I got mine today. It's big, bold and full of detail.
I'll agree with Julian, No metal barrels, no depth charges on the racks lots of screws and nuts to put the hull and deck together quite a few alternative placings for parts. torpedo doors are moveable at both ends and lots of etched brass.
The Instructions are like computer generated 3d drawing and I agree with Julian that sometimes they're not all that clear so try before glue! Apart from that they are different from the usual line drawings so it might take a while to get used to them - but who wants to rush a big kit like this??
Apart from that, the size of the box is awesome and when you get it open and pick up the 2 hull parts you get the size and scale of this kit. It's just HUGE! The parts are crisply mouded in a light grey plastic. I can't say that I've seen any of those round sink mark/mold release hole things, but there again I haven't had a close look yet. Apart from the 2 hull parts the rest of the kit parts are in bags and there's a cardboard tray with the plans, PRM booklet and etched brass parts in it (the clear parts are in with the etched brass sheet, also in a bag). There's also a bag with screws, nuts, 2 types of rope and...... a very small screwdriver!
NOTE: The screws are not in labelled bags as in the recent Trumpeter 1/16 M16 Half Track release so care has to be used and sort them out! The good news is that there's a complete pictorial parts list in the manual.
Conclusion.
No kit is perfect. There's something that will niggle at everybody who buys one. Me? I'm delighted that Italeri has covered this S-Boot and in 1/35 scale. Ideal for Dioramas or really impressive as a stand alone display. There is the Kreigsmarine flag on the decals sheel...... minus the swastica (as per EU regs). Could this be R/C'd? I don't know and would leave this question to someone with lots of R/C experience, but It may be possible.
You have to get this kit in your stash ( I know.. it's expensive - £90 from the model shop in Halifax (UK)) but even with it's niggles it promises to be one hell of a build and I'm sorry, but I can't put this in my stash.... I'm clearing my 1/16 M16 from my bench into it's box and getting my grubby little paws into this huge and impressive kit when I post this! I can come back to the M16 another day.
Oh! One thing! It says on the box that it is the largest model in this scale.... WRONG. Soar Art's 1/35 Dora Railway Gun is the biggest kit in 1/36 scale and I've 2 of those. Doras' Barrel alone is the same length more or less as the S-100's hull - in fact the railway bed that comes with that kit is about 2 meters long and Dora just fits on it!
Who's going to break the news to Italeri?
But I would just like to say, Thanks so much to Italeri for a fantastic kit. Keep 'em coming folks! (can I have a free one now please Italeri for giving a good write up??)