Log in

View Full Version : Needed help with XXI reference pictures


conus00
02-01-09, 04:50 PM
I would really appreciate any help from modelers here on the subsim. I am currently building Revell's 1/144 Type XXI and found myself in dead end.
My issue is with hull draining holes: according to Vom Original zum Modell there are small splitters in the middle of the big draining holes numbers #2, #4 and #5
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/czarecki/XXI.jpg

but according to picture of U-2518 the splitters seem to be definitely in holes #2, 3 and 4 and (when I tried to blow up the picture in Photoshop) in hole #1 as well.
http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/9a0e7e02728d23b09ec32086722b8ab86g.jpg

Can somebody shed some light on this issue?
Thanks!

BTW if you want to follow my build it is either here:
http://models.rokket.biz/index.php?topic=89.0
or here:
http://modelshipwrights.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=130832&page=1

Thomen
02-01-09, 06:12 PM
It might be that it was just a variation of some type, like there where some variations in type VII drain holes. I've seem a picture of the Wilhelm Bauer, taken in '61, where one can see the splitters in the drain holes 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9. :hmmm:

conus00
02-02-09, 12:25 AM
Yeah, there are enough variations in XXI compared to blueprints that it would drive modeler nuts. :damn:

Sledgehammer427
02-04-09, 06:04 PM
looking at the work you are doing, it looks great!

i stick to building straight out of the box and photoetch deatiling some, but not all.
most of the fun is for me is the painting.

(hand brushing a NATO camo scheme onto a 1/35 tank, its taken me 3 days, 3-4 hours at a time)

mx
02-05-09, 09:56 PM
http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt167/mxsinclair_photo/0835808.jpg

here you can see the spliters too.:up:

i am going to build the 1/144 XXI too, i will start in few weeks when i'll have enough reference photos, i've posted some of those i've found already in the sub's photo thread in SH3 forum, check them out and maybe there will be something that interests you, i've got most of them in decent resolution.

conus00
02-06-09, 01:33 AM
@Sledgehammer427 thanks for the praise I'm glad you like my work :yeah:

@mx thanks for sharing all the pictures but I was unable to find good picture of the splitters on original XXI. Good luck building your version of 1/144 XXI! If you need any help please feel free to PM me I'd be happy to help.
On a side note: if you try to build German WW2 Type XXI I would suggest to avoid pictures of U-2513 (like the one you posted in this thread) as a reference because they show post-war XXI flying US colors and Americans made countless modifications to her after the war. I would also recommend avoiding any recent pictures of U-2540 (aka Wilhelm Bauer) docked in Wilhelmshaven because they didn't restore her to the exact XXI configuration as she was during WW2.
Just out of curiosity: which Revell model do you have: U-2518 (kit 05081), U-2540 (kit 05004) or the "cut-away" version of U-2540 (kit 05078)?

mx
02-06-09, 04:21 AM
@Sledgehammer427 thanks for the praise I'm glad you like my work :yeah:

@mx thanks for sharing all the pictures but I was unable to find good picture of the splitters on original XXI. Good luck building your version of 1/144 XXI! If you need any help please feel free to PM me I'd be happy to help.

Thanks, I sure will need some good advice :yep:

On a side note: if you try to build German WW2 Type XXI I would suggest to avoid pictures of U-2513 (like the one you posted in this thread) as a reference because they show post-war XXI flying US colors and Americans made countless modifications to her after the war. I would also recommend avoiding any recent pictures of U-2540 (aka Wilhelm Bauer) docked in Wilhelmshaven because they didn't restore her to the exact XXI configuration as she was during WW2.

Good point, I had the same impression, when started to gather photos.

Just out of curiosity: which Revell model do you have: U-2518 (kit 05081), U-2540 (kit 05004) or the "cut-away" version of U-2540 (kit 05078)?

I have the 05004 kit, i heard there's difference between them all, but could you point them out?

conus00
02-06-09, 08:37 AM
I have the 05004 kit, i heard there's difference between them all, but could you point them out? 05004 kit is IMO the best choice of all of them: it offers 5 different camo/decal versions of the type XXI: U-2502, U-2514, U-2540, U-3501 and U-3504.

05081 kit (the one I got) offers only 3 choices: U-2518, U-2536 and U-3504

On 05078 kit (the cut-away) version the interior is IMO too "toy-like" and inaccurate based on the pics of Type XXI interior I have seen so far.

Have you already decided which camo/version you will build? I would be interested in the rest of the decal sheet... (in particular decals no 10, 11, 14, 15 and 20 if you end up not using them). ;)

Thomen
02-06-09, 08:44 AM
Yeah, there are enough variations in XXI compared to blueprints that it would drive modeler nuts. :damn:

I might be able to help you a bit further, but unfortunately that will be atleast a couple of weeks. I am waiting for pictures and documents from two U-Boats (Type VIIC U-990 and Type XXI U-2512) at the moment that are sent per snail mail to me from Germany.

A former crew member of said boats also promised to sent picture of the latter boat from the commissioning and stuff, but the time frame for this ought to be a couple of weeks. :cry:

conus00
02-06-09, 08:48 AM
Yeah, there are enough variations in XXI compared to blueprints that it would drive modeler nuts. :damn:
I might be able to help you a bit further, but unfortunately that will be atleast a couple of weeks. I am waiting for pictures and documents from two U-Boats (Type VIIC U-990 and Type XXI U-2512) at the moment that are sent per snail mail to me from Germany.

A former crew member of said boats also promised to sent picture of the latter boat from the commissioning and stuff, but the time frame for this ought to be a couple of weeks. :cry:

Thomen, that would be GREAT!!! Please let me know if/when they arrive. I have already spent countless hours bashing the sail and would like to avoid any factual mistakes on the hull. Couple weeks of delay is no biggie for me - I've got another started projects on my workbench.
Thanks!

Thomen
02-06-09, 10:39 AM
Yeah, there are enough variations in XXI compared to blueprints that it would drive modeler nuts. :damn:
I might be able to help you a bit further, but unfortunately that will be atleast a couple of weeks. I am waiting for pictures and documents from two U-Boats (Type VIIC U-990 and Type XXI U-2512) at the moment that are sent per snail mail to me from Germany.

A former crew member of said boats also promised to sent picture of the latter boat from the commissioning and stuff, but the time frame for this ought to be a couple of weeks. :cry:
Thomen, that would be GREAT!!! Please let me know if/when they arrive. I have already spent countless hours bashing the sail and would like to avoid any factual mistakes on the hull. Couple weeks of delay is no biggie for me - I've got another started projects on my workbench.
Thanks!

Will sure do! :salute:

mx
02-06-09, 12:36 PM
Have you already decided which camo/version you will build? I would be interested in the rest of the decal sheet... (in particular decals no 10, 11, 14, 15 and 20 if you end up not using them). ;)

i will probably use the U-2540 decals, but i havent decided yet for sure, i need to do a little research about each of those subs and then make up my mind.:yep:

Schroeder
02-06-09, 02:35 PM
Here you can have a look at U2540:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/de/c/c8/UBoot-WBauer.jpg

And here in it's post war configuration:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/de/1/1c/U-Boot_Wilhelm_Bauer_1.jpg

conus00
02-08-09, 01:59 AM
i will probably use the U-2540 decals, but i havent decided yet for sure, i need to do a little research about each of those subs and then make up my mind.:yep:

Unfortunately, there is not much picture reference about particular U-boats. Mostly general stuff. If you find something useful please let me know.