SLC "maiale" 1/400 scale WIP

[SG]

Hi! am back on track with a new side project, given the historic moment modelling is gaining momentum and I made a little progress with the U48 project as well (most of the gun components are ready, am working on the aiming block at the moment). I decided to give it a try to the crazy idea of building a "Maiale" from scratch in the 400th scale, actually am still a bit concerned about the feasibility of it. I needed some side-project to release the pressure from the U48 project, the bogging-down 88, and get closer to modelling again.
Did some research and made the first steps, main body (diameter 1,3 mm, length 15mm) and the breakwater-shield. A few pitures of what i've done so far (more infos and pics in the "side projects" section of my blog: 3xblackcats.wordpress.com/side-projects/). The shield needs some more shaping and refining (mostly thinning of the walls) before being detached from the carrier. Any feedback is welcome.
Cheers,
SG


http://cubeupload.com/im/SGm/SLC.jpg


http://cubeupload.com/im/SGm/body.jpg


http://cubeupload.com/im/SGm/shldconcave.jpg


http://cubeupload.com/im/SGm/shld.jpg

[SG]

Hi, I finally managed to complete the frontal shield. Opted for the four-ribbed version of it. After few fruiltless attempts with different materials (stretched sprue, fishing wire, thinnest copper wire available) i opted for the .001 ultra-thin rigging wire by Uschi (some 0.02 mm thick), which was glued with CA. Spacing is 0.25mm. Further carving and shaping and extra-thinning on the walls  + some dry fitting was carried out before the ribbing process and filnally the shield was detached from its carrier.
A few pics:


http://cubeupload.com/im/SGm/shield1.jpg


http://cubeupload.com/im/SGm/shield2.jpg


http://cubeupload.com/im/SGm/indexshield.jpg


That was fun!


Cheers,


SG







   

[dougie47]

Hi SG,

Great work as usual. Please let us know how you get on with this side project.

Cheers,

Dougie

[SG]

Thank you Dougie! will surely do. The next step will be the fast dive tank, something tells me it won't be peaches and cream
 

[SG]

Hi it's been a while.
Despite a very rough start of the year i managed to concede myself a few modelling sessions and almost completed the fast dive tank, another "model in a model" because of its bizarre shape and of course, dimensions.







A few pics of the build. the compressed air cylinders and their "nipples", bolts in fact (1.5mm-long x 0.3 mm wide styrene rods, perforated w a 0.1 drill bit, rounded at the tip w gentle sanding, and completed w the 0.05mm-thick bolts).








links to bigger pics:
https://u.cubeupload.com/SGm/IMG3474.png
https://u.cubeupload.com/SGm/IMG3475.png
https://u.cubeupload.com/SGm/IMG3484.png
https://u.cubeupload.com/SGm/IMG3478.jpg

The fast dive tank (with the compressed air cylinders added) still on its carrier, waiting to be completed (main handle, dive lever and fore side details still to be added). Sorry for the low resolution of the pics, taken w my phone.






Cheers,
SG

[SG]

Hi,
the fast dive tank is 99% complete. Just needs to be detached from its carrier and have the fast dive lever added. A few pics (links for bigger pics):
https://cubeupload.com/im/SGm/IMG3935.jpg
https://cubeupload.com/im/SGm/IMG4023.jpg
https://cubeupload.com/im/SGm/IMG4037.jpg
https://cubeupload.com/im/SGm/ELHJ9116.jpg
https://cubeupload.com/im/SGm/IMG4082.jpg











lever (below) :

[falo]

Hi SG,

great work, thanks for sharing: Do you wear two pairs of glasses on top of each other, each with 3 diopters, to work on the model? 

Regards
falo

[dougie47]

Hi SG,
Keep up the great work, looking forward to seeing it progressing.
Cheers,
Dougie

[SG]

Thank you Gentlemen! hahahahahahaha Falo, no, an optivisor is sufficient  (7x plus an additional monocle only to check for imperfections, as am unable to work without a stereoscopic vision) . The real problem is getting nice and sharp closeup pics, as the pieces are too small and the white-on-white styrene is not very photogenic! Any suggestions are more than wlecome.   

[SG]

Hi,
the fast dive tank is finally ready and detached from its carrier. Its lever is microscopic (0.05 mm thick/0.7 mm long, bottom picture) and will be added to the tank once it finally sits on the SLC, due to a very difficult manipulation of the piece. I've been working on the tank for nearly a year. I had thought it wouldn't be feasible to make a realistic tank in such a small scale, reality proved me wrong. It was feasible indeed. Enjoy.





https://u.cubeupload.com/SGm/fdt.jpg (link to bigger pic)





 https://u.cubeupload.com/SGm/fastdivelever.jpg


More information and pics on my blog, if you are interested to know every detail of this build (https://3xblackcats.wordpress.com/side-projects/).


Cheers,


SG

[falo]

Hello SG,

thank you for the incredible pictures, your skill and patience are absolutely admirable.

