being very strong, but it really is. As for the mechanic's, I can't say as I said this is my first RC sub, but I have easily fabricated using Dr. Broders RCABS system, a static diving system for it. There is SO much room in this thing, it's incredible. So from a RC newbies perspective, it seems to be really easy to assemble. From a scale modelers perspective, it is easy as well, and what it is missing, can be easily incorporated/modified. Just my two cents. Happy holidays!

[rkc]

Thanks for the reply sjgusmc21.

I

Thanks for the reply sjgusmc21.

I think i may just have to get one, as the XXI is my favourite boat.

Like the sound of how much space there is, for a ballast system. I am doing a U47 at the moment with a hybrid ballast system, which will be a combination of piston tanks and a Gas or RCABs system. The main system will bring her down to decks awash then the pistons will take her under. The piston tanks will be fully proportional, so i should be able to just move the slider to roughly where i want her to sit. Of course i am sure it wont be that easy.

I may be able to adapt this to the U2540, with just an enlargement of the tank size. Could i ask what the diameter of the WTC is and how long, just the tube as i would replace the end caps.

Cheers in advance

rich

[rkc]

Just looked at Salt6's site

Just looked at Salt6's site (should have seen it earlier, dohh!). A really good photo shows the bit i was talking about, and yes Robbe have done it.

Wahoo! thats it i am def going to order one.

Thanks to those that replied

regards rich

[k225]

You won't be disappointed Rich!
Just

You won't be disappointed Rich!
Just do It!

[JWLaRue]

Sam said]

[color=#000000]Sam said]

[rkc]

Thanks jeff

I love it here,

Thanks jeff

I love it here, I learn somethig new every day.

rich

[salt6]

Any suggestion on how to

Any suggestion on how to reinforce the hull joints. I've got the forward hull section cut out and ready to glue together.

SB