Looking for recomendations on a good u-boat kit & aftermarket sets

If you don't mind going big your first time out, try the RoG 1/72 U-boat. It is a very nice kit. A couple of different companies (Trumpeter?) have put out crew figures and different decals. Sorry I can't be more specific, it's a little late here. HTH.

Uncle,

Herr Kaleu is right, the 1/72 U-boat is a perfect place to start...It's big enough (3 ft.), isn't overly expensive ($45) and there's a wide variety of aftermarket parts available for it...Here's what I'm aware of at this point in time, in no order of preference or cost.

White Ensign Photoetched brass detail set
White Ensign Torpedo loading jig
Yankee Modelworks resin pressure hull
Yankee Modelworks Photoetched brass detail set
Nautilus laser cut wooden deck
Steve Nuttall's turned brass detail set (scopes, barrels, and prop shafts)
Warhammer Productions conning tower conversion set
CMK Model torpedo room interior set
Eduard photoetched detail set
Modelbrass photoetched deck

I'm leaving out the figures, since there's a slew of companies doing those.

Hope that helps,

Jeff

thanks for the responses Kaleu & Jeff- herne, the information is greatly appreciated. Any other info,advice, ect is more than welcomed

If you are looking for a smaller build, Nichimo (or is it Nichimoco?) has made some Type IX boats in 1/200. Not sure if they are still available though.
Even smaller are the Mirage Hobby U-boats in 1/400 and you can get Photoetched detail sets for these.

I hope this info might be useful. Best of luck!

Dave