¹⁄400

Building a Type IX U-boat, 1/400 scale...

"Crewmate Erik Brandlen shares a build story of Mirage Models Type IX U-boat kit, 1/400 scale, in this MSW Feature!"

intro...

This is the first installment of a series of U-boat kit build articles. This first focuses on a 1/400 scale type IX B by Mirage. I bought a couple U-boat kits made by Mirage because they’re inexpensive, under $10.00, and look to be quick builds.




The Type IX B was a slightly bigger boat than the Type VII most modelers are familiar with. The particular Type IX Mirage chose to model is the U-511, a boat used to test the plausibility of firing rockets from submerged U-boats. More information on that project can be found at prinzeugen.com



Basic changes from the "A" variant to the "B" were in enlarging the bunkers to increase the radius of action.

Displacement................ 1,051 tons surface; 1,178 tons submerged
Dimensions..................... 251' x 21'3" x 15' 6"
Engines............................ twin shaft diesel and electric
Power (diesel)........... 4,400 hp (electric)....... 1,000 hp
Speed (diesel).......... 18.25 knots (electric)...... 7.25 knots
Bunkers........................ 166 tons of fuel oil
Radius (diesel)..... 8,700 miles @ 12 knots (electric).. 64 miles @ 4 knots
Tubes (fwd)........... four 21 inch (aft)............ Two 21 inch
(carried twenty two torpedoes or forty two mines)
Guns.......................... Single 4.1 inch deck gun
AA Guns.................. Single 37mm and Single 20mm
Crew........................ 48 men

As the war progressed, the deck gun was removed and the AA armament was increased in various ways. Most boats replaced the single 20mm mount with four single mount or two twin 20mm mounts and in some cases, with the quad 20mm mounts. As in almost all boats - as the war progressed, the size of the crew increased.