U-Boot deck gun - WIP

[Remgain]

I'm here again.

This time with the deck gun of my U-Boot, that in the meantime is nearly finished.
The deck gun is scratchbuilt with brass tube, steel wire, and plasticard.
I found on the net some very useful pictures as well as a detailed drawing.
The scale is not correct. The gun is slighly smaller than the real thing.

Now what I'll have to do is scratchbuilt the AA 20mm cannon.
OK, stop talking, and go with the pictures.

Hope you like them,
Marco

[Michi]

Wow, that is a fiddly piece of work!

[traveller]

You are a true artist!

[Svennn]

I dont get tangled up in bores and model numbers so to me it looks like a u-boat deck gun and a good one at that. Nicely done, should look perfect when it is all painted up.

[Michi]

if I compare the calibre to the size of the Kaleu' hands
it would be at least 105 mm

I thought the front deck guns on U-VIIs were 10,5 cms and 3,7 and 2cms on the turrets?

[Michi]

fine
now I am again the bad guy bean counter...

is there no negative criticism allowed?
and after all, what is the point in posting one's works, if everyrthing anyone does is "oh nice, wonderful, amazing"

Take it easy, I didnīt want to offend you, plus I am no expert in U-Boats or armour. I see it in the same way like you, that constructive criticism is appropriate sometimes. Everybody shall have his own opinion and shall have the right to speak it out loud. I donīt want to side with Marco and not with you, because there is no opposition. You simply said what you thought about the gun and I asked whether I remembered correctly. Anyway, if that gun looks to big, it doesnīt really matter when the whole model is not to scale but a recognizable interpretation of an actual U-VII.
Keep smiling!

[Hauptgefreiter]

fine
now I am again the bad guy bean counter...

is there no negative criticism allowed?

Hey former user, don't take it too personal, I'll keep with Michi. As I see it, Svennn just stated his opinion, as you did. You said, you didn't like it, he said, it's fine as it is. Two persons, two opinions...

BTW, the deck guns of type VII U-Boats were 88mm, as long as they've been fitted with anti-ship guns...

[AKULA]

Nice work Marco - having attempted a few scratchbuild guns myself I can appreciate a labour of love when I see one.

 

[The_Wisecrack]

whether i liked the gun itself or not i would have to appreciate the absolutely amazing workmanship,

just to lay the ground work, i saw transformers and while it was an absolutely shit film i could not help but be in awe of the amazing picture quality and fluency of "robot" action. hope i am understood.

brilliant work marco.

TW

[Helen]

Hi Marco,

I'd just like to say great work on the scratch built deck gun. Michael Broadbent designed the Brigade Games deck guns an AA and he too would be very pleased with what you have achieved with the parts in hand.

I'm a nut & Bolt on U-Boats and you have done the service proud!

Well done to you an I look forward in seeing more of your brillance in the future.

Helen

[Westfalia Chris]

I like it very much! You might consider touching up the gaps where the wires touch with a tiny amount of putty to make it even better. But those proportions are very nice, and thatīs what I usually go for.

[Remgain]

Hi all,

first I really want to thank you very much for the interest you put in my submarine.
All your suggestions and opinions are very welcome!

Than I have to admit that I'm quite surprised about the comments about the gun, as the WHOLE submarine is totally out of scale!
There are thousands of mistakes, wrong dimensions, etc.
I purpousely posted these pictures in the Pulp forum, and not in the 2WW forum, as I'm completely aware that this is'nt a model of a submarine, but a free, very free, representation of a typical German submarine.
This is my goal: to field (in the sea? ) something that will make players and people attending say "Have a look! There is an U-Boot!!". Nothing else.
And I think I fulfilled this goal.
Once finished, the sub will happily fight sea monsters, aliens, Deep Ones, cavemen, gangsters, and the hell will know what else.

@ Bedwir: You're totally right, the barrel is too much out oF scale. Maybe I'll replace it. Maybe...
@ Helen: Brigade games U-Boot iz das Boot!  

Ciao!
Marco

PS Yesterday I finished the AA cannon. I'll post the pictures. Just to inform you that it is a wanna-be-20-mm-Oerlikon-single-barrel. And I really can say that as I was employed in the company Oerlikon about 10 years ago!

[gamer Mac]

Really nice gun.
Must have been very fiddly to build.
I don’t know how you managed to bend the wire to make the wheels, amazing.
Great inspiration for adding one to my own U-boat.
I will just have to copy yours now

[Remgain]

Ciao gamerMac!

The handwheels are built with a small bended wire, using my new pliers (very useful indeed!).
http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=11635.msg133394#msg133394

The handle is one end of the wire, bended perpendicular to the wheel plane.
The ribs are then added by glueing thin plasticard strips on the back of the wheel.
Don't try to get the right dimensions from the beginning, glue the strip, and then trim it.

It is more difficult to explain than to do them!!

Hope this helps!
Marco

[former user]

nono

just fill the gaps and give it a smoother all over look

what you can do is make it a little bit shorter and insert a thinner one, so you get the typical layered barrel
what You also can do is fix the thinner insert first to a drill (preferrably one with speed adjustment)
and thin it up towards the muzzle
I usually use a file first scratching from back to front for the rough shape and the proceed with different grained sandpaper by applying slight pressure to the tube
the better materials for that are plastic, aluminum or brass
copper is very ductile and you have to be very cautios and patient until you obtain a result
aluminum is best since it is very brittle

please be very very careful if you do that and take position behind the machine
do not wear sleeves or gloves since these can be caught in the torsion
take care that nothing living stands at the side of the machine and apply very slight pressure on the turning tube - better work along the turning axis, and preferrably at a rather low speed
best is a power screwdriver
if you want to do this with rods use a fixed turning machine

again, be careful!!!