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1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
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Author:  MPERRY [ Sat Jan 19, 2019 7:34 pm ]
Post subject:  1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
Four years ago I built a 1/144 half model of a U.S. WWII Balao class submarine. It showed the boat at periscope depth, stalking the silouette of a Japanese merchant ship. That model is shown in the first photo below.
My new project will be a half model of another WWII submarine ten years later. In 1953, six Gato class boats were pulled out of reserve and converted to SSKs. The modifications were very similar to the GUPPY IIs of the same period, except that the large bow sonar array was placed above the torpedo tubes instead of under the bow. The boats sported a blunted looking bow and the top two of the original six bow tubes were removed to accomodate the sonar array. The next two photos from Navsource.org show BLUEGILL and BASHAW as SSKs.
Given the Gato and Balao class hulls from the same building yard were visually indistinguishable, I'm using the same building plans as before except for modifying the bow, and the conning tower fairwater will be replaced by the streamlined sail. I expect to show the boat at periscope depth again, but stalking a Soviet submarine of the period (Whiskey maybe) with a mountainous Arctic coast in the background. Should be quick and fun.

Attachments:
DSC_0689.JPG
DSC_0689.JPG [ 97.11 KiB | Viewed 2446 times ]
0824223a.jpg
0824223a.jpg [ 107.14 KiB | Viewed 2446 times ]
0824111.jpg
0824111.jpg [ 185.01 KiB | Viewed 2446 times ]
1950s SSK 001.JPG
1950s SSK 001.JPG [ 173.61 KiB | Viewed 2446 times ]
Author:  MPERRY [ Sun Jan 20, 2019 3:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
I've got the first two parts glueing, the centerline plane and topside deck coming together at right angles. Using my plank on frame technique, I have to ensure the model doesn't bow and not lie flat on the back board. So I'm using weight to ensure the centerline plane stays flat while the glue sets.
Then starting to add the bulkheads.

Attachments:
1950s SSK 002.JPG
1950s SSK 002.JPG [ 116.13 KiB | Viewed 2407 times ]
1950s SSK 003.JPG
1950s SSK 003.JPG [ 140.65 KiB | Viewed 2407 times ]
Author:  MPERRY [ Sun Jan 27, 2019 3:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
Progress in making the bulkheads. I'm trying to think through the transition from the original bow to the new sonar fairing. I haven't found any images of the bow in dry dock.

Attachments:
1950s SSK 004.JPG
1950s SSK 004.JPG [ 131.85 KiB | Viewed 2348 times ]
Author:  MPERRY [ Sun Jan 27, 2019 7:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
This image of the CROAKER's bow at Buffalo, NY is about the best I can do. It shows the transition just a couple inches above the open torpedo tube shutter near the waterline. Below that is the original bow. There is a slight crease running from that, aft and up, to the hinge of the bow diving plane.

Attachments:
Croaker Bow at Buffalo NY.jpg
Croaker Bow at Buffalo NY.jpg [ 206.37 KiB | Viewed 2339 times ]
Author:  MPERRY [ Sun Feb 03, 2019 1:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
Ive finished the bulkheads and now it's time to make some sawdust at the bow and stern.

Attachments:
1950s SSK 005.JPG
1950s SSK 005.JPG [ 148.21 KiB | Viewed 2284 times ]
1950s SSK 006.JPG
1950s SSK 006.JPG [ 129.74 KiB | Viewed 2284 times ]
Author:  MPERRY [ Sun Feb 10, 2019 5:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
After a fair amount of sawdust from my Dremel tool's sanding attachment, the first image shows the stern block sanded rough, glued on, than sanded some more. This shows a template I made from scrap wood to show me how much more I need to sand the piece down to get the correct lines. The rough cube of wood set forward of that between frames is to provide something solid for the screw that will come through the back board for attached the half-model. There is a similar block of wood up forward.
The next two images show stages of making the conning tower fairwater. Not shown is the openning I'll cut for the bridge cockpit. I don't believe these boats had clamshell plates to close the cockpit before submerging.

Attachments:
1950s SSK 007.JPG
1950s SSK 007.JPG [ 112.39 KiB | Viewed 2232 times ]
1950s SSK 008.JPG
1950s SSK 008.JPG [ 136.73 KiB | Viewed 2232 times ]
1950s SSK 009.JPG
1950s SSK 009.JPG [ 158.02 KiB | Viewed 2232 times ]
Author:  MareNostrum [ Sun Feb 10, 2019 7:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
Lookin' nice...!
Author:  MPERRY [ Wed Feb 13, 2019 7:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
Covering the hull requires a lot of tightly curved planks or plates. I used a piece of stair railing as a form to bend the 1/16 inch thick wood while wet. I taped it in place and left it for the entire day to dry. By the evening, the wood was dry and permanently curled. Now I have to use the railing as the cutting board.

Attachments:
1950s SSK 010.JPG
1950s SSK 010.JPG [ 190.53 KiB | Viewed 2186 times ]
1950s SSK 011.JPG
1950s SSK 011.JPG [ 177.8 KiB | Viewed 2186 times ]
Author:  MPERRY [ Sun Feb 17, 2019 12:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
I've installed the first plank over the length of the hull to help visually define how the stern and bow blocks need to fit within the faired lines of the hull. The third photo shows how the SSK sonar dome has been faired into the fleet submarine's bow. If you compare the bows in the first and third image, you can see where I've used wood filler to make the transition. The deck edges topside will get rounded later in the project.

