Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Second World War => Topic started by: Battle Brush Sigur on 30 August 2019, 08:06:30 PM
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Heyhey, a while ago I was approached with one of those paint-schedule-shattering "emergency" projects. It's a 3d printed German WW2 U-Boat (Type VIIc) for the popular cooperative boardgame U-Boat / U-Boot. The 3d-printed monster replaces the cardboard U-Boat "playing field".
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2019_07/wip1.jpg.731c2a780f529ce2d26006709744f4da.jpg)
(https://uboottheboardgame.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/elements.png)
The experts among you probably noticed that there are big holes in this U-Boat. This is so players can allocate their seamen across the model. One of the key aspects of the game is bascially worker allocation. Each player takes on the role of an officer (captain, first officer, navigator, chief engineer) and each of them has a number of men to allocate to do jobs.
I have to admit that I haven't played myself yet. Since April we've been trying to find a date to do so, but life gets in the way. I hear though that it's excellent and great fun. Not easy, takes some time to learn the ropes, but extremely fun to play.
The model (close to 1 metre in length) comes in 5 separate sections. The tops can be taken off, the tower is a separate part as well. Antennae, snorkel, periscope, etc. is a plastic part from the original boardgame, just like the deck gun and the AA gun. The model is designed in such a way that these original plastic parts (usually going in the cardboard model that comes with the game) fit the model. I looked up the size of the original boat and the model comes in at approximately 1/72nd. The single parts come with magnets, so the boat pretty much snaps together.
After a ton of research (las time I'd done a WW2 submarine must be close to 25 years ago. It was a German U-Boat by Revell, incidently also with interior, albeit 1/125 in scale if I remember correctly.) I got to it. I keep mentioning how impressive I find the work and research of 'proper' scale modellers and it was no different when I dove (no pun intended) into the world of submarine modelling. I didn't know it was that big a thing and so remarkably well researched. I learned a lot.
When I snapped back to the model at hand I first was stunned by all the little errors the model has (of course :D ). No point in complaining though, and first and foremost - no time. Remember, I had one week to do this thing. So I started sanding the hull, muttering curses about bloody 3d printers. ;-)
In fact, the gentleman who's done this model did a remarkable job with designing this. I hear he's in talks with the game's publisher to make his model an official add-on for the game, which is a cool thing.
Anyway, I sanded away at the hull to get it somewhat smooth. Then gave it a nice coat of spraypaint, then sanded again, rinse and repeat. I know that there are 'special products' out there. I know that you can do that whole acetone fumes thing. Alas, no time. And if time pressure's at hand, I prefer to go with methods which I know that work and for which I got the tools hat hand.
I didn't even bother trying to sand the interior details. Not worth it. So yeah, a few days later....
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2019_08/doneschrift.jpg.b017fc89ea29f362c60fe6418becb9ac.jpg)
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2019_08/done1schrift.jpg.8efce716c1f657f08f59f6ba6cc851d1.jpg)
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2019_08/done2schrift.jpg.3f7dba626550178aa34bbae609f0debb.jpg)
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2019_08/done3schift.jpg.f5c8201a081ca02e907804a2d4d592ff.jpg)
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2019_08/done4schrift.jpg.acd15252e48ab27ee435a8bdecf11d67.jpg)
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2019_08/done5schrift.jpg.5aa6932af9a276d24d0cbeff4885a3e0.jpg)
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2019_08/done6schrift.jpg.ce75e0bb9157e3c6619e5991e0f03bc7.jpg)
(in this one you can see how I tried to suggest the deck's planks on the model's rough-but-completely-even surface)
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2019_08/done7schift.jpg.bef5e8ec2531e376416eaa9476088c63.jpg)
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2019_08/doneint1schfrift.jpg.abf8322edc47b70b9cb39861b0a026fe.jpg)
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2019_08/doneint2schrift.jpg.5673fce7fa987f0b4f5ba7cdc0d5c585.jpg)
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2019_08/doneint2schrift.jpg.5673fce7fa987f0b4f5ba7cdc0d5c585.jpg)
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2019_08/doneint3schrift.jpg.c084e162678722fd2348e49e8b13c986.jpg)
The paintjob's loosely based on U201, which is a very popular boat among modellers due to the camouflage painted onto the upper hull. Just makes it look more attractive.
