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This is a project I'm preparing to do as I get some more experience. A Small Czech manufacturer, MPM, has three 1:72 kits of interest, two of which are already available from Caswell (the Type XXIII and the Type VIID conversion kit). The third kit is the Type IIA, which is close in size to a 1:144 Kilo.
The Special Navy Type IIA kit is a bit problematic as it's a mix between the Finnish Vesikko http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_submarine_Vesikko and the Type IIA (none of which was preserved, though some survived the war only to be scuttled afterward in the Black Sea off Turkey) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Type_II_submarine. Since the Vesikko served as a sort of prototype for the Type II and it's actually available to look at, it's somewhat understandable that the Special Navy kit ended up with a lot of the Vesikko in its DNA.
I've found some good reviews of the Special Navy Type IIA kit that talk about accuracy issues and how to fix some of them. The review at the link shows it being built into a fine static model:
One other useful thing I've found is both a reference and a practical aid to fixing the inaccuracies of the Special Navy kit:
Undoubtedly, much of the photoetch is far too fragile for use in a practical RC, but the combination of 1:1 (in 1:72 scale) drawings and drain hole templates seem to make this a bargain, even if the finer detail stays on the fret. (My photoetch came in last week and it's exceptionally good stuff.)
Perhaps the Caswell Empire will soon gather these items for sale and task a certain merry man with adapting his subdriver and Type VII fittings expertise to making this kit R/C ready. This would make a great Christmas present...
The Special Navy Type IIA kit is a bit problematic as it's a mix between the Finnish Vesikko http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnish_submarine_Vesikko and the Type IIA (none of which was preserved, though some survived the war only to be scuttled afterward in the Black Sea off Turkey) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Type_II_submarine. Since the Vesikko served as a sort of prototype for the Type II and it's actually available to look at, it's somewhat understandable that the Special Navy kit ended up with a lot of the Vesikko in its DNA.
I've found some good reviews of the Special Navy Type IIA kit that talk about accuracy issues and how to fix some of them. The review at the link shows it being built into a fine static model:
One other useful thing I've found is both a reference and a practical aid to fixing the inaccuracies of the Special Navy kit:
Undoubtedly, much of the photoetch is far too fragile for use in a practical RC, but the combination of 1:1 (in 1:72 scale) drawings and drain hole templates seem to make this a bargain, even if the finer detail stays on the fret. (My photoetch came in last week and it's exceptionally good stuff.)
Perhaps the Caswell Empire will soon gather these items for sale and task a certain merry man with adapting his subdriver and Type VII fittings expertise to making this kit R/C ready. This would make a great Christmas present...
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