Eduard German Type VIIc U-Boat Etch sets. 1:48

[Shar2]

German Type VIIc U-Boat Etch sets

1:48 Eduard

 

Having updated the Revell 1:72 Type VIIc U-Boats, Eduard have now turned their sights onto the huge Trumpeter 1:48 kit, releasing three sets of etched brass, to update the conning tower, upper and lower hull.  The hull sets in particular will require quite a bit of surgery to be carried out on the kit to allow the etched parts to fit, but with plenty of care and patience they will make quite a difference to the finished model.

 

53191 – Part 1, Upper Hull: This large single sheet set contains parts of the main deck, namely the quarterdeck and extreme foredeck.  Each deck is fitted out with numerous hatches with separate hinge plates, bollard covers, rear wire spreaders have new support feet, hawse pipes front and rear, new gun mount foot plates, bow mounted wire cutter and support feet, although the rear support arm needs to be made of 56mm x 1.5mm rod. The handrails have new clamps and the guard rails new cable eyes. The main 88mm gun is fitted with a whole load of new fittings.  There are a lot more fittings on the sheet, but there doesn’t appear to be any mention of them on the instructions, which is rather bizarre.

 

 

53192 Part 2, Conning Tower: Although the easiest to use, this single sheet set definitely has the most parts, contained in the smaller, glued sleeve, the set is used to add detail, not only to the tower, but also the AA weapons.  The single 20mm Flak 38 gun receives new fittings for the mount as well as the guns itself, with new sights, supports, traversing wheels, brackets and spent casing bags.  The decks of the tower are provided with new opening panels. The shelving/seating around the inside of the tower are replaced, as is the housing containing the DF array, whilst the lifering has a new holder. The set also includes the footrests that are fitted to the lower parts of the guardrails. There are numerous hatches for both the inside and outside of the tower, plus the access hatch is fitted with a new locking wheel and latch handle.  All the hand rails are provided with new attachment points

 

 

 

53195 – Part 3 Lower Hull: Comes in a zip lock bag with one sheet of etched brass.  This set contains two replacement free flooding and venting areas for the aft lower hull between the propeller shafts.  Rather than just scabbing the panels onto the kit, it’ll be better to remove the areas, using the etched panels as a guide, thinning down the edges then fitting the panels from the outside. The set also includes quite a selection of hull vents and intakes, which once again will need the areas of the kit to be removed, plus access hatches on the ballast tanks. There are also additional plates to be fitted on the dive planes, rudder and proper A frames.

 

 

 

Conclusion

Whilst the huge Type VIIc is an amazing kit there are some things that really can’t be moulded using standard techniques, even in this scale, and it this is where the etched brass comes in.  The finesse it provides to a finished model can really make it shine.  These sets can, when used correctly do just that for this stunning model, just be careful with the cutting out of the kit parts.

 

Review sample courtesy of

[whitestar12chris]

Great review Dave, as you say a well worth buying addition to the trumpeter VII C kit.

 

All the best Chris