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**modelnut** · 11-17-2012, 12:55 PM

I bought the Combat Models kit --- before everybody told me not to.

Once I got it and measured it I saw that it was nowhere near 72 scale. HO, maybe, if you squinted really really hard. But not 72. Not even close enough that you might scratchbuild a plug to bring it up to snuff. So it is sitting in my shed. I might use the hatches if I give up and scratchbuild my own. Otherwise I wasted my money.

There is a 72 scale XXI available from Czechoslovakia I have heard. But the export duties or tariffs drive the price way too high to consider.

So I am hoping someone in the States may eventually fill the void.

40 and 48 scale are just too big for me. Besides, I am building a fleet in 72. So far I have two u-boats, two GATO's, a tiny Seehund, and a Japanese Type-A mini-sub. And I am scratchbuilding Jules Verne's NAUTILUS. And I have the brand new Moebius SKIPJACK.

VH, that might not be a bad idea. I will look into it. It will have to wait a while though. The budget just took a hit from the 350 scale Polar Lights Starship ENTERPRISE kit. And I am hoping to get Casswell's subdriver for the SKIPJACK in the spring after taxes. But the resemblance between the USS NAUTILUS and the XXI is unmistakeable.

- Leelan

**Von Hilde** · 11-17-2012, 04:16 PM

Since you have a combat kit, you should just graft the bow section and stearn section to a 1/72 nautilus cutting the sections to come out with the appropriate overall liength. Basiclly had to do that to my Combat Type IXD2 get close to eyball scale. The VIIC kit got from them is a little small as well. That may become an external view project someday. My IX tower had to be scratch built to scale, because their 's was way too small, and I had to scratch the entire aft section to come up with the OAL. Still its closer to a type C2, by a couple mm, but looks good next to my other 1/72s. If you want, Ill give you a hand with building a tower and deck for the 21. if you want to try to save the hull, and run it. What are the dimentions of the CMK hull? And did you get any drawings?

**modelnut** · 11-18-2012, 11:13 AM

Oops. Forgot to mention the crappy Lindberg IJN and a couple of XXIII's, also in 72 scale.

VH, who makes the 72 USS NAUTILUS? I know I have seen it mentioned before but a search turned up nothing.

- Leelan

**Von Hilde** · 11-19-2012, 06:24 AM

Thats a good question. I stumbled on a site for a model company awhile ago, looking for other boats, and found one in a couple scales, One being 1/72 but, I didnt bookmark since they had no U Boats. I think they built RC subs, and had a conglomoration of hulls to chose from, and running kits to go with. Most likely an expensive avanue to go down. I remember back in the late 50s there was a huge model put out by one of the big 3 ( Monogram, Revell, or Lindberg) I looked this morning for antique models of it. There were several in smaller scales, but none in 1/72. Ive been comparing the lines of the XXIs and the Nautilus, in the center section of the hull, and your right about the subtile differances. But, I can turn two tall boy budwiser cans and a couple scraps if plastic and some stix into a musem quality Henley, with the help of a can of flat black, and a bag of toy civil war army men.

**gantu** · 11-19-2012, 06:35 AM

Hi i working on an type IX D2 1/72 scale with the narrow bow section to get an hull set if something happen i let you know.

**trout** · 11-19-2012, 12:05 PM

Gantu,
Please tell me you will make a run of these for sale! This is what I wish Revell would do. Make different versions - Type IX, XXI, Mare Island Balao, (insert your favorite here), etc., and if I could be even more selfish, all in 1/72 scale (I just love this scale since I was a kid).
Peace,
Tom

**gantu** · 11-19-2012, 04:42 PM

To make it clear thats not my model from an other modeler i send an email but vno awnser till now i go on to get contact.

**Von Hilde** · 11-20-2012, 04:38 AM

Is that a modified Combat models hull? It sure looks like on with no skag on the aft keel, to mount the rear dive planes. Mine came like that, so I cut the entire aft section off and fabricated one, and added a couple sections to make it close to the right liength for a 1/72 IXD2. I put the gears and bell crank, for the dive plane shaft in there as well. I used a piece of 1/4" aluminium channel for the main keel, to give striength and ridigity and attached a small piece of 1/4" flat aluminium strap to the top of the channel to extend thru the hull.

**greenman407** · 11-21-2012, 12:29 PM

AH the best laid plans of mice and men! Does my heart good. Ive got plenty of Uboat pictures to post but itll have to wait a couple of weeks to repair my internet cable underground run. Sorry.