U-Bots - Numbers or No Numbers!?

 The pictures that I have seen of U-boats during WWII rarely show any numbers. Maybe a small number on the bow and I have seen a picture (can't remember if it was an illustration or a photo) of a type XXI with the number on the conning tower. In WWI, the U-boats were more commonly photographed with numbers on the conning towers.

 If I were you, I would omit the numbers.

OK thanks!

I believe numbers were carried on U-baots during the first world war and pre war. But generally speaking, operational boats in WW2 didn't carry them. Some did carry some sort of insignia, U-581' is a spider in a circle.

www.uboat.net/.../u581.html

Which kit are you building.

German U boat's carried number's throuout the Spanish civil war and up to the start of hostility's in wwII. They also carried neutrality stripe's on their conning tower's. All this was quickly painted over at the biggining of WWII. At least 1 u boat carried its num. on a small plaque on each side of the bow. U- 99. I have seen num. on the type XXI and the type XXIII but these are few and far between. May I suggest you visit U-boat .net. They may be very helpful in pointing you in the right direction. Also ... what boat's are you thinking of doing? I may be able to help.

Thats some collection. I have the 125th U-99 and 72nd VIIc, both Revell kits. Just waiting until i have the display base before starting the big one. Hopefully next year. I hope we get to see some pics of yours.

LOL I know! I've been accumulating for 7 years and now have some time to build them! I've posted my 1st kit. U-505. Its a proprietary kit from the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry where the actual sub lives.  I'd guess scale to be 1/200 maybe. 

I appreciate any constructive comments, suggestions, and help!

http://flic.kr/p/b2fmrz

b2fmrz

Well I'm trying to actually embed the picture here on the forum - I guess I can't?

The link works.

Any pics of Type XXI U-Boats with numbers on the conning tower are most likely post-war Allied paint jobs.

TD4438 You are correct.

What kit are you building of U-505?  If it is Revell, the kit does not represent her.

The 505 photo in prior post is the kit I bought at the Museum. Approximately 1/200 scale but nothing actually printed anywhere. No manufacturer on box but instruction sheet read Revell.  It looks pretty close to the actual boat.

The 505 kit I have to build yet is 1/144, also Revell, 1988 kit but not correct! The hull and wintergarden are like VII-C. So I'll build it out as another number.