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I can collect my kit tomorrow from my trusty hobbyshop,
so they are apparently shipping the kit now.
Europeans, time to shop !
so they are apparently shipping the kit now.
Europeans, time to shop !
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c'mon Ron- we're waiting to
c'mon Ron- we're waiting to hear about it!
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it's now really in my
it's now really in my claws !
seems very nice kit, but I noticed *VERY* thin parts
which look like they will not come loose without breaking.
another one is that the floodgates still are just depressions in the mold, they are not true holes.
As for R/C'ing this baby, space is very confined (considering it's length). on the other hand, the props are reasonably sized and can therefore changed to working ones fairly
easily (ever tried to get 1/2" dia. props ?)
I think I will wait a while until some building reports are out,
as I hate to build this kit and then be pointed out Revell
goofed again.
Anybody ever heard about U552 ? It is missing from the lists I have.
Regards (hang in there)
RonaldComment
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U-552
Type VIIC
Laid down 1
U-552
Type VIIC
Laid down 1 Dec, 1939 Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Commissioned 4 Dec, 1940 Oblt. Erich Topp (Oak Leaves with Swords)
Commanders 4 Dec, 1940 - 8 Sep, 1942 KrvKpt. Erich Topp (Knights Cross)
9 Sep, 1942 - 10 Jul, 1944 Kptlt. Klaus Popp
11 Jul, 1944 - 2 May, 1945 Oblt. Günther Lube
Career 15 patrols 4 Dec, 1940 - 1 Feb, 1941 7. Flottille (training)
1 Feb, 1941 - 30 Apr, 1944 7. Flottille (front boat)
1 May, 1944 - 2 May, 1945 22. Flottille (school boat)
Successes 32 ships sunk for a total of 165.433 tons
3 ships damaged for a total of 26.910 tons
Fate Scuttled on 2 May, 1945 at Wilhelmshaven, in position 53.51N, 08.10E.
The first US Navy ship lost in the Atlantic
On 31. October, 1941 U-552 was attacking the eastbound convoy HX-156 and at roughly 0525 hours torpedoed one of its escorts. The ship's magazine exploded and the ship sank quickly and 100 out of its crew of 144 perished. The ship was the destroyer USS Reuben James and it was the first US Navy ship lost in hostile action in WWII.
This took place roughly 6 weeks before war was declared between Germany and the United States although US Navy ships had been escorting convoys and attacking U-boats for months before that.
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Above from Uboat.netComment
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C'mon Ronald,
Put up some pics.
C'mon Ronald,
Put up some pics. We all want to know what the thing looks like. I expect my dealer to call me anytime and my hands itch.
EJKComment
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well, ok.
but only of
[color=#000000]well, ok.
but only of the deck gun. so you have a heart and see if
you can find any details on that thing.
the assembled deck gun
warning ]
Edited By raalst on 1071517423Comment
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You have the opportunity to
You have the opportunity to be the first to post pics. Or you can try to hold them hostage to get information about the gun. The importance of the pictures will soon be gone for either purpose. How do you want to be remembered? As a little arm twisting guy who only wants to trade info or as a community friend who shares his good geographical fortune?
If I had any deck gun info, I already would have shared it with you and I wouldn't have demanded your pictures in return.
(feel guilty yet?)Comment
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Nope.
Not feeling guilty yet.
[color=#000000]Nope.
Not feeling guilty yet.
slightly accused, but not guilty.
I have no clue what you guys want to see.
Feel free to ask for specific details.
The general frames with parts on them are already
published (saw them somewhere). and the revell site
shows the general pictures.
All I have is a box with parts. I only assembled the
gun at this point in time. what do you want to see ?
Reason for not doing much photographing ]Comment
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well, ok. feeling slightly guilty
well, ok. feeling slightly guilty now.
the nose
the tail
the deck
the lower tower
Please understand that I have to respect the copyright on the
manual, so please do not go searching for files like plan.jpeg on my website. Those files are private
btw, for details on a VIIc have a look at the website of
Accurate Armour and their links to built models&diorama's.
regards,
Ronald
Edited By raalst on 1071526741Comment
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...here's my (quick) observations]
[color=#000000]...here's my (quick) observations]Rohr 1.....Los!Comment
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no bumps on the inside,
no bumps on the inside, I am afraid.
you could sand down from the inside, in the vicinity of the
floodholes.
