I just wanted to share with you all I picked up what looks to be a great book for U Boat modeling.
Ubootwaffe, Marine–Kleinkampfverbände 1939 – 1945

It is a little expensive $100 USD but it is well worth it. 598 pages hard cover all in english (Polish publisher). The book has history and info on every type submarine used or planned by the Germans in WW II. This also includes mini subs there plans and a brief history of development ala the encyclopidia of german AFVs of WW 2. Skipper you would love it! There are also color plates of all the sub types and many of the camo schemes used. As a bonus it includes wall maps (4) of the U boats sinkings/ aircraft shootings and another set with the subs final resting places.

The web site for the publisher is http://www.Modelhobby.pl Go to the publisher section.

ISBN # is 83-919215-8-1

Check it out. I picked mine up at my LHS and he can order more if you can't find it. They have another Submarine title with 107 pages that covers the VII, IX and another boat. I may just order that as well. Off to do some reading!!!!!

Hi Scott

Thanks for the tip (and help emptying my wallet!)!!!
From what I have read, the most interesting of it are the colour plates... which I only have on Osprey Book German U-boats volume II, where appear one Biber, one Seehund and one Neger (think maybe a Hecht too). But from foto's of several books on the same subject (Kleinkampfverband subs and manned torpedoes) the painting schemes differ a lot, from plain light grey, to dark grey, to mottled painting schemes... I know that it's a "misterious" area, because there are very few survivors (midget subs and manned torpedoes), and most of them have been repainted with no accuracy concerns.

I must say that, at least for me, after all this years, one volume dedicated to this subject would be top for my needs!

Skipper

Yes Skipper the color plates are very interesting, and include some wild camo patterns for the mini subs. There are even some surface boats depicted. These are small torpedo laden craft. Looks like they would be used to go out and sink ships in hit and run raids. One is even powered by a jet engine! There are plenty of what if builds in this book for those who are brave enough.