Author Topic: U-190... back at it again! (Read 5811 times)

GlennCauley · « **on:** 03 Jan , 2017, 11:11 »

As of 01-Jan-2017, I am restarting my U-190 project, with a personal deadline set for this year.
I aim to push forward with this as my primary project.
So far in my first build session of 2017, I managed to make good progress on hull detailing.

I am very pleased that RC Subs has recently released a new SKU-025 upgrade set to correct the U-190 tower (which was a copy of the U-505 tower).

http://rcsubs.cz/index.php/80-uvod/135-ixc40-tower-172

Here is my main blog site:

http://gc-scalemodels.ca/U-190

and my FB photo album(s):

GlennCauley · « **Reply #1 on:** 04 Jan , 2017, 09:13 »

One long evening saw a lot of progress adding the big PE pieces added to hull.

Bow lower flood holes
One of the 2 remaining "major" hull PE pieces added to the lower bow.
Luckily the SRS photoetch piece keys to molded features on the plastic hull, so alignment is very straightforward.
(The Eduard solution has 2 individual PE pieces, so alignment was not as easy.)

Sternmost lower flood holes (near the stern torpedo tubes)
Though only medium-sized and covering fewer holes... this PE piece (again by SRS) was moderately challenging to install.
I dry-fit the hull halves, so I could align the new PE piece to the one already installed on the starboard hull.
(The Eduard solution has 2 individual PE pieces, so again... alignment was not as easy.)
Lengths of dual-rivet strips are provided separately, which will go on later.

Piet · « **Reply #2 on:** 07 Jan , 2017, 16:12 »

Looks real good!

GlennCauley · « **Reply #3 on:** 09 Jan , 2017, 09:35 »

Good but messy progress on the hull of U-190... rotsa grinding, shaving, filing... and vacuuming my clothes of plastic dust afterwards.

Getting closer to attaching the hull halves!

GlennCauley · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 Feb , 2017, 08:29 »

In the past few weeks I have made huge progress on the U-190 tower:

Tower reconstruction. The U-190 tower comes directly from the U-505 kit, although there are noticeable differences between the towers inside & outside (particularly on the port side). Thankfully, RC Subs has created a very good "update" set to correct the U-190 tower.
Detailing tower interior - PE and scratchbuilt details
Side railings - scratchbuilt from brass wire & eyelets
Schnorkel external pipe & backstop - HUGE improvements
Miscellaneous external details: vents, ladders, grab rails, hatches, ammo bins, etc.

I have updated my main blog site as well as posting periodic Facebook photo albums: http://gc-scalemodels.ca/U190/

GlennCauley · « **Reply #5 on:** 06 Mar , 2017, 10:44 »

In less than 1 month - working weekends and a few hours most nights - the U-190 tower has gone from a pile of (mostly) unassembled parts... to THIS.

GlennCauley · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 Mar , 2017, 07:25 »

The direction finder loop on U-190 had a HF (high-frequency) antenna on it. The kit only supplies the basic loop, so I had to scratchbuild the HF antenna and combine it with the DF loop.
Thank you to NZSnowman for making a wonderful 3D model of the HFDF !

Making the HF antenna looked daunting, but after I found I had the correct raw materials, it turned out to be not that difficult:

1/16" brass tubing
super-fine hollow brass tubing (by Griffon Model)
0.010" fine brass wire
styrene rod (various sizes)
fine solder

falo · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 Mar , 2017, 23:53 »

Hi Glenn,

excellent work, thanks for the pictures.

Regards
falo

GlennCauley · « **Reply #8 on:** 14 Mar , 2017, 09:04 »

Getting to work on the U-190 armament.
First up, the double-barrel 2cm Flak C38 on M43U Zwilling mounts, with short shields

GlennCauley · « **Reply #9 on:** 21 Mar , 2017, 10:46 »

Full steam ahead, damn the torpedoes.