The larger holes are also the deepest. the challenge
lies in the holes on the underside of the bow. These
are very shallow, and they are not oriented perpendicular
to the bow, but just horizontal. as the underside curves
away, the holes barely have a rim at all (picture follows)
I feel there would be an opportunity for a etched brass
replacement. but this brass sheet should also be bent
to the shape of the hull.
Also, the deck will become very flimsy if the underside is shaven off to open the holes. And filing them out one by one
seems daunting to me.
Jeff, would you care to inspect additional photo's of the deck
for inaccuracies ? if so, please react.
Which inaccuracy do you note at the pattern on the stern ?
The supports can indeed not be built in the "stored"position.
Also, the original could slide up/down, while the model
suggest a fixed height bent pipe.
The accurate armour 1/35 gun shows the details missing here
(because twice as large)
What is amazing is how tiny the gun is compared to the boat.
the gun sightings are missing, I think. have to scratchbuild.
(any foto's ?)
regards,
RonaldComment
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Ronald-
thanks for posting those pictures-
Ronald-
thanks for posting those pictures- it's much appreciated.
My first thoughts on the gun echo Jeff's comments- the wheels look too think, and there's definitely something wrong with the braces- if I remember correctly, the braces are metal with padding added, therefore there should be some difference in thickness shown.
Overall, the detail on the hull looks pretty good- they have even included the hydrophone listening devices around the front dive planes. (Although that pattern looks a little different...)
I think that opening the flood grates on the sides of the hull and the deck will be tedious, unless a brass deck can be created for this. If you or anyone that has the model can get the two hull halves together, even rubber banded, and could draw the overall deck outline onto a sheet of paper, I'm sure Mr LaRue would be happy to take a look at them.
(Not trying to create more work for you Jeff- but you could definitely tell from this drawing against your decks for the other Type VII sizes as to whether or not there would be a lot of work to make a 1/72 scale...!)
The photo that shows the side of the conning tower - well, the ladder railing openings look huge on that. I'm sure the hull railings and the wintergarten railings would be similarly oversized. I agree with Jeff- looks like scratchbuilding the railings overall will be the order of the day.
Oh, BTW, there is a great drawing of the 8.8 deck gun in either "Anatomy of the Ship- Type VIIc" or "vom original zum modell - uboot typ VII"- (I can't remember which...)
it shows a drawing of the sighting device pretty close up. That's the reference I'd start with for more detail on the gun.
How's the detail on the wintergarten gun? How's the detail on the conning tower deck itself? That one will be difficult to open up, since the holes in the tower floor are square openings, not round. Another photoetch piece called for here!
cheers,
SamComment
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Ronald,
Absolutley! I'll be glad to
[color=#000000]Ronald,
Absolutley! I'll be glad to look at the entire deck and let you know what I think.
The inaccuracy that I believe that I see in the stern is the rivet pattern used for the stern-most horizontal rivet reinforcing strip. If memory serves, then the rivet pattern should be a double row like Revel used elsewhere. (I need to check some photos)
re]Rohr 1.....Los!Comment
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Jeff-
good question about the stern
Jeff-
good question about the stern tube door. That would be a nice detail.
I've seen a photo of the lower hull, center...you know where the hull angles inward to the center vents? That detail is there...
Overall, it looks like a pretty good model, especially for the price.
Does anyone know if any place in the US has received it yet? I knw Squadron says they don't know when to expect it, and L&J haven't gotten theirs yet. Great Models says the same thing as Squadron. It would sure be nice to get one (or two) of these under the tree...
Edited By sam reichart on 1071603142Comment
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here are more pics. warning
here are more pics. warning ]aft torpedo door (if any)[/url]
deck (1)
deck (2)
deck (3)
small bow floodholes which i expect will be very difficult
to open up. thickness of the plastic is about 2,5 mm.
hydrophones detail
width
max width over tanks is 8 cm. not much for R/C...
sheer size (and no remarks about clean desk policy, please
keel detail is this authentic ?
details under saddletank should these things be opened up ? maybe a grating ?
sam, could you scan that picture from anatomy of the ship and mail to me ? I do have the other book, no drawing there
my email is raalst att bart dott nl
for the tower floor see static forum,
or go direct ]http://misc.kitreview.com/shipreviews/typeviicuboatpreviewak_1.htm[/url]
back to building...
added ]AA gun[/url]
AA gun (1)
AA gun (2)
Regards,
Ronald
Edited By raalst on 1071612126Comment
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