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.

This will be good......

 
5kts going that-a-way.  I had it, you got it.

Needs a spinning screw

Awesome

That's hopefully what the robotics group can do.  My wife and I were joking tonight that it might also be fun to have a recording of "Alarm!" followed by active sonar pings, play when someone walks by.  

The idea of under water mines is also intriguing.    I love it.  Hopefully we can make something that we might be able to hang, with the chain hanging down some.  I'll have to think about it a little bit.

There is a book on the Type VII U-boat.  Not those thin, English published Warships in Profile series pamphlets but a more scholarly publication, The Type VII U-Boat (Anatomy of the Ship) by David Westwood.  Suggest you get a used one for reference.

Good stuff Guns...

So in! Question: If it hangs up in that space in the picture, how will it play as far as people being able to view the details? most of the interesting parts are topside. The bottom of the hull is pretty boring.

This is such an awesome idea.  It would be soon soooooooooo cool.

Lots of them were re-purposed, most were scuttled by the crew, or turned in to the allies or sunk by them. This one is of the same type and the US did testing on it's unique anti-sonar skin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_submarine_U-1105

 

Note, this boat was called the "Black Panther".


Something that might be of interest as well is that Wyoming had a US POW camp, that definitely held German POWs. Perhaps some U-Boat crew was taken there?

Given your specified dimensions, 1/8 scale would fit that perfectly.

Actual Type VII --------------------- 1/8 Scale
Length: 220 ft 2 in -------------------- 27.5' ft
Beam:  20 ft 4 in ---------------------- 2.54' ft
Height: 31 ft 6 in ---------------------- 3.94' ft (assuming this measurement is down periscopes and antennae)

I had some suggestions for ways to build it, but the pictures in this thread here say them better than I can:

Scratch-build USS America CV-66

Ok, that's funny.  

Go retro with a mirror ceiling.

Tag.

I'm planning on hanging it so it lists to one side at about 45 degrees?  Something like that.

Mirrors might also be in order.

 

That's some cool info...  Our school mascot is the Panther.

Wow, that's a crazy detailed project he's doing.  Impressive.  

Thanks for the scale info.  Thats great info to help us start.

Here's one I built years ago.  But it's 1/72.





I've got the Gato and Skipjack kits to go with it now.

You're welcome.

That model ship builders forum has some insane stuff. There are some seriously dedicated modelers out there. This is another insano scratch-build:
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=153310

....

Hang it upside down.  Which also solves the mines problem - they also hang from the ceiling.

Huhhhhh.  Interesting idea.  I kind of like that.

I'm thinking sonobuoys.

Eta: damn,  didn't realize we were on page 4 already.

I'm thinking depth charges also suspended from the ceiling.  

tag!

Naval suppositories?

You're going to need a lot of water to fill that up.

Tag.

I just read the dragon thread as soon as I saw this one and realized the last thing I saw was the stagecoach and that I must have missed last year's project.

 

Mein Gott.

Mein Gott im himmel.

Did the Royal Navy ever flog officers?

Put it on an angle so it's diving.

OST

Im in, love this time of year

Tag

That may be one of the coolest things I've ever seen.

Might get shot down because of interference with traffic...but along that great idea, what about depth charges suspended from the ceiling?



Hey...that would look awesome!  Fish away!

...and a shout out to the second best submarine movie ever made!

Here's my idea after reading what others said.

Make it like a halfway diorama. Have the U-boat sorta diving and listed on an angle trying to avoid a few sea mines in front of it.

If you could have the robotics team set up a audible Ping! and then an alarm, dive dive dive in german. That would be awesome

To add to it I would set up a film of clear blue cellophane across the ceiling a few feet above the sub to simulate the ocean surface. Maybe crumple it for texture and with the skylight it would look awesome.

I'd also "float" the mines from fishing wire in the path of the sub and have the chain bolting them to the sea floor end above the students heads so they don't constantly walk into it.

Does anyone have links to OP's other projects?

As far as your main inner structure, I wouldn't go with 2X4's.  Over time a 2X4 can warp.  With the inner structure warping, you can get exterior cracking.  How about aluminum tubes?  Or even a plywood backbone that won't warp?

I agree I would laminate a plywood beam or something, or a aluminum square channel etc

Tagged for results, love your work...

Tag!

I can't wait for the updates!

I don't have the links looked up yet, but here are some pictures of the finished work from years past.  

These are spread through out the school.    
First year:
1/2 scale Sopwith Camel


2nd year:
1/3rd scale Viking Coastal Trader


3rd year:
80% Concord Stagecoach


Last year:
life size? Dragon, shield, sword, and mural


These aren't the same thing, but take damn near as much time and work; still student work.

I bet this is going to be awesome!

AWESOME! Please keep us updated on progress, be cool to watch it come together.

Ost!