Revell Type VIIC/41 U-Boat. 1:350

[Shar2]

Type VIIC/41 U-Boat

Revell  1:350

 

Type VIIC/41 was a slightly modified version of the successful VIIC and had basically the same engine layout and power. Armament was the same with 5 torpedo tubes (4 at the bow and one at the stern). The biggest difference was that these boats had a stronger pressure hull giving them more depth to evade attack under (operational 120m and crush depth at 250m against VIIC's 100/200). They also had lighter machinery to compensate for the added steel in the hull making them actually slightly lighter than the VIIC. All the type VIIC/41 boats from U-1271 onwards had the mine fittings deleted.

 

The Model

The model comes in the new, glossy, but otherwise standard Revell end opening box with a picture of a submarine at sea on the front.  Inside there is one large sprue, one small sprue and the two hull halves and deck, all in a medium grey styrene.  The moulding on all parts is nicely done, with the vent holes and other detail on the hulls looking really nice. 

 

 

Being a submarine, construction is pretty simple as can be seen by the number of sprues.  The build starts with the two hull halves being joined together followed by the deck. The foreplanes are then attached, as are the prop shafts, with integrally moulded fairing and A frame supports, then the propellers themselves. The sternplanes are then fitted, along with the rudders and rudder frame.

 

The tower is assembled from two halves, the command deck, 20mm gun deck and the 37mm gun deck. The foreward periscope is then fitted, followed by the two piece 37mm cannon, and the two twin 20mm cannon are fitted. The main attack periscope is the attached, along with the railings around the 20mm gun deck and the 37mm bandstand.  The tower is then glued to the deck, as are the fore and aft mounted guard rails and the snorkel in the raised position. The model is then affixed to the display stand.

 

 

 

Decals

The single sheet of decals provides markings for U998 and U1004, which also includes the ensign, (without swastika).  The decals are nicely produced win good register and slightly matt. The paint schemes though, shows them with the yellow stripe on the tower depicting that they were being used in the training squadron. Leave this off if you want to depict her as an operational boat.

 

 

 

Conclusion

This is a very nice model of an late U-Boat from a time when Germany was improving all their U-Boat forces. The diminutive size of the completed model means it won’t take up much space in the cabinet.

Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For further information visit

 

[JP Steve]

Did you notice the grooves on the inside of the hull?  Quite close to the correct locations for  interior bulkheads.  A cutaway version would be quite fiddly at this scale!

 

Steve.

[thepureness]

is this the heller kit re-issued?