Author Topic: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine  (Read 6816 times)

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Offline GlennCauley

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1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« on: 11 Jun , 2015, 08:21 »
I have eagerly awaited this new kit by Merit International, and have finally begun construction on it.   It will be the 5th and final midget sub in my collection of midget subs + man-driven torpedoes, which I plan to enter in CAPCON 2015 in late September.  No time to lose, full steam ahead, damn the torpedoes!   :D

I have started a photo album on Facebook to post pictures of my build progress:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152694373187127.1073741868.549717126&type=1&l=4396d9f086


Right now I am at the stage of opening up the flood & limber holes, and adding some rudimentary structures inside the hull (where you can see through opened holes).    This is always time consuming & tedious (and leaves me covered with plastic shavings), but I feel it is an easy way to add more realism.  I have some ideas in mind on how to make internal hull curvatures - either by curved sheet styrene or sculpted epoxy putty.

The kit looks very nice, with some fine detail and seemingly straightforward construction.   I have already marked up the instructions with ideas for enhancements.
Too bad there aren't any PE detail sets for this boat yet, as that is usually a 'signature' thing for my builds.

More to follow!
Glenn Cauley
President, IPMS Ottawa
gc-scalemodels.ca

Offline SG

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Re: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« Reply #1 on: 12 Jun , 2015, 09:45 »
Promises well. Such a spartan/basic look when compared to the seehund, nevertheless a beauty. On standby

Offline GlennCauley

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Re: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« Reply #2 on: 12 Jun , 2015, 10:42 »
I could not believe the size of the explosive charge "saddle packs" mounted on the sides of the hull.   

Oh myyyyyy... that would make for one heck of a "bang."
Glenn Cauley
President, IPMS Ottawa
gc-scalemodels.ca

Offline SG

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Re: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« Reply #3 on: 12 Jun , 2015, 13:54 »
and it actually did!!

Offline GlennCauley

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Re: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« Reply #4 on: 15 Jun , 2015, 08:36 »
Weekend progress on the X-craft (June 13-14):

  *added inner pressure hull faux curvatures + egress tube
  *added exhaust pipe
  *painted interior pieces
  *cemented the hull halves

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152694373187127.1073741868.549717126&type=1&l=4396d9f086
« Last Edit: 15 Jun , 2015, 08:48 by GlennCauley »
Glenn Cauley
President, IPMS Ottawa
gc-scalemodels.ca

Offline SG

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Re: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« Reply #5 on: 15 Jun , 2015, 13:22 »
Glenn, i like the way you obtained the curved inner hull. 2 Questions: what did you use to wrap the styrene around the dowel? (looks like masking tape, but am not sure it is); did  you use a hot blower just like the one you used for soldering w koki paste?
thanks in advance. Standing-by for further progress
« Last Edit: 15 Jun , 2015, 13:26 by SG »

Offline GlennCauley

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Re: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« Reply #6 on: 15 Jun , 2015, 13:30 »
Hi SG,

Tape:  I used good-quality 3M green masking tape (bodyshop quality) to tape the sheet styrene around the wooden dowel.   It is more expensive, but has much better tack... and it withstands more heat than regular marking tape.

Heat source:   I used a commercial-grade heat gun (very carefully).



« Last Edit: 15 Jun , 2015, 13:39 by GlennCauley »
Glenn Cauley
President, IPMS Ottawa
gc-scalemodels.ca

Offline SG

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Re: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« Reply #7 on: 18 Jun , 2015, 08:56 »
Excellent, thanks!
A couple of pics I came across today, which I hope you don't have already:








Cheers!








Offline GlennCauley

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Re: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« Reply #8 on: 29 Jun , 2015, 12:12 »
Made some small progress with the X-craft, by adding water intake grills on the keel.    Of course I had to make it difficult, but I think it looks better.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152694373187127.1073741868.549717126&type=1&l=4396d9f086
Glenn Cauley
President, IPMS Ottawa
gc-scalemodels.ca

Offline SG

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Re: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« Reply #9 on: 02 Jul , 2015, 12:48 »
Awesome work w those brass plates, I dig it!

Offline GlennCauley

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Re: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« Reply #10 on: 15 Jul , 2015, 09:16 »
X-Craft progress (11-July-2015)

Last weekend's build session saw the completion of the boat's rear section (dive planes, linkages).

It was a bit fiddly to get all parts installed, planes captured, and everything aligned and at perpendicular angles. The linkages turned out to be very nicely molded.

As with the rest of the boat, I shaved off the large overscale rivets, to be replaced later.

Full album here:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152694373187127.1073741868.549717126&type=1&l=4396d9f086
Glenn Cauley
President, IPMS Ottawa
gc-scalemodels.ca

Offline SG

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Re: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« Reply #11 on: 16 Jul , 2015, 11:42 »
Looking good Glenn! Well done!!
 

Offline GlennCauley

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Re: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« Reply #12 on: 22 Oct , 2015, 12:29 »
The X-craft was finished for CAPCON 2015 in September 2015.
It won its category, and also took Best Ship!

Picture:  http://www.travel-net.com/~gcauley/Uboats/images/DSC7711.jpg

Build album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152694373187127.1073741868.549717126&type=1&l=4396d9f086
« Last Edit: 22 Oct , 2015, 15:06 by GlennCauley »
Glenn Cauley
President, IPMS Ottawa
gc-scalemodels.ca

Offline Capt Kremin

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Re: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« Reply #13 on: 22 Oct , 2015, 13:20 »
Hi Glenn,


Well done, nice job on the finish, very convincing.


Regards
Jon
 
« Last Edit: 23 Oct , 2015, 06:29 by Capt Kremin »
"Here's Peter Jason Quill, He's also called Starlord",
"Who calls him that?",
"Himself Mostly".

Offline SG

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Re: 1/35 British HMS X-Craft Submarine
« Reply #14 on: 22 Oct , 2015, 14:51 »
Whoa! Really stunning. A Winner!
Congratulations
« Last Edit: 22 Oct , 2015, 15:05 by SG »