I'm building the U-166 Type IXC that was sunk off the coast of New Orleans. I'm having to use Academy's 1/150 Type IXB kit because the Nichimo Type IXC has the extended wintergarden. Is there any significant difference between the B and C?

Hi Kenny

The main apparent difference is the wintergarten

Check it here:
http://www.uboat.net/types/ixb.htm

http://www.uboat.net/types/ixc.htm

And btw, Nichimo has both versions of it and they are far more accurate than the Academy one (just my two cents)

Skipper

Hello Kenny,

Rui's links to u boat.net are good reference to the difference in tower configuration.

B single platform with a 3.7 cm aft of the tower.
C extended platform with various guns but no 3.7cm.

As Rui said, Nichimo makes both a B and a C variant.

Also there is MiniHobby Models which makes both and they are copies of the
Nichimo.

If you choose to use the Academy kit, be aware that this kit was designed as
a pool toy and has an oversized single prop and oversized diveplanes and
rudder.....major reconstruction and there are also many holes to plug.

The hull is very nicely detailed and quite accurate in shape. If you don't mind
major rebuilding go with the Academy at 1:150....it will sit well with all the
other 1:144 u boats available.

Cheers,
Joe

I wanted to go with the Nichimo kit, but this is a special build for this week, so I had to go with the Academy kit.




I'm going to build her waterline Joe. With the clear differences, why would all the uboat web sites list her as a IXC and not a IXB? Even the wreck photos point clearly to the "B" style wintergarden.

http://www.pastfoundation.org/U166/WreckPhotos2003_2.htm

Gator

Ahoy shipmates, photo update time.

I've gotten the hull and conning tower assemblies completed. Just have a little bit of sanding to do on both. It's a pretty straight forward build with the only fiddly part being filling the holes for the motor controls.



I'll cut a fine piece of wood paper thin and use it to line the bridge with the wood slats.



The deck comes to a rounded end and doesn't blend with the hull. I cut and punched a piece of styrene to fill in the rest of the decking.
You can see where I had to fill in gaps for the battery powered version.

Comments welcome, of course.
Gator

Hi Kenny

So far, so good!
Pay some atention to the oversized bollards
Keep up
Skipper

Thanks for the tip Skipper.

Here are some update photos. I've glued down the conning tower and attached the rails. First primer coat is one and I see I have some more filling and sanding to do around the deck/hull seam.




Does anyone have some good references of the deck weapons. I'll need to scratch build the 3.7 and 2 cm guns.

Here are a few things I scanned for you.

I'll try to find more.

20 mm

another 20 mm

37 mm

It will probably be easier if you copied a model gun (since they are usually slightly simplified). Like this 37mm:



Just make sure you use some etching brass for the shield since the one above is too thick.

Thanks Ion.

Here's some update photos. I've worked on the deck guns today.

The 10.5cm gun received a brass tubing barrel and fine solder for the gunner positions.




The 3.7cm gun was a complete scratch build with the feed guide the only hold over from the kit's gun.


Sorry for the blurry photo.

The 2 cm gun received a new barrel made of wire and shoulder rest made from fine solder.

Looking good Kenny
Those little details will enhance the model a lot
Keep us posted
Skipper

Here's an update. I shaved some wood and made the insulating strips around the bridge.





Gator