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Airfix German Torpedo E-Boat

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  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Oklahoma
Airfix German Torpedo E-Boat
Posted by old soldier on Thursday, March 9, 2006 2:17 PM

How is this model, the Airfix German Torpedo E-Boat?

Thanks

Old Soldier, RET. Semper Fi Oooh Rah
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Virginia, USA
Posted by samreichart on Thursday, March 9, 2006 3:01 PM
It's an older kit.  Not as nice as the new Revell, but still a decent model.
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur :)
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Oklahoma
Posted by old soldier on Thursday, March 9, 2006 3:11 PM

Thank you.

Do you or anyone here know of one that has been build, and are there any pictures of it?

Old Soldier, RET. Semper Fi Oooh Rah
  • Member since
    January 2006
Posted by EPinniger on Friday, March 10, 2006 5:47 AM
From what I've heard, the lower hull shape is somewhat inaccurate in shape, this will probably bother
some modellers but not others! The kit can be built either as waterline or full-hull in any case.

Other than that it's a nice kit (not as good as the Revell one, but the moulds are around
25-30 years older after all) and a good addition to any collection of 1/72 naval craft. It represents
a S-7 Schnellboot (I think) and is quite different in appearance to the Revell S-100.
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: arizona
Posted by cthulhu77 on Friday, March 10, 2006 6:01 AM

  I think it's a great kit, having built several. It is more like building a rigged ship in it's complexity, but as long as you take your time, it comes out very, very well.  There is going to be a build up on MM sometime soon,  I would also heavily recommend picking up Squadron's " Schnellboot in Action", there is a ton of data in it.

  The kit depicts the early version of the S-Boat, and certainly looks a little clunkier than the sleek S-100 series, but is full of more gadgetry and fine parts, making for a neat model in the end.

              greg

http://www.ewaldbros.com
  • Member since
    December 2005
Posted by PTConsultingNHR on Friday, March 10, 2006 8:21 AM
It's typical of an '70s era kit.  After seeing the Revell S-100 kit built up for me both in an Out-of-the-box and totally enhanced versions, I don't care to have my Airfix kit built up.  Especially from what I've been told by Steve Wiper and Dave Krakow.
 
But I've been heavily criticized for my opinion of the Airfix E-boat kit, so I won't say anything further.
 
T. Garth Connelly
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: arizona
Posted by cthulhu77 on Friday, March 10, 2006 11:11 AM

  Well, you have to remember that they are different boats, from the hull up !  The early S-1 and S-10's were chunky and full of unnecessary items, but still neat looking...like the Olympia looks good next to the much sleeker Missouri.  I really enjoyed building the airfix kit, and would heavily recommend it to those with a 72nd scale collection.

                         greg

http://www.ewaldbros.com
  • Member since
    December 2005
Posted by PTConsultingNHR on Friday, March 10, 2006 11:56 AM
Oh, for certain Greg.  From the mid 1970s until the time that the Revell kit was released, it definitely filled a niche and is/was a welcomed addition to any 1:72 collection.  But there are "errors" in the kit ... maybe Airfix should consider retooling the kit to compete with the overall "good" appearance of the Revell kit.  Ya know?
 
Garth
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: arizona
Posted by cthulhu77 on Friday, March 10, 2006 6:57 PM
  Well, you never know...after all, they cast the tsr.2 !!!  I wouldn't hold my breath, though...
http://www.ewaldbros.com
  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Bangor, Maine
Posted by alross2 on Sunday, March 12, 2006 11:17 AM

To discover the differences between the actual vessel and the model, get a copy of Harold Fock's Fast Fighting Boats 1870-1945.  On pp. 116-117 are copies of the original Lurssen drawings for S7-S9.   While long out of print, you can get copies of this book through interlibrary loan.

Al Ross

 

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: arizona
Posted by cthulhu77 on Monday, March 13, 2006 8:24 AM

...and, of course, there is the fantastic website :

http://www.prinzeugen.com/SBOATIND.htm

 

    It would be wonderful if either Airfix redid the kit, or if Revell popped out an early S class boat...since the 72nd scale ships seem to be selling rather well, maybe they will ?  I guess we can only hope.

http://www.ewaldbros.com
  • Member since
    December 2005
Posted by PTConsultingNHR on Monday, March 13, 2006 12:46 PM
Yes, Dave's site is second to none.  He really knows his Kriegsmarine data and ships - that's one of the reasons why I asked him to help me write Schnellboot In Action.  It was his input that put that book over the top.  He's (himself) currently working on part II of that book as I have other projects I am currently working on ...
 
Garth
  • Member since
    February 2006
Posted by fordboy on Friday, March 17, 2006 10:46 AM

Hi Garth

Great to see you over here on this site.

I am awaiting an Airfix kit at the moment and will be in contact in due course.

