It's that time of year again.  

Students show up Wed, but I'm trying to get everything set up so we can get this show on the road from day one.  

For 2015-16   We are going to try to build a model of a German U-Boat, Type VIIc.    I wanted to do a WWI boat, but I couldn't find any plastic models that we would need to get correct dimensions.    I'm hoping we can build a replica of the U-96, the boat in the movie "Das Boot".    That is at least what we are going to shoot for.   We will see if we can make that happen.


The area this will be hung in is about 30' long and about 10' wide.  My classroom doorway is only about 34" so we are going to have to stay around 31" 33"wide for the main structure.  That would put the length at about 27ft or so long when done.  My goal is to try to approach this as building it in two sections that we can put together on a stand, and also when it is hung from the ceiling.  Also, just realized, I'll have to have the majority of this put together out in the hallway, as there isn't a straight shot though my door.   I'll never make it though the door at 30" wide and 14ft long. It will be made of plywood ribs, 2x4 main beam for hanging strength, 1x2" for structure, and probably drawing boards for the skin.  They should help us keep the weight down, and allow us a good canvas to paint and detail.

The robotics team says they still want in on this for moving parts and sounds.   Hopefully they can come through.  They are still not done with the dragon from last year.  I asked the math dept if they would like to get involved, but I got the normal head shakes.   I really could use help with the scaling, and getting dimensions for the structure.   No one seemed like they thought they would want to get their kids in on it.  Maybe they will come around.  Anyway, I'll approach this project with what I've learned from the past.....don't depend on anyone else's class to do anything.  

Should be a nice fun project.  Come along for the adventure.

Here is what we are going to start out with:
This came last week.   It should allow us to get a good idea of the details and shapes.   I'm also going to try to get some students to scan it with their phones and get a 3D image of it, then use that image to slice into sections like a banana.   I need those cross section shapes so we can make the ribs of the structure.


I found these online.   I'm getting large prints done right now, so the students have a good reference for scaling.


I like this model for coloring.  We will try to mimic this type of finish at the end.

I LOLed when I thought about all the gold foil that would be needed ;)

Thanks for keeping this thread updated. Your students are very lucky to have you!

It's just mylar.
 

"Propeller Shafts"  

That would be really cool... But only if it was full 1/1 scale.

The janitor will hate us!

Update 1/20

I probably need to do a videology walk around for you folks soon.  At least, I should do it for the front half.

Here is a view of the updated height on the deck gun.  It's not perfect, but it looks better, at just a bit taller.  The barrel, even though it's to scale looks a bit too long to me.  It's going to have to be done, and "good enough", although I hate that phrase.







The rivets are finally, just about finished.  They should be done tomorrow.  

Today, they got serious about the stern details.  I inadvertently deleted the hull detail pictures around THE PROPELLER SHAFTS.  Damn fancy terminology.  

I'll have to shoot some pics tomorrow of that area.  It looks good.

This goes under the keel, but it needs some serious details.  


Main rudders coming together.


6 layers, built up in the center.


Outer skins.


Closer to finished.  Still need some TLC.


Not sure what these are called.  They go horizontally behind the screws.  The shaft will go through the keel, just behind the screws.

You and your fancy submarine words........

I really don't want to start thinking about next year, but that would fit well in one of the smaller breakout spaces that needs something.  

Maybe.

I saw an elk mount in one picture. Whas that done this year?

I've got a pile of points for Wy. One day.

Very well could happen,  but so far, the principal and the custodian are pretty excited about this thing.

We will hang it one section at a time, then attach them, once they are in the air.  Theoretically, it should be easy.

I wanted to display this in the main commons area for a week or so with ropes around it, but the principal is worried about the children that are turned loose during the basketball games.     They would probably wreck it.  

Parents just let their little kids run wild during the games.  Our students would not mess with it.  Hopefully we can find a spot to display it before going in the air so people can see all the details up close.

Kids are just doing the habitat around it for my favorite restaurant owners.  

Taxidermy will start in a few more weeks.

You want to search archives use  guns762 in author line and go back to 2001 you will get five pages going back to 2009

Here are two threads I picked out

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1143705_update_It_s_done___Taxidermy_thread__White_tail_deer__UPDATE__2_25_bottom_of__PG3_.html

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1688306_Taxidermy_Thread__Moose_edition__UPDATE_Finished__displayed_2_13_pg6.html

This is why we are a lucky bunch to have member like guns762

I was IO1 on that second thread.

Slam fire.

+1,000!

I believe those are the aft diving planes.

