Krick Type V11 U-Boat

Thanks to my new bestest friend Samantha at Cornwall Model Boats (and my powers of haggling over a healthy discount on the RRP) a huge box has just been delivered containing a Krick Type V11 U-Boat kit.

The box is absolutely crammed with parts, mainly in moulded styrene, and the bit I really like, those dammed flood slots in the two hull pieces are all pre cut ready. The deck has all the flood slots marked out (but I will replacing this with a planked deck in wood effect styrene) There is a huge full sized plan, two booklets of assembly instructions, and a small bag of waterslide decals.

The kit is designed to house a three compartment radio box, which is supplied, as is the ballast tank and the gaskets to seal the box. All the linkages are supplied pre made, along with tiller arms for the rudders and both sets of dive planes.

I also received the ''drive and dive'' option, which is basically the two the main motors, two propshafts, plastic propellors. couplings, running gear, and a 12v ballast pump.

A very comprehensive kit...it looks to be well thought out, and being styrene, should be easy to work with with my fingers.

But for now, it must go back in it's box until later in the new year. It's my 2014/15 project, and hopefully will be built as U-673, one of the four U-Flak boats.

Just noticed whilst putting all the parts back in the box (why is it that what comes out of a box never goes back in?) a small plastic bag containing the white metal parts for the deck cannon and the anti aircraft gun, these look like little kits in their own right, both being beautifully moulded.

The two motors seem to be of the 385 type, both with torque rings fitted, couplings are of the dog and bone type, but the propshafts are only 2mm diameter ones, I may have to change these to allow me to retrofit brass props.


Richard

A quick look before managing to get everything back in the box reveals that there is just about enough internal space to install a 60mm cylinder, with added short 80mm section for the motors, instead of the supplied radio box.

I think you have HY relationships with Santa to come before December 24th with present to you ....you did so to make sure , HE not run out of funds right to you !..........am I right ?!?!?! .

MARIUS

it's a nice build but watch the fitting of the water tight compartment it's  middle nuts they fit into the bottom blank slots in the water tank there not much give as the tank fits inside the sail, out slightly and the deck out of place this happen to me but was able to adjust it   I am now trying to teach an old dog new tricks when doing the hull bought a shelf  4 feet long shelf glued a strip off that green oxide sand paper 4inch wide along it's full length to do the sides  its  my building board now


OPS notice you might change the compartment

Marius, my friend...you are not wrong!!


Willie...keep the help coming, the more assistance I get, the better. I'll maybe swap a few things internally, like the box...I did try a cylinder in it and I think that may be the way to go, a little job for MMB with lots of end caps and internal joiners, methinks. If I do go for a cylinder, then I''ll have the ballast tank as part of the cylinder, centrally positioned, and place the pump in it's own little wtc at the opposite end to the motors. I'm not sure yet, haven't really done too much thinking about it.

One thing I will be changing for certain is the deck...I plan to fit a replacement deck made from styrene, with large cut outs in it, braced underneath with lengths of H section styrene, then planked over with wood effect styrene strips, leaving a gap in between each strip to represent the flood slots, killing two birds with one stone, so to speak. I'll end up with a wood effect deck with built in flood slots.

I'll be replacing the conning tower as well with a totally scratch built one..U-673 had the enlarged wintergarden with a flak cannon mounted on it, plus another flak gun mounted forward of the tower on a separate pedestal, so that will all have be scratch built. A real challenge awaits there!

I like your idea of the sanding/building board, that's given me an idea...don't know where I'll put it, but I'll find room somewhere.

Richard.

that's the board with the sub  it's 20mm thick

That looks like an old door to me, but it's a good idea nevertheless!

Sub looks nice, you didn't drill out the deck, then?



Richard

no I just used the top deck cover with the deck pattern on it. that will give you an idear for yours, the sub vents through the vents on the deck where the small gun sits on the tower

I've worked out how to do mine, I'll get some large sheets of styrene and the H section styrene strip ordered after Christmas is done and dusted. Does yours dive ok with the deck cut out?


Richard

when you flood the tank the deck is level with the water just the tower to dive no problems

That sounds good to me Willie, thanks for that.



Richard

when you read the instructions it gives you two water lines tank empty just about the top of the external fuel tanks aprox 30mm at the bow and 15mm aft, tank full deck level with the water

Cheers Willie..I'm saving the instructions for bedtime reading tonight. Have you any photos of your boat on/under the water?


Richard

sorry I don' t not just now unless you want to see her in the bath then I will take some
if I get a fine day on the holidays I get the brother inlaw to take me down to the pond and get some

Ok Willie, that'll be great...thanks.



Richard

I spent last night reading through the instruction book, got one question for you:

The radio box...can you remember which is the cut line on the bottom section? I'm guessing it's the lower one I've marked? That one seems to be the better defined one.





Richard

it's the top line the 2 black pen marks you have  the top of the box fits inside  and sits on the more defined one shelf it gives you about 10 mm wall to glue the parts togeather

look at the end of the box you will see the top sitting in side the bottom half there10mm on the top half that fit in side if you are using the box don't glue till you have fitted the motors and servoes bar the controls snakes and pipes for pump as they go through

both sections you can see them in the photo

Brilliant, thanks ever so much for that, Willie...much appreciated.


Richard

The Krick looks like an interesting model.
I am a bit out of touch with kits.
After Robbe stopped production of subs, is the Krick the only reasonably priced, reasonably complete kit available?

David

Richard if you look in to youtube there some photos of the sub in the water I just typed in Krick U-boat it's not my boat it's some other person

david f wrote:The Krick looks like an interesting model.
I am a bit out of touch with kits.
After Robbe stopped production of subs, is the Krick the only reasonably priced, reasonably complete kit available?

David

Well, yes David...I suppose it is. Don't Robbe still make the Seawolf? Apart from that, the other kits are way up the price range, Engel's prices are frightening...over £1000? That would take some justifying to the wife (if I had a wife)

willte wrote:Richard if you look in to youtube there some photos of the sub in the water I just typed in Krick U-boat it's not my boat it's some other person

I'll do that Willie, been up to my ears in kids and grandkids this morning...a large scotch and a watch of a sub video will be just the thing now!



Richard

Found this one, Willie...looks like a bit more trimming is needed!

that it but it could be how he floods his tank if I am right with the dive instructions if your filing pipe in the front of ballast tank the bow goes down faster if in the aft the the stern goes down first slower dive

I'm not supposed to be building this yet, but I just had to have a look at the radio box...

By heck, Willie...that top half is a perishin' tight fit! My neighbours have learnt a few words this afternoon! But, it fitted in the end with some gentle persuasion...


Richard