VIIC "On the Ways"

[tore]

Maciek
That looks more like it and the "star" could be the top of the anchor. Then we have a new strange constellation with a german cadet and a british RNVR officer.
Tore

[tore]

I think I`m a little step further. The rating is possibly not a german cadet but a 1st class german rating. See posted picture of a german WW2 rating and next to him a person I believe is a german midshipman ( Cadet). So now we have a german rating of first class (specialist?) and a british RNVR leutenant, most probably a specialist. The polish rating is different, see picture below, so we can rule out the polish. I inclined to believe the situation is from May/ June 1945, the germans assisted to some extent in the demolition of plants and removing of explosive charges in the few months after the war.
Tore

[SnakeDoc]

Hi Tore


Interesting findings! Below I'm presenting two photos of sailors of Polish Navy:

(crew of the ORP Błyskawica, around 1940)



(on board of the ORP Piorun, July 1944)


I think, it can be said, that the photo we are discussing about, is post-war (because of presence of the RNVR officer). The next question is where it has been taken - trainer or the submarine?


--
Regards
Maciek

[tore]

Maciek
Nice pictures.If you look at your picture of the polish crew onboard ORP Piorun you see two persons with white caps, one is a RNVR sublieutenant, the other is RN petty officer. It was quite common the Royal Navy put liasonofficers onboard to assist smaller allied navies in 1940-41 and RNVRs were often used for that. Still it doesn`t get us closer to a answere to our question.
Tore

[SG]

Tore, your hypothesis of german crews assisting to some extent in uboot scuttling is right and proven:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/42460788?searchTerm=operation%20deadlight&searchLimits=
 
 http://www.rnsubs.co.uk/Dits/Articles/uboat_surrender.php  (read the chapters "Operation Deadlight " and "The German Connection")

Look at the heads of the crews on the turret deck of (?)U1165 during operation deadlight (picture's caption states that the pic was taken from the deck of some polish naval unit): some sailors headgear look like german feldmutze to me..

Maciek, I know you didnt chose those pics of ORP Piorun by chance  . ORP Piorun sank by gunfire U244, the stubborn boat which had broken off its towing line en route for being sunk during op deadlight..
 

[tore]

SG
It could very well be, although the jackets doesn`t look like any german U-boatjacket. Most of the german Uboatcrew were very cooperative in fact when the large portion of the Uboat surrendered in Norway, the allied forces didn`t have any organisation to handle all the subs which crowded Narvik harbour. Then the germans took everything in their own hands and sailed the impressive submarinefleet south to Trondheim to surrender. Half way they were observed and created almost a panic and two norwegian destroyers were rushed up north to check. Back to the famous picture, if I remember correctly in early May admiral D

[TopherVIIC]

ok finally some pics.
Keep in mind I still have a long way to go, but Tores photos of the torpedo room deck were helpful. In fact, thanks for everyone chipping in!



My Crewmembers are just rough painted in for now - they will be detailed as I work more stuff in. You can see that the compartment is starting to look quite small...



Here you can see the wooden torpedo proxies I am using belowdecks till I get some proper G7-E's

I put hinges on the deck plates and wire pull handles, and you can see the striped bedding I made. I was quite happy with the bedding.

In the pic of the deck, it looks oilier than I intended, so I will probably get rid of some of the darker oil stains, but I like the weathering of the steel edge plates.
I still have to make two folded up bunks with spring wire bottoms, but they will be coming.

Again here is some bedding detail, with crates and containers. You can see I did sheets, as well as a DKM wool blanket.



I like to work with oils, which take a while to dry, and I also paint miniatures somewhat impressionistically. So you may bet that the painting is far from finished.
The photos do not do it justice, but I am happy with how this is coming out. Here they seem more vivid - the paints blend better with the human eye. I will also be putting in filters and pastels, but I will wait for that till the majority of construction is done. When you look up into the cut-away sections, you get the impression of a crowded but functional working space, which is my goal.
Cheers mates.
Christopher

[tore]

Christopher.
As usual amazing. the bunkclothing is exactly as it was. You got even the fittings on the bulkhead towards CPO mess correct  omitting the new stuff which was installed in the 60ties. Well done!
Tore

[tore]

Christopher
A small remark as to my recent post. The bunkguards should may be a little more shiny, crisp brushed aluminumcolour, see my picture below
Tore.

[TopherVIIC]

Tore -
Thank you! I need to get some brighter aluminum paint. I used Testors silver lacquer on it, and it looks quite dull, so I need to brighten it up. It is funny the stuff you are proud of on a build - A little detail I put in - I am really fond of the hatch coaming! As I get to the point where I have to start permanently fitting the bulkheads in place, and the deck, I will add known plumbing and air ducts and of course the lights we talked about earlier. My crew will get painted better - more detail - less shiny... :-)

[TopherVIIC]

Tore - Do you remember if the lower bunks had a bunk fence on them? Drawings show they did, but that may be a drawing convention.
Christopher

[tore]

Yes Chrstopher-
We used the same leather uniforms, surplus from german stock, they were not so shiny blueish more grey. We didn`t use them so much inside the sub where the dresscode was somewhat irregular wild while at sea.
Tore

[SG]

Christopher,
Congrats for the results obtained so far. Really an impressive work. Am looking forward to seeing the final outcome when the painting process is completed!
Bravissimo!
SG
 

[tore]

Christopher

Tore - Do you remember if the lower bunks had a bunk fence on them? Drawings show they did, but that may be a drawing convention.
Christopher

I don`t think  we used them because the lower bunks were used as a seating and normally the tables were mounted.
Tore

[NZSnowman]

Hi Christopher.

Looking fantastic!!!

It like looking at my drawing in 3D. I know the boat some much in 2D, but it so wonderful now to see it in 3D.