Merriman Assembles The I-53 ... Ugh! - Page 2

Capt_Christo · Sep 13, 2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sub culture

I think you need more Dremels, Dave. Doesn't look like you have enough there.

Crikey!!

Capt_Christo · Sep 13, 2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herrmill

Looking good, Dave.

Regarding the large photos, I prefer you keep them this way for added detail. Me thinks someone needs to buy himself a larger monitor to enjoy the picture show.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kazzer

With all due respect, let DM post BIG pictures as they're much easier for older eyes to see (not that there's anything wrong with that or that I personally have that trouble - LOL)

Hear hear! David, please continue..

herrmill · Sep 13, 2009, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt_Christo

Crikey!!

No wonder he was envious of what I paid on Taobao for mine.

herrmill · Sep 13, 2009, 10:51 PM

Dave, you took the words out of my mouth!

WOW! What a difference that makes!

herrmill · Sep 15, 2009, 09:12 AM

Dave,

Here is a small gift to start your day of a sexy drydock shot of the B2 hull which clearly shows torpedo door shutters plus some added details not seen before. The I-53, a C3 type, shared the same hull design as the B1/2/3/4.

I've also included some other photos of a C1 hull that shows the deck outline, several of I-53's tower which offer added details not found on Lindberg's kit & one of the scrapped KD3 boats to offer proof of what the actual hatch size was on these large boats. I somehow find it hard to believe that those HUGE hatches/trunks were somehow added in the few weeks it took to modify these subs for Kaiten duty.

Chuck

Merriman · Sep 15, 2009, 11:39 AM

Very, very good stuff, Chuck.

More sauce for the goose. Now I can work up the torpedo tube shutters on my 'fix' of the I-53 bow with a bit more confidence. Much appreciated. My work would have been sub-standard without these things you keep digging up.

And I wish to extend, publicly, my appreciation of Mario Grima's behind-the-scenes work, also in support of the 'improved' I-53. Chuck, Mario and others have worked hard to get the facts straight and present me, and you, the source information needed to better understand what the actual late-war version of the I-53 looked like -- cooperative model building/kit-assembly at its best.

David,

herrmill · Sep 15, 2009, 11:48 AM

Much more to come but this guy's headed for the rack.

Look for several emails tomorrow containing A LOT of photos.

Merriman · Sep 15, 2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herrmill

Much more to come but this guy's headed for the rack.

Look for several emails tomorrow containing A LOT of photos.

HAVE MY BABY!! ...

herrmill · Sep 16, 2009, 07:50 AM

Sorry, never cared for Paul Anka.

Now getting back to business, I thought I'd post a few photos to share with the masses to show some details from the largest I series submarines which were the most heavily studied after the war.

All photos are from the I-400 which was built at Kure Navy Yard during the same '43-44 time period as the C3 boats, I-52, I-53 & I-55.

Knowing how the yards standardized parts coupled with severe wartime shortages, I would not be surprised if these two distinct classes didn't share a lot of the same parts & equipment. The STo boats were woefully unresponsive to control due to their small dive planes & rudder.

The I-boat hulls were not welded together but riveted in a lap seam process that made them more vulnerable to a hull breach. For those rivet counters who love Revell's kits, you'll want to start saving for some Archer Transfers sheets before you sand off those weld seams. Once you see what you're up against here with rivets on every frame, you may not bother.

Getting back to that HUGE hatch, I think the photo below says it all unless someone can post a archive photo what's portrayed on the I-53 kit that comes to approximately 10 times larger in area.

Capt_Christo · Sep 18, 2009, 12:33 AM

Hi David,

any update? The pics look really good so far.

Chris

Merriman · Sep 18, 2009, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt_Christo

Hi David,

any update? The pics look really good so far.

Chris

I've hanged fire on further work till all the dope came in from Chuck and Mario dealing with the torpedo tube shutters. I've got what I need now and will launch in with that work on the bow master this weekend.

Stay tuned -- film at eleven.

David,

mastershipbldr · Sep 20, 2009, 01:05 AM

Merriman please let me know when you have the bow ready for production. I have 2 I 53's coming. I do hope they will do a better job on the I 400 than was done on the I 53.

herrmill · Sep 20, 2009, 02:48 AM

Has anyone noticed that Fine Scale Modeler removed the Lindberg I-53 today? It wasn't locked down but removed. Deleted. Disappeared without a trace!

Guess they must have getting a little too much heat from one of their advertisers.

Merriman · Sep 20, 2009, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herrmill

Has anyone noticed that Fine Scale Modeler removed the Lindberg I-53 today? It wasn't locked down but removed. Deleted. Disappeared without a trace!

Guess they must have getting a little too much heat from one of their advertisers.

Other than your posts, not much useful information generated in that thread -- very, very high noise-to-signal ratio on that one.

I've had to back off on my I-53 work, other Caswell commitments need to be addressed before I can get back to that job.

David,

picklepusher · Sep 20, 2009, 04:40 PM

Say, when you go into production on the revised bow for the I-53 I would like to be your first customer. Have you set any time frame on your production schedule?