 

bump

Meh, what would you know; they all look like bathtub toys from where you work.  



 

Interesting thing that I guess I've known for years, but with this project, it really has been high lighted several times.


My main boat crew for this project is made up of a very good group of kids.   Almost always, I can assign a task, and it really doesn't make much difference who does it, it will get done right.   That said, I've seen several instances where some kids are just able to do some tasks better than others, no matter how good of kid they are or how competent they are 99% of the time.


Leveling the aft dive planes today went almost as well as the bow planes.   There are three holes on one side of the keel.

Granted, the damn boat is leaning at about 5-7 degrees, but even when warned to make sure one student levels the boat while the others line up everything, one group just failed.....badly.
This same group does excellent work.....always.


In comes the class clown (normally does average work), who I worry every time he touches the boat, and I give him the same task, along with fixing the holes made from the first group.  Low and behold, excellence achieved.  

He did the same thing with the bow planes.   He was the one to come in and fix them and make them straight and level.

Make him needed.  If he's not needed, then he'll get his dose of reinforcement through comedy.  Keep in mind the tortured lives some comedians lead.

Clearly, he has an "eye" for that kind of thing.    Glad he was able to get it squared away!



 

well, maybe he is about 5-7 degrees off...

Now you know which of your kids has the best spacial observation skills.

Stern diving planes

Bow planes, Sail-mounted planes (also sometimes called fairwater planes) and stern planes.

the idea is to use a piece of Tygon tubing filled with colored water as a level reference; of course, the sub would have to be level in the vertical plane - but you can use a spirit level for that.


 

Not an airplane .

 

Update 1/22

Ahhhh, Friday at last.    

Another Big THANK YOU to sd0324  He donated the miniature bust that my student is painting.   She says she is loving this project.

She is getting close to finishing the miniature bust of the Uboat crewmen. She's working on the binoculars right now.    
Notice the hidden nails today....apparently, this art stuff is hard on nails.  






Students got some of the caulking started on the stern section today.   There is a lot more to go before we are ready to paint.  [://



The cowling around the propeller shafts.





Aft diving planes coming together from yesterday.....


Installed.....


More details coming on the small rudder under the keel.


Weep holes going in around the propeller shafts.....






Monday, the remainder of the rudder structure should be going in.   Hopefully by Wed, or Thurs. they should be starting to get paint on this thing.  

when you going to add the stern tube?

The whaaa????  

So far, finding details showing the door, are pretty limited.  I found where it goes, but our model and photos on line aren't showing much detail to go by.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/23575323/Anatomy-of-the-Ship-Type-Vii-U-Boat#scribd You've probably found this already but, just in case, it does have quite a few schematic drawings ............................

Update 1/25

This deserved it's own update.  The miniature bust is all finished.  We are going to build a small display box to hang on the wall near the sub.  We hopefully will have a small plaque near it, describing how it came about.

Thanks again sd0324! Our artist says she might try to get a Viking next.  She enjoyed this immensely.  

The bust of the u-boatfahrer looks great.  I wish I could paint like your student does.

We located, and created the stern torpedo tube door.  

I'll take some photos tomorrw.  There was great progress today on the submarine.  The stern rudder structure complex is all installed.  It's not perfect, but it's pretty level, and surprisingly fit together quite well.  

They only installed the rudders backwards once.

They are now building deck details, and working on caulking the entire section.  We should be painting by the end of the week..

That young lady does fantastic work.

this, nice job

The bust looks awesome. Now maybe she will have some time for her nails!

The whole project is looking good guns! keep up the good work!

I've said it before and I'll say it again...you, are a good teacher....

Someone please share with me what color the torpedo is supposed to be.  

I'm seeing pictures of grey, blue, green, silver, with gold tips, red tips...........  

We need the body painted today so they can install the sensor.

I think you need mad props for keeping the interest of high school kids.

Next year you should do an outdoor project.  Only so I can watch from my office!

hot pink

I wish we had a teacher like instead of doing the stupid shit we did

yup...
my high school art class involved making a paper mache fish and some painting I bedazzled with some glitter
but it wasn't all bad, I sat next to the hottest cheerleader in school and we became buddies... good times

USAF vet here....you're right.


I actually have a large plastic model of this sub I'm building with my son so it's fun to watch this build

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=German+torpedo&FORM=HDRSC2

Looking mostly grey.

I would say silver with the bronze/light brown tip gets the most pictures ETA: google images seems to be telling me that tip is copper or some shade of patina'd copper
then plain gray
then what looks like almost black
and then one blue with a red nose