Revell German Midget Submarine Type Molch (05187) 1:72

[Mike]

German Midget Submarine Type Molch (05187)

1:72 Carrera Revell

 

 

Nazi Germany developed a series of mini-submarines during WWII, probably wanting to mimic the success of Italian mini-subs, but some, such as the Molch (Newt) were less-than-successful.  The design of the sub had limited usefulness, as it was only able to operate in coastal regions, because it had limited range, depth and was very slow in the water.  It was a one-man design that carried a pair of G7e electric torpedoes slung on each side of the lower hull, which were intended to be launched from close-range to destroy Allied shipping, preferably during darkness or in dock where they could quickly escape in the confusion.

 

Once the type entered service late in the war, having entered production in mid-1944, it was found to be wanting, losing ten out of twelve vessels on its first mission in the Mediterranean, the remaining two of which were later destroyed by British gunfire.  The next mission proved similarly costly, operating from the Netherlands, and subsequent missions, sometimes a mixed force that included the similar-looking and equally poorly designed Biber (Beaver) fared no better, losing over 70 of the 390+ Molch subs that were built by manufacturers A G Weser in Bremen.  They were quickly withdrawn from active service, and the remainder were used as training vessels for other newer designs that operated until the end of the war.

 

 

The Kit

This is a reboxing of a recent tooling by ICM, and was the first injection-moulded kit in this scale, the others having been cast in resin, a medium that doesn’t appeal to everyone for various reasons.  The kit arrives in a small top-opening box with captive lid, and inside is one sprue of grey styrene, a clear sprue, and the instruction booklet that is printed in colour with the painting profiles on the rear pages.  Detail is good as far as any submarine model has detail, with raised weld-lines, rivets and inspection hatches where appropriate, and the model should build up quickly and easily, including a ‘cockpit’ for the solitary crew member.

 

 

 

Construction begins with building up the main hull, starting by installing the windows in the starboard conning tower, with more in the port side.  The crew compartment is built between two circular bulkheads, and has a narrow floor and curved sides, squeezed into what space remains between the mechanisms that run the sub.  There is a simple two-part seat affixed to the rear bulkhead, a small console on the port side, and a steering wheel on a stalk in the centre.  The completed compartment is inserted into the starboard side, and is joined by the periscope, which has a hydrodynamic teardrop profile.  The port side has a solitary dial fitted on a peg in between the windows, then the hull is closed, adding a two-part fairing to the rear of the conning tower to help the water flow smoothly around it.  The torpedo-like rear of the sub is made from two halves and has a screw added, with a large rudder moulded into the port half.  It inserts into a socket in the rear of the hull, and there are two two-part rails fitted into recesses that run down the underside of the boat, along with a large whale-tail with dive plane at the rear.  Larger rails are fixed on lugs further up the sides, with a choice of two styles of clear hatches at the top of the conning tower, through which the pilot would have a limited view of his surroundings when surfaced without needing to open the hatch.  The two offensive torpedoes that it carries are each made from two halves and have their screws moulded into the rear along with the steering vanes, and once completed, they attach to the rails under the main hull on a pair of pegs, one torpedo per side.

 

The designers have helpfully included a one-part plastic stand in the kit, which is heavily contoured and attaches to the sub by pins that locate in holes under the centre of the main hull.  If you don’t intend using the stand, you may want to fill the holes, unless you can reuse them for your alternative.

 

 

Markings

There are two painting options in this boxing, wearing substantially different schemes.  From the box you can build one of the following:

 

• Kriegsmarine, 1944-45
• Kriegsmarine, Haifischmaul 1944-45

 

 

Note that there are no decals included with this kit, and one of the options has a face painted to the rounded bow in black, white and red, with a (presumably) 1:1 scale representation of the mouth below the relevant part of the profile.  You’ll need a fine brush and a steady hand, or a friend with a decal printer to do it justice however.

 

 

Conclusion

Mini-subs or midget subs as they are sometimes known are an interesting dead-end development of the underwater war during WWII.  At this scale they are small, easy to build, and take up little room on the shelves, whilst offering good detail.

 

Highly recommended.

 

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

 

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