MSW crew-mate Julian Sallows (Gremlin56) send us his thoughts of Italeri Model's latest 1/35 scale release, German Midget Submarine Biber, in this in-box review!
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~Gunny
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Discuss modeling techniques, experiences, and ship modeling in general.
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REVIEW
Italeri's Biber Midget SubmarineGunny
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: July 13, 2004
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Joined: July 13, 2004
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Posted: Sunday, August 29, 2010 - 07:43 AM UTC
MrMox
Aarhus, Denmark
Joined: July 18, 2003
KitMaker: 3,377 posts
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Joined: July 18, 2003
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Posted: Sunday, August 29, 2010 - 07:29 PM UTC
Interesting, lets see if a little TLC can“t make this one into a decent model - still a lot cheeper than anything in resin.
Theres a interesting camoflage sceme in the 5 th. edition of Uboot in Focus with shark mouth and all that ....
Thanks for the review/Jan
Theres a interesting camoflage sceme in the 5 th. edition of Uboot in Focus with shark mouth and all that ....
Thanks for the review/Jan
Posted: Wednesday, September 01, 2010 - 07:25 AM UTC
Hi Jan,
Thanks for the review, I bought this on the spur of the moment so it will be something new to build and hopefull fun.
Al
Thanks for the review, I bought this on the spur of the moment so it will be something new to build and hopefull fun.
Al
MrMox
Aarhus, Denmark
Joined: July 18, 2003
KitMaker: 3,377 posts
Model Shipwrights: 985 posts
Joined: July 18, 2003
KitMaker: 3,377 posts
Model Shipwrights: 985 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 01, 2010 - 09:51 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi Jan,
Thanks for the review, I bought this on the spur of the moment so it will be something new to build and hopefull fun.
Al
Oh, its Julian you got to thank, he did the review - just got my kit today, and have to agree with Julians conclusions, but I am sure it can still be made into an attractive little build, especially the inclusion of some interior details is a good point on this kit.
Cheers/Jan
JMartine
New Jersey, United States
Joined: October 18, 2007
KitMaker: 1,698 posts
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Joined: October 18, 2007
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Posted: Friday, September 03, 2010 - 01:58 AM UTC
Julian - Thanks for the review; good heads up on this one... I may wait for the "premium edition" type, with corrections and more PE like they did for the Carro Armato. cheers
Gremlin56
Joined: October 30, 2005
KitMaker: 3,897 posts
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KitMaker: 3,897 posts
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Posted: Friday, September 03, 2010 - 06:30 AM UTC
Thanks Gentlemen,
cheers,
Julian
cheers,
Julian
bill_c
Campaigns Administrator
New Jersey, United States
Joined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
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Joined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 - 05:39 AM UTC
An excellent review!
delapenne
Rimini, Italy
Joined: September 09, 2010
KitMaker: 2 posts
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Joined: September 09, 2010
KitMaker: 2 posts
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Posted: Thursday, September 09, 2010 - 03:29 AM UTC
I have heard that you could ask to your local importer or to your favourite shop the correct acetate sheet to assembly the kit correctly.
95bravo
Kansas, United States
Joined: November 18, 2003
KitMaker: 2,242 posts
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Joined: November 18, 2003
KitMaker: 2,242 posts
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Posted: Thursday, September 09, 2010 - 10:25 AM UTC
Nice review. To be honest, I like your cynicism and your lack of sugar coating. I'd prefer a reviewer be brutally honest than worry about offending anyone. If it has problems or is junk, then say it! Good article.
Posted: Thursday, September 09, 2010 - 11:42 PM UTC
Thank you for a nice review, Julian.
Good to get the feedback raw without any diplomacy. Probably wait a little and see some build reviews before tackling this one.
Good to get the feedback raw without any diplomacy. Probably wait a little and see some build reviews before tackling this one.
MrMox
Aarhus, Denmark
Joined: July 18, 2003
KitMaker: 3,377 posts
Model Shipwrights: 985 posts
Joined: July 18, 2003
KitMaker: 3,377 posts
Model Shipwrights: 985 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 09, 2010 - 11:55 PM UTC
I will be building mine for the "Big fish" campain beginning the 1.st. of october. I do think that a decent result is possible with some care - but oh boy the figures are bad!
Cheers/Jan
Cheers/Jan
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 06:34 AM UTC
Hi Julian,
I got the correct windows forwarded on by the supplier, Netmercharts in my case.
Do you know which is the correct end for the torpedos or would either do? Also are there any major external fittings missing?
Thanks
Al
I got the correct windows forwarded on by the supplier, Netmercharts in my case.
Do you know which is the correct end for the torpedos or would either do? Also are there any major external fittings missing?
Thanks
Al
Gremlin56
Joined: October 30, 2005
KitMaker: 3,897 posts
Model Shipwrights: 3,301 posts
KitMaker: 3,897 posts
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Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 07:35 AM UTC
Hi Alan, Think I'll scratch some windows for the "Beaver".
Torpedo stern units? I haven't been able to find a single photo of a torpedo with the "frame" thingie around it. I will be using the plain Jane stern units. External fittings? You have posted a couple of interesting photos with several leads around the tower that will be really easy to scratch.
The colour inside the tower would probably have been "elfenbein", a creamy white colour. The silver paint in one of your pic's is probably a conservative repaint job.
cheers,
Julian
Torpedo stern units? I haven't been able to find a single photo of a torpedo with the "frame" thingie around it. I will be using the plain Jane stern units. External fittings? You have posted a couple of interesting photos with several leads around the tower that will be really easy to scratch.
The colour inside the tower would probably have been "elfenbein", a creamy white colour. The silver paint in one of your pic's is probably a conservative repaint job.
cheers,
Julian
Posted: Monday, October 11, 2010 - 09:18 AM UTC
Hi Julian,
Thanks, I'll try and get down to IWM again, I didn't have a lot of time on my last visit and some more pics would be handy.
Al
Thanks, I'll try and get down to IWM again, I didn't have a lot of time on my last visit and some more pics would be handy.
Al
GlennCauley
Ontario, Canada
Joined: November 02, 2006
KitMaker: 63 posts
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Joined: November 02, 2006
KitMaker: 63 posts
Model Shipwrights: 57 posts
Posted: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 07:17 PM UTC
5 years after this was posted... bah, that's not too late for a reply!
I mirror your sentiments about the quality of this kit. Other places (IPMS USA) gave it a rave review, but all I can ask is "Why?"
I started my own Biber a few years ago, but only got a few steps in when I gave up in disgust at the poor quality & fit. Into the box it went, but a long time later I hauled it back out and completed it in summer 2014. I still wasn't too impressed with the quality, but with a bit of love it turned out (moderately) okay.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152268698247127.1073741855.549717126&type=1&l=f6e6440317
I mirror your sentiments about the quality of this kit. Other places (IPMS USA) gave it a rave review, but all I can ask is "Why?"
I started my own Biber a few years ago, but only got a few steps in when I gave up in disgust at the poor quality & fit. Into the box it went, but a long time later I hauled it back out and completed it in summer 2014. I still wasn't too impressed with the quality, but with a bit of love it turned out (moderately) okay.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152268698247127.1073741855.549717126&type=1&l=f6e6440317