Following the release of the earlier Mk. VII versions of the venerable U-boat , comes the much-anticipated Type C U-boat (1941 model). This review being written by an Armorama “tread-head”, please forgive my not knowing my stern from my head. As one of the first naval subjects I've ever attempted - I'm much more accustomed with 1/35th scale, working with something a mere tenth of that was, at first, intimidating.
Contents...
Most parts are in AFV Club's familiar green plastic, the remainders are etched in photo-etched brass. Included is a display stand with name plaque, midget subs, and four torpedoes. A nice addition is the inclusion of victory pennants, 37mm gun shield, radar ariels, railings, and ladder, also in PE brass.
Construction...
A simple one-weekend project, my fears about working in this scale proved unfounded. A pressure hull, complete with fore and aft torpedo openings, is first laid between the hull sides. Although a pin-wash of oils will nicely bring-out the exquisite deck and hull details, I opted to carefully scrape though the inside of the upper hull to expose some of the hull vents. (See photo, RIGHT). The conning tower is particularly complete, with very well-defined floor and Wintergarten details.
My inexperience showed when attempting to join the upper and lower hull halves together: do not, as I learned, solidly cement the lower hull halves together before placing on the upper deck! The other option is to of course build the water-line model, without the lower hull. One not confident in working with PE brass has the option to instead fit the alternative plastic railings and other small details. To say I was impressed by the detail possible in this scale is an understatement: One will discover subtle details not found even in the big 1/72nd scale Revell kit of the Mk. VII C/41. For a beginner like myself, I highly recommend this kit. For the expert, I can see the potential for some interesting scratch-built details. The after-market crowd might have difficulty offering more detail, aside from perhaps some tiny turned-metal barrels for the Flak guns.
Decals...
Markings are included to depict several boats: U-.995, U-1023, and U-1105.
Conclusion...
Finishing this little gem has whetted my appetite for building further naval models. Luckily, AFV Club continues to provide more naval releases in this scale. The company strategy during these uncertain economic times will be to offer value and great detail at an affordable price. The few hours I’ve so far spent on this kit provides an enjoyable change from building armor.
SUMMARY
Highs: Optional PE brass or plastic parts. Enough detail and challenge to satisfy experienced builders, while beginners should have no trouble.Lows: The tiny decals are fiddly to apply.Verdict: An affordable and enjoyable weekend build. Highly recommended!
Our Thanks to AFV Club! This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.
About Ted Hayward (ted_hayward) FROM: TAIPEI, TAIWAN / 台灣
From B.C., Canada. Living in Taiwan for past several years. I've been building kits for as long as memory serves -armor, aircraft, cars. Big fan of 1/16th scale armor kits. Currently serving as poster boy for working with CA adhesives in a well-ventilated area. My first kit was the positively awful ...
Nice kit. Although I build mostly armour, I've been intrigued by these new 1/350 releases from AFV.
The inner hull is a bit gimmick-y. I think the kit can be finished without it, unless someone wants to open all the vents on the hull's side!
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