Author Topic: Photos of the Real U505 (Read 17945 times)

Greif · « **on:** 24 Jan , 2014, 08:09 »

Hi guys, I will be posting several photos of the real U505 which is on display at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. I took the photos last August and tried to get a good mix of overall and detail photos. I anyone has specific questions about U505, please ask and I will do my best to answer them. I played a minor part in the restoration of the exhibit by translating many of the documents that the museum holds and giving technical advice concerning both U505 herself, German uboats in general and the Battle of the Atlantic. I will post several pictures a day over the next week to week and a half.

Enjoy!
Ernest

Greif · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Jan , 2014, 08:12 »

Here's a few more. I am going to work on a few of the photos to see if I can't get the ones that are too dark to be better viewed.

Ernest

Greif · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Jan , 2014, 08:20 »

And the final group for today!

Ernest

SG · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Jan , 2014, 08:23 »

Hey, these are Great shots Ernest! many Thanks!!

GlennCauley · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Jan , 2014, 08:56 »

Yes.... many MANY thanks for this!!!
This is an awesome community, people are so helpful.

Greif · « **Reply #5 on:** 25 Jan , 2014, 01:35 »

You are welcome SG and Glenn, I am happy to share! Following are a few more shots.

Greif · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Jan , 2014, 01:37 »

And a few more!

Greif · « **Reply #7 on:** 25 Jan , 2014, 01:38 »

Third Set!

Greif · « **Reply #8 on:** 25 Jan , 2014, 01:56 »

And the shots just keep on coming!

Greif · « **Reply #9 on:** 25 Jan , 2014, 01:58 »

And finally (for today), some photos of the torpedo that is displayed next to the U505.

Greif · « **Reply #10 on:** 25 Jan , 2014, 02:25 »

Ok, I lied!

Some more photos!

Greif · « **Reply #11 on:** 25 Jan , 2014, 02:27 »

These really are the last ones for today. HaHa!

DerXL · « **Reply #12 on:** 25 Jan , 2014, 05:41 »

Wow!
Great pictures.
I like the close-ups a lot. Great quality and good for reference purposes.

Thank you very much.

Question:
What exactly is the function of the recessed hatches shown in pictures 4, 5 and 7 of post #8?

Keep'em coming !
Are you going to show some interior shots too?
Oh, and some more close-ups from the AA guns (particularly on the upper (tower) platform) would be great...

thomcmdchief · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Jan , 2014, 11:29 »

Greif, Great pic's incredibly helpful to get a number of details the way they should be. If I decide to do my second kit as a cutaway hull, I plan on doing the morning behind the scenes adventure at the exhibit and the allow you almost unlimited access and photo op's in and outside the boat.

Greif · « **Reply #14 on:** 25 Jan , 2014, 14:09 »

Hi Thom, yea the museum is very good about setting up special events so that those who are truly interested/knowledgeable can get a much closer look at things. Watch your head if you manage to get on top of the CT, you know how close the ceiling is in U505's pen!

When I took the photos it was a Saturday so it was not possible to do more then the normal walk around and walk through; though if Keith Gill was still the curator - and had been working that Saturday - I probably could have set something up for after closing hours. I do have an IOU from the staff though; I showed then where the BOLD ejector was and gave them a good explanation of how it functioned and the principle behind its operation. Next time I am home on leave, I plan to call that favor in to get some really good pictures.

Sincerely,
Ernest

Quote from: thomcmdchief on 25 Jan , 2014, 11:29

Greif, Great pic's incredibly helpful to get a number of details the way they should be. If I decide to do my second kit as a cutaway hull, I plan on doing the morning behind the scenes adventure at the exhibit and the allow you almost unlimited access and photo op's in and outside the boat.

Greif · « **Reply #15 on:** 26 Jan , 2014, 02:23 »

Ok, the last of the exterior and several interior photos follow.

Greif · « **Reply #16 on:** 26 Jan , 2014, 02:28 »

Hi Axel, thanks for the kind words. As to your question, primary source documentation is a bit thin when it comes to conclusively identifying the purpose(s) of the recessed plates. They are vaguely mentioned in both design and maintenance documentation as access plates for maintenance while the uboat would be in dry dock. Exactly what lays behind the plates and would be maintained is not mentioned.

Cheers,
Ernest

Quote from: DerXL on 25 Jan , 2014, 05:41

Wow!
Great pictures.
I like the close-ups a lot. Great quality and good for reference purposes.

Thank you very much.

Question:
What exactly is the function of the recessed hatches shown in pictures 4, 5 and 7 of post #8?

Keep'em coming !
Are you going to show some interior shots too?
Oh, and some more close-ups from the AA guns (particularly on the upper (tower) platform) would be great...

Greif · « **Reply #17 on:** 26 Jan , 2014, 02:32 »

Oops, got some photos out of order. Here are a few more exterior shots.

Greif · « **Reply #18 on:** 26 Jan , 2014, 02:43 »

And some more interior shots. By the way, the sequence of the photos is from the bow to the stern.

Ernest

Greif · « **Reply #19 on:** 26 Jan , 2014, 02:51 »

And ten more for your enjoyment/information!

Greif · « **Reply #20 on:** 26 Jan , 2014, 03:00 »

A few more!

Greif · « **Reply #21 on:** 26 Jan , 2014, 03:20 »

Some Control Room and Engine Room pictures.

Greif · « **Reply #22 on:** 26 Jan , 2014, 03:28 »

And yet some more!

Greif · « **Reply #23 on:** 26 Jan , 2014, 03:36 »

Getting near the stern.