I'm just jokingly asking if you have already bought the 1/400 scale sewing needles to sew a wetsuit for the two SLC divers? You will have already cut out the diving goggles from real glass, with the respective diopters for the two divers, as the AMP forum assumes?


Best regards and thanks again for sharing!
Falo

[SG]

I'm just jokingly asking if you have already bought the 1/400 scale sewing needles to sew a wetsuit for the two SLC divers? You will have already cut out the diving goggles from real glass, with the respective diopters for the two divers, as the AMP forum assumes?

Falo, am working on it, a feasibility study is under way . Thank you for the kind words, they are rewarding and a great morale booster! Next step will be the balsa block and the the two seats.  But not before progressing with the 8.8 gun.

Cheers,
SG

[SG]

Hi! it's been a while. Reprised the work at the Maiale factory. This time i dealt with the two seats and the wooden block that counterbalanced the engine weight (below).






I sculpted two versions of the front seat (a,b) and the rear seat (c) (that acted as a base for the wooden block) from styrene square rods. The wooden block (d) is a composition of a styrene main body and a 0.05 mm-thin brass base. I test-fitted the seats onto the SLC body (e), the outcome is pretty convincing. I am very grateful to Glenn (Cauley) for sending over pics of the Italeri 1:35 kit (above pic, f) with measures that proved fundamental for the build. Usual comparison pic for my friend Falo.



 
Next step will be the tail section. A Hard nut to crack i suppose.


Cheers,


SG


PS: Blog's updated, remember to scroll the page to the bottom to see the latest edit in case you visit  (https://3xblackcats.wordpress.com/side-projects/ )

[dougie47]

Hello SG,
Great you are making progress with the Maiale. Working on both projects (Maiale and U 48) can be beneficial as you can swap between them and be fresh. What comes next for you. More of the Maiale or back to the U 48?
Cheers,
Dougie

[SG]

I totally agree with you, Dougie. I'll give priority to the Maiale and as soon as the inspiration fails i'll shift to the U boat (the conning tower, it will take ages to complete).  The ideal would be to divide the weekly modelling sessions between the two projects. We'll see. The next step will be drawing reference points onto the main body of the SLC and drill all the necessary holes. Then concentrate on the tail section.


Thanks for dropping by, am flattered 


Cheers,


SG

[falo]

Hello SG,

I would be interested to know how many hours a week you spend building models? Clearly I am amazed once again what a great model builder in the nano range you are.

Many greetings
falo

[SG]

Hi Falo!
an average of 2 session per week lasting from 1 to 4 hrs depending from spare time inspiration and tiredness. I would like to do more but this is what i get. Thanks for checking the thread and double thanks for the kind words, i am happy you like my nano-modelling!  

[SG]

Hi! 
The SLC factory has been working full steam lately. This time i had to deal with HOLES  .
I drilled 15 holes for the housings distributed on the Maiale surface plus 2 more on the bottom of the torpedo for the pedestal arms.

All the main holes are 0.2 mm wide and host sections of brass tubing simulating the housings. Three holes at the stern section are 0,25 mm wide and host stainless steel tubing sections coming from insuline pen needles.

A special effort was made to recreate the circumferential recesses for the nut rings keeping together the main sections of the SLC body. These are 0.1 mm holes and were drilled with a short-tip dril bit on a jig i crafted on purpose from a superfine catwalk PE (spacing between holes should be some 0.15-ish mm).

I also managed to recreate the bolted recesses on top of the warhead with 0.1mm nickel wire in specially made 0.2 mm holes hosting a 0.1mm central hole.



   
Usual comparison with my index finger for my friend Falo



The blog's updated (https://3xblackcats.wordpress.com/side-projects/ ). Thank you in advance if you decide to drop by.


Cheers,


SG

[SG]

The tools bonnet was a hard nut to crack  . Used 0.06 mm Shelf Oddity wire and shaped subassembiles that were glued together with Ca and diluted acrylic glue, trying to avoid buildups. Piece D (middle picture) was difficult to shape and required many modelling sessions (a month or so) to be crafted. RP Toolz micro-handles bending tool and Tamiya "flat tweezers for PE" helped a lot. The bonnet is SMALL  , nevertheless crisp and pretty convincing. I hope you like it.







WIP pics:





closeups, dry-fitting to SLC main body and usual comparision with my index finger for my friend Falo.





Merry Christmas everyone!   




Cheers,


SG

[SG]

Hi,
a small update. The instrument cluster and the controls for the trim pumps with their knobbed levers are finally ready after two months of hard work. 0.2 brass tubing for the cylindrical parts, 0.046 mm wire for levers and frame. Instrument cluster: depth gauge and compass = very thin sections of 0.2 mm brass wire and tubing. 0,1 "dots" of alu foil for the gauges on the right (ammeters and voltmeters). Enjoy




Cheers,

SG


PS: the blog's updated  ( https://3xblackcats.wordpress.com/side-projects/ )

[SG]

Propeller blades are ready. Crafted from 0.05 mm brass shim, some 0.4-ish mm long.





https://u.cubeupload.com/SGm/propellerblades.jpg


Cheers,


SG