Sep 15, 2009, 09:12 AM	#20
herrmill Shanghai'd Expat Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Xiaoshan, China Posts: 2,423	Dave, Here is a small gift to start your day of a sexy drydock shot of the B2 hull which clearly shows torpedo door shutters plus some added details not seen before. The I-53, a C3 type, shared the same hull design as the B1/2/3/4. I've also included some other photos of a C1 hull that shows the deck outline, several of I-53's tower which offer added details not found on Lindberg's kit & one of the scrapped KD3 boats to offer proof of what the actual hatch size was on these large boats. I somehow find it hard to believe that those HUGE hatches/trunks were somehow added in the few weeks it took to modify these subs for Kaiten duty. Chuck Attached Thumbnails B2 hull showing a clear shot of the bow, shutters, plating, limber holes & other details. Dive planes, guards & degaussing cables still yet to be installed. 115.0 KB · Views: 280 C hull showing what should be the correct deck outline on the inner top of hull. Note the round hatch frames. Quite different than Lindberg's HUGE hatch covers. 58.8 KB · Views: 215 KD3A/B being scrapped, could be either I-153, 154 or 155. Outer hull is gone. Note the hatch/trunk size & rounded front of sail. 82.4 KB · Views: 256 I-53 tower showing the difference compared to the Lindberg kit's KD-esque design. 52.0 KB · Views: 172 I-53 tower. Note the eased upper edge & lack of rivets on hull, front Type 22 radar pedestal. These are Kaiten pilots posing for their mission photo. Bon voyage! 65.2 KB · Views: 172 I-53 tower. Note the Type 22 horn surface radar mounted on the front pedestal & snorkel mounted on port side, not center, of tower. 36.2 KB · Views: 211 I-53's torpedo room. I wonder what this lucky young crewman did after the war - he's one of the few IJN submariners who survived. 90.3 KB · Views: 174 Last edited by herrmill; Sep 15, 2009 at 12:59 PM.

Sep 16, 2009, 07:50 AM	#24
herrmill Shanghai'd Expat Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Xiaoshan, China Posts: 2,423	Sorry, never cared for Paul Anka. Now getting back to business, I thought I'd post a few photos to share with the masses to show some details from the largest I series submarines which were the most heavily studied after the war. All photos are from the I-400 which was built at Kure Navy Yard during the same '43-44 time period as the C3 boats, I-52, I-53 & I-55. Knowing how the yards standardized parts coupled with severe wartime shortages, I would not be surprised if these two distinct classes didn't share a lot of the same parts & equipment. The STo boats were woefully unresponsive to control due to their small dive planes & rudder. The I-boat hulls were not welded together but riveted in a lap seam process that made them more vulnerable to a hull breach. For those rivet counters who love Revell's kits, you'll want to start saving for some Archer Transfers sheets before you sand off those weld seams. Once you see what you're up against here with rivets on every frame, you may not bother. Getting back to that HUGE hatch, I think the photo below says it all unless someone can post a archive photo what's portrayed on the I-53 kit that comes to approximately 10 times larger in area. Attached Thumbnails I-400 at Pearl Harbor during inspection. 68.3 KB · Views: 225 I-400 Pearl Harbor. The bloody thing looks HUGE!! with a sharp knife-like prow. 34.5 KB · Views: 172 I-400 anchor showing the rivet detail. All IJN subs had riveted lap seam construction; the STo subs were coated with a thick anechoic coating. 108.0 KB · Views: 203 I-400 stern. Rudders, planes, prop are undoubtedly the same design & possibly same size as the C. The STo were a bear to control due to their small control surfaces. 93.5 KB · Views: 171 I-400 stern showing upper rudder & prop guards, both similar design with what was on the B/C classes. 96.2 KB · Views: 150 I-400 deguassing cables found on all I-boats during the war. Just like the other photos see how the limber holes are parallel to the deck & waterline. No V for Victory here! 71.5 KB · Views: 211 I-400 hatch. This is what they looked like, not those farm silo covers found on the kit. Anything 10 times larger would have been far too massive & unwieldy to operate. 60.0 KB · Views: 180 I-400 entering Yokosuka under US flag. I can't help but think that deck outline looks awfully familiar... 54.5 KB · Views: 226 Last edited by herrmill; Sep 16, 2009 at 09:50 AM.

Sep 20, 2009, 04:40 PM	#30
picklepusher Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: milwaukee, wisconsin Posts: 2	new bow for I-53 Say, when you go into production on the revised bow for the I-53 I would like to be your first customer. Have you set any time frame on your production schedule?

Sep 13, 2009, 10:51 PM	#19
herrmill Shanghai'd Expat Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Xiaoshan, China Posts: 2,423	Dave, you took the words out of my mouth! WOW! What a difference that makes!

Sep 15, 2009, 11:39 AM	#21
Merriman on a vacation Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 499	Very, very good stuff, Chuck. More sauce for the goose. Now I can work up the torpedo tube shutters on my 'fix' of the I-53 bow with a bit more confidence. Much appreciated. My work would have been sub-standard without these things you keep digging up. And I wish to extend, publicly, my appreciation of Mario Grima's behind-the-scenes work, also in support of the 'improved' I-53. Chuck, Mario and others have worked hard to get the facts straight and present me, and you, the source information needed to better understand what the actual late-war version of the I-53 looked like -- cooperative model building/kit-assembly at its best. David,

Sep 15, 2009, 11:48 AM	#22
herrmill Shanghai'd Expat Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Xiaoshan, China Posts: 2,423	Much more to come but this guy's headed for the rack. Look for several emails tomorrow containing A LOT of photos.

Sep 18, 2009, 12:33 AM	#25
Capt_Christo Mostly harmless Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 362	Hi David, any update? The pics look really good so far. Chris

Sep 20, 2009, 01:05 AM	#27
mastershipbldr Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1	Merriman please let me know when you have the bow ready for production. I have 2 I 53's coming. I do hope they will do a better job on the I 400 than was done on the I 53.

Sep 20, 2009, 02:48 AM	#28
herrmill Shanghai'd Expat Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Xiaoshan, China Posts: 2,423	Has anyone noticed that Fine Scale Modeler removed the Lindberg I-53 today? It wasn't locked down but removed. Deleted. Disappeared without a trace! Guess they must have getting a little too much heat from one of their advertisers.