1/400 SLC Maiale manned torpedo

[wefalck]

It helps - and confuses, to have access to the 'real' thing

Doesn't the museum in La Spezia also have one of those Maiale? Don't remember, because it is some 25 years ago since I last visited it (as I am sort of every two to three years in Venice, the museum there is easier to access for me ...).

I think I would have turned the body of the Maiale in one piece from either brass or acrylic glass, which makes it more stiff and durable during handling.

[Stefano Salesi]

Indeed, the Museo Tecnico Navale of La Spezia has an SLC in it's collection, other than an example of a Mignatta.

In case of need i can easily go to the museum to take pictures of the Maiale, but being closed in a glass case it will be hard to take measurements or else.

[SG1]

.. but being closed in a glass case it will be hard to take measurements or else.

That's true Stefano, that's the reason why i chose Venice, the SLC displayed there is more accessible for measurements (especially the undersides), hasn't any mannequin on top and sports the same quick release gear i wanted to reproduce on my model. Moreover the Venice SLC retains the original wartime matt colour scheme while the La Spezia engine has been restored to a gloss finish that makes it less appealing to my eyes. The naval museum in La Spezia however is an outstanding museum and DESERVES to be seen. Another plus of the Venice Museum is the possibility to do a guided tour of a Toti class submarine displayed at the nearby Arsenale, really worth a visit!

In case of need i can easily go to the museum to take pictures of the Maiale..

Thanks so much, very kind of you

I think I would have turned the body of the Maiale in one piece from either brass or acrylic glass, which makes it more stiff and durable during handling

That makes sense. Unfortunately i have no experience with acrylic glass nor have the tools to work rough brass and am more familiar with good old styrene, which has its own cons.

Thank you for dropping by, Gentlemen

[wefalck]

It just came to my mind: doesn't the technical museum in Milano also have a Maiale on display? Not sure, as I am really only interested in the 19th century navies ...

Visited the museum in Milano again in 2023, after my first visit way back in 1991.

[SG1]

yes but it's very likely a faithful replica built after the war to be used in a film

[SG1]

Hi,

propeller's ready. I can finally breathe

Also added the tail cone (0.2 mm brass tubing) and prepared two pedestal pins out of 0.4mm hypodermic needles, which were "hand-lathed" at their SLC-end to avoid deforming the torpedo.

Cheers,

SG

[wefalck]

You will have to construct a display-case with integrated loupe for it ...

[marijn van gils]

Incredibly fine work!


Maybe it would make a good prop for this show?:

[SG1]

Brilliant! Thx Marijn

You will have to construct a display-case with integrated loupe for it ...

Great idea Eberhard, that would be absurdly-cool

[Vladi]

Very nice and delicate indeed, congrats!

[SG1]

Thanks Vladi!

[SG1]

After too many months of inactivity due to "real life contingencies" i finally found some time to sit down at the workbench and craft one of the tiny frames for the propeller guard which held the rudders as well.

The fin-shaped portion of the combo comes from a quarter circle cut from a 1 mm disc punched out of 0.01mm brass shim. The L-section comes from a section of a 0.05 mm-thin "japanese superfine railing" from the Shelf Oddity range (a). Images (b) and (c) show the same component in 1/35 scale and how the real thing looked like.

The first of 4 is ready, now let's see if i manage to glue my back to the workbench chair to assemble the other 3 over the next weeks . Meagre progress, i know, but maybe things started revolving again

[Vladi]

Geez, this is really something... Fingers crossed!

[marijn van gils]

Good to see you back at the workbench!

Microscopic madness continues...

[Dan K]

Fantastic work.

[SG1]

Thank you for the superlative inspirational boost, Gentlemen!

[SG1]

Hi, tail superstructures are finally in place.

It took me several months to complete the assembly. A matter of trial and error to compensate the inevitable imperfections of the hand-tapered tail cone. It required tailored sub-assemblies to look convincing. Each superstructure had to be assembled, test fitted/dismounted, adjusted by shortening fins or L-arms a few tenths of mm and then glued to the SLC tail. Unfortunately no standard sizes of the single components could be used.

The vertical superstructures have shorter fins and distal insertion points of the rudder supports to the tail cone, the horizontal ones longer fins and proximal insertion points of the hydroplane supports, just like the real thing had. The upper fin sported a hole at the top portion (a) and the lower didn't (b), as the perfect shot by Rui Matos revealed (A propos THANK YOU for taking and sharing that impressive and clarifying walkaround Rui ). Am very proud of the 0.06 mm hole on the top fin, it's the result of punching, sanding (to open up the hole), pressing the microscopic fin and then calibrating the hole with a dental root canal file. The minimal alignment imperfections that the merciless magnification shows looking from behind won't be noticed once rudder, hydroplanes and propeller guard are added. Naked eye can't catch them . The smear of CA on that horizontal fin has been taken care of already with a combination of glue debonder and 2000-grit sandpaper shaped as a very small pointy triangle operated with tweezers.

Now, before adding the propeller guard a choice imposes: should i paint the tail section? it makes sense as those areas would be impossibile to reach for painting and might stand out if left unpainted once the juxtaposed ring and grid are added. Any suggestions? Brushed Humbrol enamels? Am all ears.

I would like to dedicate this achievement to fellow modeller EJ Foeth and toast to mutual, unforseen circumstances conspiring against modelling . Cheers, EJ!

[Vladi]

Well, this is absolutely insane you know? Congrats!
Do you think the inner tail section would be later inaccessible to aibrushing, too?

[wefalck]

Well, yes, that IS small

[EJFoeth]

Superb work Stefano... 0.06mm hole? Well, airbrush might actually leave that a hole! Glad to be nominated after our shared December Hospital experience, not the best place to be until it is The tail section looks fantasic and very well aligned, and also, yes, very small! The mesh in front of the prop needs to be built from the tiniest wire?