Hi Gents,
This is a scratch built model, built for fun from a plastic detergent bottle and other recycled plastic items. I call it “Submarine Dubious” 
A German U-Boat was an obvious inspiration as can be seen form the color scheme and the overall form.
I used miscellaneous leftover decals to add interest to the model.
HDPE plastic proved to be very hard to work with in terms of glueing parts together and painting! @%*$!!?@
Regards,
Nikola
Nikola,
That looks like it was a lot of fun. Getting the paint to stick must have been a real challenge. Your weathering is outstanding!
Nice work. I am impressed. What did you use for the Bolt heads/ Rivets?
(Really like the plastic knives for diving planes)
Nino
Pssst… Don’t tell anyone but I think it’s Russian.
There’s something you don’t see every day.
Very clever! [Y]
Yeah, very clever! Love her!!! The paintwork is excellent and really makes the model!
Although when I look at her I think ‘electric drill’ - guess it’s the parts you used for the propeller!
I like it…and you stole the silent drive from Red October[:D]
Hi Nino,
Thank you for your feedback!
Yes, it was a lot of fun, just improvising with no defined end result. Quite relaxing.
For the rivets I used regular pins, just had to first fill the “hull” with low expansion foam so it would not deform when the pins are pushed in, and for general stiffness. I made quite a mess because I drilled the “free flooding holes” first and then realized I need something to inject. It came pouring out of the holes like crazy. So much for low expansion, haha.
Some of the leftover decals I used are from T34, so yes, “the Russians are coming”
Best,
Nikola
Hi Greg,
Glad you like it
Regards,
Nikola
Hi Gamera,
Thank you for your comments. Glad you like it.
My friend also said it reminded him of a drill, haha.
Best,
Nikola
Hi Goldhammer,
Thanks!
Haha, now that you mentioned it I’ve got to watch that film again
Best,
Nikola
Hahahaha!
That makes my morning! I never would have finished that model because I would have tied myself up in knots trying to find a drawing.
You know, the real world is a strange place. Here’s a bus that I want to model some day, made from a GAZ-66 and an Mi8.
Welcome to the forum. More world members are always a good thing.
We went to Yugoslavia for a month in 1988. I really enjoyed the country, drove everywhere. I still have pen pals from that trip. All that was on everyones mind was the coming war. But afterwards I got a lot of notes from friends saying that they were ok.
Welcome,
Bill
Hi Bill,
Nice to meet you and thank you for welcoming me!
I am glad you like the “sub”
That bus will be a killer model when you build it. Hard to believe it’s real. Where is it from?
If you went to Yugo in '88, those were still good old times as older folks call it. I was 5 back then
Keep in touch,
Nikola
Hi !
Seriously? I love it! I have always said that inspiration is ten percent mindfulness and ninety percent imagination.
I have done both Subs and Planes in the past from soda bottles for my son. I even went so far as the create a " Whale-Back " steamer from the Great Lakes from Plastic bottles years ago.
I did find out in my endeavors that if you scuff the surface by wetsanding with 1200 grit it will help paint stick.
I like your use of the bottle parts and weathering, Well Done ! T.B.
Nice to see something done just for fun, and test out new techniques!
Hi Tanker-Builder,
Thank you very much, glad you like it.
Thanks for the tip. I did sand it a bit, but didn’t wet sand it though. What I read later, and will try out on the next one, is that the HDPE plastic should be flame treated quickly so it loses its protection coat but you only have about 30min to work on it. As one fellow said: ‘‘People have spent millions to develop such plastic and now we are trying to reverse the process’’
Best,
Nikola
Hi Nikola:
Yeah aint that the truth. Reverse Osmosis?
Nikola,
Ha-ha, what a great build! I know it is a successful design because I can’t figure out which say is the front! Just like in Star Trek II Wrath of Khan, when the model builders presented the Reliant to the comittee for approval. The model was held upside-down, and it was thusly approved! And so we got that great design with the nacelles under the ship!
Looks like you had fun, so well done sir!
Haha. Didn’t know that about the Reliant.
Thanks Real G! Glad you like it!
I wouldn’t be lying if I said that this was probably the most enjoyable build I did.
No pressure whatsoever. Pure creative flow. I usually forget that this is a hobby and take things a bit to far, which is not good for my mental health, haha.
Best,
Nikola
Great project!..looks fantastic!