New progress on U-45:
First image shows an interior view of the bow flood vents following primer coat and without interior structure in place
Here is the interior structure for the bow after a coat of primer
And the interior structure piece for the stern after a coat of primer
Hard to see, but this is the interior structure for the torpedo tube flood vent area following application of primer coat. Once the deck is in place, this area will be nearly impossible to see
Aft torpedo tube area with torpedo tube door fitted. I used a rounded head brass tack for the door
The following are several images of the scratch built pressure hull. After some testing, I was surprised how very little can be seen of the pressure hull once the deck is in place. Even under bright sun conditions, very little detail can be seen through the flood vents and the deck. However, something is needed or the light shines right through the flood vents. After careful consideration and some experiments, I decided to take an approach that is very simple, but provides some basic details for the pressure hull. Basically, I cut down a length of ABS irrigation pipe with a diameter that fit best into the hull. The ends were too wide, so I had to reduce the outside diameter with a power sander to fit the pipe into the hull. The draw back with using a constant diameter pipe for a pressure hull is that if the ends fit tight, the centre area has a large gap between the pipe and the insides of the hull. Not really a problem as once the deck is in place, this gap is invisible. Once I got the pipe to fit at the bow and stern, I used a variety of items to add the pressure hull details. Mostly stock styrene, especially tubes and rods along with stuff from the spares box and other items. I used diagrams from various reference books as a guide for the details along with some photos of the Yankee Model Works resin pressure hull. I had to make some compromises so that everything could fit, but in general this was a very easy way to add lots of basic detail for the pressure hull. I had to keep reminding myself to limit the detailing as most of this area is almost invisible once the deck is in place. I have painted the hull with a primer coat just now and will post photos later today once it has dried a bit.
Please let me know if you have any questions or comments!
Cheers,
Bill