I have finally assembled got the hull together!

assembled the hull halves
installed the faux pressure hull
installed the saddletank tops

Now working on the following:

adding ribbing inside the main flood channel
adding other internal structures atop the pressure hull

GlennCauley · « **Reply #10 on:** 03 Apr , 2017, 10:31 »

After a few weeks away from U-190, I added the bow & stern deck ends.
The kit parts were used, and all detail was removed. I then added the PE deck pieces and other details. Cast brass cleats will be added later.

NZSnowman · « **Reply #11 on:** 05 Apr , 2017, 13:31 »

Glenn, it possible too late, but you bow of your model of U-190 look like its design for water-refuelling. I believe U-190 just had a standard bow.

U-873 had a bow for water-refuelling. Perhaps, Dougie could also conform this.

GlennCauley · « **Reply #12 on:** 05 Apr , 2017, 15:05 »

Thank you for the information, but at this point in the build I won't be changing the bow.
It would be very difficult to fill that area, create & install a PE piece to match the anti-slip pattern already there.

GlennCauley · « **Reply #13 on:** 19 Apr , 2017, 09:04 »

Progress on the hull is substantial, and it is nearing the painting stage.

Currently adding the running gear: propeller shafts (replaced with brass tubing), rudders, dive planes (bow & aft)

I will be updating the main blog site soon, but here are a few Facebook photo albums for reference:

GlennCauley · « **Reply #14 on:** 14 Jul , 2017, 07:39 »

I have been working piecemeal on U-190, and in the last few days I finally installed the full-length (32") PE deck!

Painting deck before install: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154424761257127.1073742002.549717126&type=1&l=7c22bf08d4
Prepping to install: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154453136667127.1073742003.549717126&type=1&l=bf718db6b8
Installation! : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154461781147127.1073742004.549717126&type=1&l=69ac381b17
Post-install cleanup: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154463206307127.1073742006.549717126&type=1&l=fafebd1de5

GlennCauley · « **Reply #15 on:** 14 Jul , 2017, 07:48 »

I have completed 2/3 of the tower armament:

1 of 2 twin-barrel 20mm AA guns : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154137645027127.1073741971.549717126&type=1&l=03be39aac8
37mm twin-barrel cannon : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154143258092127.1073741973.549717126&type=1&l=5926518c50

I have one of the 20mm AA guns using some specific parts and a certain shield, but for the second one I will be using slightly different parts and shield. (Mix & match time!)

GlennCauley · « **Reply #16 on:** 18 Sep , 2017, 12:59 »

I am very happy to announce that U-190 is finally DONE as of 17-Sep-2017.

The display base is the final thing left to be done.

I hope to get some proper photographs of the model in the next few weeks, something better than what my iPhone takes.

GlennCauley · « **Reply #17 on:** 10 Oct , 2017, 11:31 »

U-190 was completed 1 week before CAPCON 2017.
It placed 2nd in its category (flanked by 2 of my other models).

Unfortunately, I broke the forward rigging shortly after CAPCON 2017 and am preparing to repair/replace it.
Then hopefully I will have the chance to get some good photos of this beast which claimed 1.5 years of my time.

falo · « **Reply #18 on:** 10 Oct , 2017, 13:50 »

Hi Glenn,

congratulations for this total success. U-190 surrounded by two Japanese Midget Subs – but all three models were built at the same shipyard

Regards
falo

GlennCauley · « **Reply #19 on:** 27 Mar , 2018, 12:36 »

http://gc-scalemodels.ca/U190/

U-190 has been completed for a short time, and recently competed in HeritageCon 12 (25-Mar-2018) where it won its category and also the Arthur William Redding patron award (for Navy vessels).

Before HeritageCon 12, I took several weeks to refinish the entire paint job: entire deck, upper & lower hull, and tower.
I was not complete satisfied with the finishing & weathering job I had done initially, but now I am satisfied.

I am hoping to get a more professional photo shoot done soon.