The interior was a fair bit of work too. It required a lot of shading and working with all the printed detail (of which there is a lot, right down to loafs of bread, spoons and ladles hanging from the galley's wall, posters, a radio in the captain's cabin, etc.), trying to make it 'stand out' a bit more than the pretty rough printing shows. Plus: I wanted to get it at least somewhat right. So I read a lot, looked up what the interior of surviving boats looks like, etc.
What surprised me (and which I'm somewhat proud of, mostly due to my own dumb luck) is how somewhat well the faux-wooden plinth came out. The ship sections come printed along with that. Originally I wanted to keep it black, but the reddish faux-wood really adds to the look of the model I think.
Last but not least the game comes with 16 (4 per player) individually sculpted crewmen figures, which even fit the size of the boat (if you deduct the bases they come with). These I painted as well in the end:
(https://www.tabletopwelt.de/uploads/monthly_2019_08/crew.jpg.57bdff10c4e0a6c39099fb3bb0790864.jpg)
(note the rightmost of the blue-based chaps, displaying some SICK new dance moves he picked up on shore leave)
Within the time I had and the way the model is made I tried my best to make this look _correct_. If you find incorrect bits - nobody's perfect. ;) But I do take my research serious, especially if it's about things I had NO idea about. It was really interesting to read about all of this stuff. In general I find painting organic things, people, animals, etc. more interesting, mostly because it's harder I think. But working with this model kinda made me want to do more with submarines.
Anyway, I hope you find this interesting. I sure did, simply because it was so different and every now and then I like a tight deadline, just to see if I can do it. I'm happy to report that it worked out this time (so far it always did, but a bit of deadline-panic never hurt anyone. :P ) and that the feedback I got from the gentleman I painted this one for was overwhelmingly positive.
Hope you like it too!
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Interesting?.......well, super amazing!, and a great project.
Thanks for posting its details, and for the pics too!
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I like that, yes, yes I do.
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Very cool.
Really love what you have done.
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Cracking job mate 8)
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bloody 'ell a week!
That's going to be some board game now.
really great modelling work, and I agree the plinth wood effect really comes off well.
Nice - better choice than just black.
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Nice brushwork, love the detail.
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Superb work!
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Superb brush work.
Only wish he'd carried that horizontal line through the entire length of the boat because that Sir would have been an exceptional waterline model to boot
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That is decidedly impressive. Very nicely done. I'm pretty sure we all want one now, for WW2 skirmish, Pulp adventure, or whatever your imagination can supply.
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Wahey, thanks for all the positive reactions!
@FlyXwire: Cheers, thanks for having a look!
@Cubs: Good. :D
@OSHIROmodels: Cheers!
@Tactalvanic: Thank you. Yup, it indeed should be a big visual boost. Maybe I shouldn't admit to this, but I believe (and from what I've seen online), or rather get a kick out of assuming, that this is the nicest looking set of U-Boat in the world right now. For a bit. Oh well, by now someone probably came up with a better version of this model and better painting. :D
@Helen: Thanks, Helen! This model indeed was an interesting mix of trying to get large surfaces to look nice and tiny little details.
@carlos marighela: Thank you!
@tin shed gamer: Yeah, I tried doing that for the photoshoot, but it just didn't work. On the other hand - if you just want a nice U-Boat model in 1/72nd there's prettier-looking ones out there.
@Shahbahraz: Okay, I tried typing your username, but after the third try just copy-pasted it. :D Thanks very much for the comment! About two years ago Empress came up with a 28mm one, didn't they. It's really short, but looks rather nice.
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Of course if you are wealthy, super obsessive and prepared to be bold with a razor saw there’s always the 1/48 Trumpeter version. It also opens up but would be a tight fit for 28mm figures.
https://www.squadron.com/Trumpeter-1-48-DKM-U-Boat-Type-VIIC-U-552-TR0680-p/tr06801.htm
The interior detail alone would probably keep you going for a couple of years.