Greif · « **Reply #24 on:** 26 Jan , 2014, 03:40 »

These are the last few photos. I hope everyone finds this photo series useful and interesting. Good luck with your builds, and if I can be of assistance don't hesitate to either PM me or ask on one of the forum threads.

Sincerely,
Ernest

dbauer · « **Reply #25 on:** 26 Jan , 2014, 10:44 »

Great shots Grief!
Now if you could just go topside and take some pics of the plumbing under the decking of the pressure hull, that would be fantastic!!!

regards,
Dan

GlennCauley · « **Reply #26 on:** 27 Jan , 2014, 11:23 »

Quote from: dbauer on 26 Jan , 2014, 10:44

Now if you could just go topside and take some pics of the plumbing under the decking of the pressure hull, that would be fantastic!!!

ROFL Dan, you read my mind!
Grief, when no-one is looking... get up on deck, open all the covers & hatches. Where you cannot, break out the chainsaw! Gotta have those obscure details! Mwaa haa haaaaaaaaa

Greif · « **Reply #27 on:** 27 Jan , 2014, 12:33 »

Hi Dan and Glenn, when Keith Gill was the curator I actually could have arranged to get up into both the bridge and up on deck to take some rally great detail photos. Alas, he is now the director of the 1st Infantry Division Museum and I don't know the new curator; nor do I have "street cred" with him like I did with Keith, after helping out with the refurbishment of U505. I plan to make a trip back to the old home place again this summer, probably a too late for the current builds both of you are working on, but the pictures I hope to get may be of use for futures builds. The staff still owes me for showing them where the BOLD ejection port is and explaining its use; sam going to try to leverage that into a before/after opening hours visit to really get into the weeds for photos. Stay tuned on that one!

Ernest

dougie47 · « **Reply #28 on:** 27 Jan , 2014, 13:50 »

Hi Ernest,

Thanks for the info. I wonder if you might help me.

According to books, the bold ejector was a 10cm diameter container containing calcium hydride and was known as the Pillenwerfer (pill thrower). But do you mind telling me where the ejection port is on U 505? And do you know when it was first employed? Some sources say February 1943, some say 1942.

Also, do you know if U 505 carried Thesis?

Thanks,

Dougie

Greif · « **Reply #29 on:** 27 Jan , 2014, 23:41 »

Hi Dougie, you can actually see the "Pillenwerfer" in the third photo in the last set of pictures I posted in this thread. It is located in the after head and according to the primary source documents it was first operational on U505 in Feb 43. Let me check my sources about "Thesis" and I will get back with you.
Sincerely,
Ernest

Quote from: dougie47 on 27 Jan , 2014, 13:50

Hi Ernest,

Thanks for the info. I wonder if you might help me.

According to books, the bold ejector was a 10cm diameter container containing calcium hydride and was known as the Pillenwerfer (pill thrower). But do you mind telling me where the ejection port is on U 505? And do you know when it was first employed? Some sources say February 1943, some say 1942.

Also, do you know if U 505 carried Thesis?

Thanks,

Dougie

dougie47 · « **Reply #30 on:** 28 Jan , 2014, 11:35 »

Hello Ernest,

Thanks very much for the info, much appreciated.

Cheers,

Dougie

Greif · « **Reply #31 on:** 28 Jan , 2014, 12:52 »

Hi Dougie, you are very welcome!

Sincerely,
Ernest

Quote from: dougie47 on 28 Jan , 2014, 11:35

Hello Ernest,

Thanks very much for the info, much appreciated.

Cheers,

Dougie

bill_c · « **Reply #32 on:** 05 Mar , 2014, 10:16 »

Really nice, I have my ticket for a guided tour come May when I'm in Chicago for the National Restaurant Show.

Rokket · « **Reply #33 on:** 13 Mar , 2014, 01:23 »

Bill, I saw the exhibit, didn't do the restaurant, but you will like it. Well done. You reeeeeeeeeeallly should also sched some time to see the rest of the musem. I didn't and missed out on 99% f the other stuff.

42rocker · « **Reply #34 on:** 09 Apr , 2014, 15:27 »

Thanks for that photo sharing. I'm not sure but I think that the last time I was on the U-505 was early 1990's with my wife and 2 children. It sure looks a lot better.

Later Tim

bill_c · « **Reply #35 on:** 02 May , 2014, 11:34 »

Quote from: Rokket on 13 Mar , 2014, 01:23

Bill, I saw the exhibit, didn't do the restaurant, but you will like it. Well done. You reeeeeeeeeeallly should also sched some time to see the rest of the musem. I didn't and missed out on 99% f the other stuff.

No worries, this is my second visit to the museum. I'm going back because of the model being issued and because I couldn't get a tour of the boat on short notice last visit. Will rectify that this visit.

The train board is worth a visit in its own right for diorama builders.

dbauer · « **Reply #36 on:** 09 Oct , 2014, 08:01 »

Question for anyone.
I am planning to do a model of U-154. Problem being U-154 had an earlier Trum with out the extended Wintergarten of U-505Late, as with the model. I am wanting to use a Photo etch deck. Any ideas on how to back date this later deck? Any ideas will be helpful.....
Thanks in advance,
Dan

dbauer · « **Reply #37 on:** 09 Oct , 2014, 08:05 »

Also remember, U-505 sat for nearly 10 years before going up to Chicago. The entire Boot was in very rough shape to say the least. The different restorations done were not always accurate. You can't us the present U-505 at MSI in Chicago as a reference when building a U-505 during the war. Alot of differences there! Do your research when building!!!
Regards,
Dan

Capt Kremin · « **Reply #38 on:** 09 Oct , 2014, 11:34 »

Hi All,

Don't bother looking at the U 534's deck I think it was refurbished by B&Q

Regards
Jon