U-673

[GlennCauley]

Another update... bullnose!

I tore apart and redid the bullnose on U-673 ... again... and posted the information on my build site.

http://www.travel-net.com/~gcauley/U673
go to section "Hull Detailing 2"

Here is a pic of the not-quite-finished bullnose, but I'll post additional pics when it is done.

[Rokket]

MUCH nicer

[Jan]

Your new bullnose was worth the risk!

[bracco_n]

Great project Glenn! Keep it up!

[dougie47]

Nice work Glenn.

Cheers,

Dougie

[GlennCauley]

I am highly motivated to complete U-673 for our upcoming contest CAPCON 2011 on September, 24, 2011.  The hull was already completed, but I hadn't started on the conning tower  (well, except for making the REALLY cool Flak-37 cannon from photoetch).  So starting about 1 week ago, I have been doing marathon modelling sessions, going late into the nights.

The CT is going to be REALLY fun to do for U-673, with the forward AA platform, railings, ammo stowage cabinets, etc etc etc etc.    I only have a few scant & fuzzy pictures to work from.  Ahh... the challenge.  Since U-673 is a converted VIIC, and I was using a VIIC/41 kit as the basis, I had to do a fair bit of grafting & surgery to make it look proper.

Here are the results of my grafting together the CT using VIIC/41 and some VIIC parts:

[GlennCauley]

And some other details.  MANY thanks to others who have posted their detailed builds online (Siara, etc.)
There are still many details to add, and some things to change.

Full steam ahead... damn the torpedoes!!!

[bracco_n]

Great to see you back at work, U-673 is cming along pretty nicely!

[GlennCauley]

I forgot what a pain it is to add tiny, fiddly, dropable, loseable PE parts!   LOL
The tricks... hydrate lots when modelling so the hands don't shake, and avoid modelling over carpetted areas!

But wow does it look good when they're on there.  hehehe

[iceonaboy]

Looking good Glenn. I find my problem is fixing the little pieces of PE with CA glue. Its really hard to get just the right amount of glue on, without long strings appearing and falling onto the kit or overspill oozing out from behind the PE and looking scabby. As you say, when you get it right , it sure looks good on the model.

[GlennCauley]

Thanks!

Whenever it is feasible, I try to solder the PE parts together using Koki paste (thank you, Siara).  

But you're right, when attaching the PE part to plastic (or together when solder paste is not an option), yeh it is difficult to get the right amount of CA glue.  I have a method that I describe in the "how to" section.  I may be a bit time consuming, but usually ensures the PE pieces stay in place without globs of glue all over.

[Jan]

Aaaaah finally...i was looking all the time for your progress! 

[Rokket]

Hi Glenn,

that detail is looking very sweet! The hardwork is worth it just looking at the "near completion" and dashboard CU.

[GlennCauley]

First attempt at brass wire railings... turned out well!

I used 0.80mm brass wire, and Koki solder paste at the joints.
I jigged it on corkboard, using straight pins to hold the pieces in place.
Melted the solder paste using a butane pencil torch with a hot air tip (NOT the torch tip).
The results are strong, clean joints.

[GlennCauley]

FINALLY some paint gets laid down!!!

I went with Siara's recommendation on the primer... Citadel Chaos Black spray primer, available from Games Workshop.  AWESOME stuff, too bad it's only available in a spray can.. but I decanted it for spraying with my airbrush.  Works on plastic & metal, very thin, adheres well, dries in minutes.

For colour I went with WEM enamel paint - some of the best paint around for Kriegsmarine colours - thinned with good ModelMaster thinner.  I used Schlickgrau 58 which is what is listed for U-673 (thank you Wink & Dougie).  The first coat laid down nicely... but I must say I don't care for the colour!   Looks grey/green to me... blech.  

After some putty work & another paint coat, I'll be painting the wooden slats black/charcoal individually by hand... so you'll be able to see the grey in between the individual slats.  Then the weathering inside the tower... then the assembly & external painting... then the forward AA gun deck!!!!!!!!!!!