Ep 2. Hunting Nazi Submarines

Hunting Nazi Submarines is the second episode in the first season of the television series Museum Men. This new series takes you behind the scenes of some of the most iconic museums in the United States to show you what goes into creating and maintaining their exhibits.

In this episode, we meet the team of technicians and engineers at the National Museum of the United States Navy in Washington, D.C. They have been tasked with creating a replica of a World War II German U-boat, known as U-505, that was captured by the United States in 1944. The team needs to build a life-size replica of the submarine that will be displayed at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

The episode starts with the team assessing the blueprints for the U-boat and trying to figure out how to build a life-size replica. They decide to create a plaster mold of the submarine, which will be used as the base for the replica. The mold is then used to create a fiberglass version of the U-boat.

The team runs into some challenges during the construction of the U-boat replica. For example, they realize that the submarine is too big to fit through the doors of the museum. This means that they have to disassemble the submarine to get it through the entrances and then reassemble it inside the exhibit.

As the construction of the U-boat replica continues, the team also has to figure out how to make it historically accurate. They start by researching the technology and equipment that was used during World War II on submarines. They also research the interior of the U-505 to make sure that the replica has the same layout and equipment as the original.

The team faces another challenge when they start working on the torpedo tubes of the U-boat. They realize that the tubes need to be reinforced, but they are unable to find the right materials to do so. They eventually come up with a solution that involves using a special fiberglass fabric to reinforce the tubes.

The pressure is on for the team to finish the U-boat replica in time for its debut at the Museum of Science and Industry. The episode ends with the team putting the finishing touches on the submarine and preparing to transport it to Chicago.

Overall, Hunting Nazi Submarines is a fascinating episode that offers a glimpse into the world of museum exhibit construction. The episode is filled with interesting facts about World War II submarines, and it highlights the amount of effort and skill that goes into creating these exhibits. Fans of history and engineering will definitely enjoy this episode of Museum Men.