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/175079.aspx
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Of course if you are wealthy, super obsessive and prepared to be bold with a razor saw there’s always the 1/48 Trumpeter version. It also opens up but would be a tight fit for 28mm figures.
https://www.squadron.com/Trumpeter-1-48-DKM-U-Boat-Type-VIIC-U-552-TR0680-p/tr06801.htm
The interior detail alone would probably keep you going for a couple of years.
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/175079.aspx
Bargain! Compare that with GW anything. o_o
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Wow!
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Fantastic job! And really interesting to read all your thoughts about the process!
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Of course if you are wealthy, super obsessive and prepared to be bold with a razor saw there’s always the 1/48 Trumpeter version. It also opens up but would be a tight fit for 28mm figures.
https://www.squadron.com/Trumpeter-1-48-DKM-U-Boat-Type-VIIC-U-552-TR0680-p/tr06801.htm
The interior detail alone would probably keep you going for a couple of years.
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/175079.aspx
Mind that this kit was poorly received in scale modelling circles in that it had a huge number of errors and inaccuracies. It still looks like a Type VII, though, although I'd hazard a guess it is too expensive for those who want a game piece and too inaccurate for those who want a model and not spend half again that sum on aftermarket kits.
Re: original topic, holy cow, Herr Kaleu. Remarkable piece of work, and I commiserate on the sanding woes.
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Fantastic paint job!
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@carlos marighela: Oh yes, that's some tasty stuff. The 3rd party resin parts for interior bits I've seen are impressive too. I've seen people cut up U-Boat models and put those beautiful chunks of resin in for interior detailling, adding lights (always gimmicky, but it does look impressive for a minute, I have to admit and for a U-Boat at least it fits). But yeah, prices are going in "small car" directions with these projects.
@grant: Bah, GW's harmless compared to that serious stuff. :D Especially now that people make "armies" of like 20 figures. Which in a weird backwards way legitimizes the term "army" used in infinity for their squad-level forces. It's a whole weird circle dance there.
@Ultravanillasmurf: Thanks!
@.:Gunslinger:.: Thanks very much. I wasn't sure if my babbling would be interesting to anybody, but this specific piece is just so unique a project (for me at least) that I had to write something. Not the least just to explain what, how and why this is. I also really, really like complaining, so that helped too. :D
@Westfalia Chris: Yeah. I'm mighty afraid of 3d printing of course, but at the moment it's really just 'not there yet' in any way. The worst thing is how often I see people being so unimaginative or impractical about it by ONLY relying on it. Maybe it comes with the digital medium. But you can't just 3d print _everything_. Print the large chunks and clean them up properly, THEN add cast white metal details or sculpt something on by hand or add bits, textures, and so on. It's just like with MDF - it can't do everything well. It's got a place (mostly because it's cheap), but you can't do a full model from MDF and expect it to be comparable with a resin cast based on actual, proper sculpting. Ah well, so much for today's Old Man Sermon. Thanks very much for the compliments though! :D
@Braz: Thanks very much. Lots of trial (and luckily little in the way of error) and improvisation. Again - a tight deadline can work wonders for one's ability to make decisions. :D
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Sigur; amazing work - I think I forgot to post that lol
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I've a cereal packet beaten into a rough submarine shape. For Pulp games (being generous its a third the lenght of the print and a lot less hassle ,built painted and gamed with all in a day. ;) )
I must confess (putting your cracking paint job aside) I rather like the original card version.In so far as the idea and the little bit of suggested detail of the torpedoes and the engine. For me it seems more submarine where as the print for me seems much more empty with out that suggestion of more internal detail.
Mark
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@grant: :D Thanks for pointing it out though. Much appreciated.
@tin shed gamer: Absolutely fair. I have to admit that I haven't seen the cardboard boat in person yet, but I'm sure it's perfectly nice. Getting the 3d printed one (and getting it painted and all) is basically a luxury on top.
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Its nice to have a 3D model of a board game to play on.