U boat decks.

[papegojan]

I would like your thoughts please. I recently bought the academy 1/150 IXB u boat. Now in my opinion, it isn't the best of models, but with a little scratchbuilding, modification, and research on proper paint schemes, you can create a decent result. My question is: where could I find information as to the correct colour schemes for the decking of this type of boat. The prototype I am basing the model on is U-124 (edelweiss and frog emblems)

[Siara]

U-boots decks were made out of cheap local wood, and stained with preservative.
Heres some pics:



Hope it helps.

[Task Force]

I wonder how often they had to replace these wood decks.:hmm:

[Siara]

Not so often i suspect. Lick of paint at every visit to the port.
Paint prevented the timber from algae, and barnacles, which when wet could be dengerously slippery.

[Task Force]

Originally Posted by Siara

Not so often i suspect. Lick of paint at every visit to the port.
Paint prevented the timber from algae, and barnacles, which when wet could be dengerously slippery.

Not good for the deck gun crew.

[papegojan]

thanks for the advice

[conus00]

@papegojan, I just bought the exactly some kit (because it is the only IX type close to 1/144 scale). Would you mind sharing with me any building progress? I am just recently in process of heavily modifying Revell's VIIB (U-99) to see if I can make a decent model out of it and I intend for IX to be my next project.
Thanks.

@Siara That's a great color picture of IX type. Wouldn't you by chance have a similar picture of deck for type VII?
BTW How's your work on VIIC going? haven't seen any posts in your thread lately...
THX

[Siara]

Originally Posted by conus00

@Siara That's a great color picture of IX type. Wouldn't you by chance have a similar picture of deck for type VII?
BTW How's your work on VIIC going? haven't seen any posts in your thread lately...
THX

I was on holiday for 2 weeks, and just returned on saturday. I will post the small update today- new plaque.

As to the deck on type VII, it was treated the same way as the deck on type IX.
Heres the part of the article from excellent reference material from Wink Griese:

“The deck was fir or pine. It was treated with Carbolineum or sometimes wood tar, they used whatever they could get. Carbolineum was a pre-1900 German product that was then licensed to German manufacturers after the Carbolineum company founders moved to the Milwaukee area in the early 1900s. The benefit is of course wood preservative, however it is also a black or deep brown color on the wood which of course helps with hiding the deck when shallow submerged.
When we recently restored the U-505 we were able to get Carbolineum from the original company to treat the pine deck, thereby returning it to its original appearance. We painted it on with rollers, the Germans likely immersed the wood and got a darker effect. It is a very deep brown almost black look. However, when exposed to the sea and air it must have lightened some as our deck was treated with two coats rolled and then it sat in the weather for almost 1 year and it did indeed lighten. If you depict a very dark brown it will be correct as new, a little lighter perhaps for at sea look but still on the very dark side. At least we have it right this time.”


Hope it helps.

[papegojan]

Very interesting stuff. Conus, I am off on holiday now, but will gladly share what I have done on my return. I am not an experienced modeller in the same league as the likes of Siara, but I hope my findings may help. Funnily enough I bought the IX for the same reason as yourself. Back in a week.