Attachments:
1950s SSK 012.JPG
1950s SSK 012.JPG [ 134.8 KiB | Viewed 2142 times ]
1950s SSK 013.JPG
1950s SSK 013.JPG [ 180.54 KiB | Viewed 2142 times ]
1950s SSK 014.JPG
1950s SSK 014.JPG [ 113.74 KiB | Viewed 2142 times ]
Author:  MPERRY [ Sun Feb 24, 2019 4:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
Two photos of a week's progress covering the hull of my SSK. I don't get anything done during the work-week. I've found it easier to use narrow planks rather than the more rectangular plates that I like when the curves are more 2-dimensional. The third photo shows the side of my half-model that needs no effort.

Attachments:
1950s SSK 015.JPG
1950s SSK 015.JPG [ 127.38 KiB | Viewed 2094 times ]
1950s SSK 016.JPG
1950s SSK 016.JPG [ 138.69 KiB | Viewed 2094 times ]
1950s SSK 017.JPG
1950s SSK 017.JPG [ 152 KiB | Viewed 2094 times ]
Author:  MPERRY [ Sun Mar 03, 2019 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
More progress on the hull.

Attachments:
1950s SSK 018.JPG
1950s SSK 018.JPG [ 175.42 KiB | Viewed 2034 times ]
1950s SSK 019.JPG
1950s SSK 019.JPG [ 152.39 KiB | Viewed 2034 times ]
1950s SSK 020.JPG
1950s SSK 020.JPG [ 133.11 KiB | Viewed 2034 times ]
Author:  MPERRY [ Sun Mar 10, 2019 1:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
I finally got the hull closed up. The conning tower fairwater isn't glued on yet, but placed next to the hull for a good overall image of what the submarine looks like.

Attachments:
1950s SSK 021.JPG
1950s SSK 021.JPG [ 132.95 KiB | Viewed 1978 times ]
1950s SSK 023.JPG
1950s SSK 023.JPG [ 110.4 KiB | Viewed 1972 times ]
1950s SSK 024.JPG
1950s SSK 024.JPG [ 117.28 KiB | Viewed 1972 times ]
Author:  Story [ Sun Mar 10, 2019 9:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
That's slick.
Author:  MPERRY [ Sat Mar 23, 2019 4:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
I've added the bilge keel made from a large card sheet, plus made the rudder, bow and stern diving planes.

Attachments:
1950s SSK 025.JPG
1950s SSK 025.JPG [ 119.48 KiB | Viewed 1911 times ]
1950s SSK 026.JPG
1950s SSK 026.JPG [ 139.93 KiB | Viewed 1911 times ]
1950s SSK 027.JPG
1950s SSK 027.JPG [ 156.95 KiB | Viewed 1911 times ]
Author:  MPERRY [ Sun Mar 31, 2019 6:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
The first photo shows the Jig I built to mount the propeller shaft the correct distance above the baseline and outboard from the centerline. The second photo shows the shaft resting in the jig while glued to the hull. The result is the shaft slightly spreading and and sloping down towards the hub.
The remaining photos show the overall model with the shaft and struts, conning tower fairwater, and miscellaneous details added. The rudder and diving planes are still not glued on permanently. That won't happen until the end. I've gone through the photos in Navsource.org for color images to show me how colors are used below the waterline in the 1950s. Not great, but they give me some guidance. I've drawn a pencil line to show the planned boundary between the red anti-fouling and black.

Attachments:
1950s SSK 028.JPG
1950s SSK 028.JPG [ 138.34 KiB | Viewed 1847 times ]
1950s SSK 029.JPG
1950s SSK 029.JPG [ 122.36 KiB | Viewed 1847 times ]
1950s SSK 030.JPG
1950s SSK 030.JPG [ 132.8 KiB | Viewed 1847 times ]
1950s SSK 031.JPG
1950s SSK 031.JPG [ 138.17 KiB | Viewed 1847 times ]
1950s SSK 032.JPG
1950s SSK 032.JPG [ 143.9 KiB | Viewed 1847 times ]
Author:  MPERRY [ Sun Apr 14, 2019 6:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
The back board for the half-model is 30 x 7.25 inches. I sprayed a matt finish on both sides to prevent the board warping when I paint the picture on the front side. This first image shows the two counter-sunk screws that will attach the model to the board.
The second image shows the model attached to the board. All that's left on the model is painting the darker color on the horizontal surfaces topside and making the propeller. The model will be removed from the board for painting the scene on the board. You can faintly see the horizontal line on the board that will be the surface of the water, and the vertical line where #1 periscope will be.

Attachments:
1950s SSK 033.JPG
1950s SSK 033.JPG [ 184.3 KiB | Viewed 1774 times ]
1950s SSK 034.JPG
1950s SSK 034.JPG [ 151.21 KiB | Viewed 1774 times ]
Author:  MPERRY [ Sun Apr 21, 2019 4:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
I'm getting close to finishing the model. I have just a couple touch-ups on the sub such as the extended periscope, and the background scenery needs to be finished.

Attachments:
1950s SSK 035.JPG
1950s SSK 035.JPG [ 165.75 KiB | Viewed 1738 times ]
Author:  MPERRY [ Mon May 13, 2019 6:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/144 1950s SSK Half-Model
The model is all finished! It's shown stalking a Soviet Zulu class sub running on the surface. The icy coastline in the background could be either in the Barents Sea or off Petropavlovsk in the North Pacific.

Attachments:
1950s SSK 036.JPG
1950s SSK 036.JPG [ 150.71 KiB | Viewed 1691 times ]
1950s SSK 037.JPG
1950s SSK 037.JPG [ 140.73 KiB | Viewed 1691 times ]
1950s SSK 038.JPG
1950s SSK 038.JPG [ 141.31 KiB | Viewed 1691 times ]
1950s SSK 039.JPG
1950s SSK 039.JPG [ 115.45 KiB | Viewed 1691 times ]
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