Your input here and in the past is greatly valued.

Greg what is"MM" please.

FYI there is a build up of the kit on the Internet Modeller website.

Regards

Sean 

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2005
Posted by PTConsultingNHR on Friday, March 17, 2006 4:39 PM

Sean,

I'll be more than happy to help. 

Garth

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: arizona
Posted by cthulhu77 on Saturday, March 18, 2006 1:08 PM

  Awesome books, with incredible information...PTboatConsulting opened up new vistas in my pt models.

   MM refers to Modeling Madness. com , a great site with another bunch of fun modeling fanatics, as well as a ton of reviews.

http://www.ewaldbros.com
  • Member since
    December 2005
Posted by PTConsultingNHR on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 9:47 AM
What would any of you pay for an unbuilt Airfix E-boat kit?
 
Garth
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Oklahoma
Posted by old soldier on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 1:43 PM
 PTConsultingNHR wrote:
What would any of you pay for an unbuilt Airfix E-boat kit?
 
Garth

How much you want for it?

Old Soldier, RET. Semper Fi Oooh Rah
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: arizona
Posted by cthulhu77 on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 5:02 PM

  They are going for between 25 and 35 bucks out here, depending on the condition of the box...I'm still waiting for a review kit to show up, if I buy another one, my wife will kill me.  

                  greg

http://www.ewaldbros.com
  • Member since
    December 2005
Posted by PTConsultingNHR on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 11:21 AM
It's not that I'd want a build-up ... I'm quickly running out of room and I've got a modeler doing two PTs now as well as a repair on the Airfix 1:600 HMS Belfast and another guy doing a rebuild on another PT ...Since I have two S-100s already built up, I don't have room for the Airfix E-Boat and I've been thinking of selling a few models from my stash ... Need to talk it over with my family before I decide ...
 
So, 30-35 USD?  Hmmm.
 
Garth
  • Member since
    February 2006
Posted by fordboy on Thursday, March 23, 2006 11:43 AM

Hi Garth

If you have an original version of the kit as opposed to a recent reissue (Made in France) I may also be interested in purchasing the kit you have. 

Please let me/us know once you have discussed it with your family.

My one (being a recent reissue ) has arrived and I am picking it up from the Courier Base on my way home from work today.

Regards

Sean

 

  • Member since
    December 2005
Posted by PTConsultingNHR on Thursday, March 23, 2006 11:47 AM
I'll let you know ...
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Belgium
Posted by DanCooper on Friday, March 24, 2006 9:51 AM
I've ordered the Airfix German E-Boat too a while back, but unfortunately it's still in backorder. It seems that we have a few guys here going to built that oldie, wouldn't you guys like to built it in "group" ?  That way we can exchange ideas.

I might make a topic in the "Groupbuilts" section if there is enough interest.

Anyway, Ive been told that the placement of the torpedoes is too far back, not sure yet if this is right, I'll have to wait till I receive the kit.
I remember my father built it when I was a kid, as far as I remember it looked nice.

On the bench : Revell's 1/125 RV Calypso

  • Member since
    December 2005
Posted by PTConsultingNHR on Friday, March 24, 2006 11:28 AM
Dan,
 
There are a number of errors in the overall accuracy of the Airfix E-Boat.  One major one is the shape of the bilge and of the hull.  Amongst other errors.  The inaccuracy of the kit was brought to my attention by Dave Krakow of www.prinzeugen.com - who was my co-author on Schnellboot In Action and by Steve Wiper of Classic Warships.
 
You would be best off "talking to" one of these gentlemen as I found that people tend to listen to other people than me for some reason. 
 
Garth
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Belgium
Posted by DanCooper on Friday, March 24, 2006 11:56 AM
Garth,
Thanks for the interesting link, as far as inaccuraties go, my technical enlish is far from perfect so I'm not even sure what a "Bilge" is (yeah I know, I wanna make a boat and don't know what's what on it) but if it is under the waterline, I don't care much for it, since my model (whenever it arrives) will be placed on "water".

On the bench : Revell's 1/125 RV Calypso

  • Member since
    December 2005
Posted by PTConsultingNHR on Friday, March 24, 2006 1:04 PM
Dan,
 
Email me at PTConsultingNHR@aol.com and I'll help you too.
 
Garth
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Belgium
Posted by DanCooper on Saturday, March 25, 2006 11:11 AM
Thanks Garth, I'll let you know as soon as I receive my kit.

On the bench : Revell's 1/125 RV Calypso

  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Bangor, Maine
Posted by alross2 on Saturday, March 25, 2006 11:55 AM

<< my technical enlish is far from perfect so I'm not even sure what a "Bilge" is >>

Essentially, Dan, on this kit it's the round portion of the hull below the waterline.  If you compare the shape of the Airfix kit with the actual Lurssen drawings, you'll find that the radius of the curve on the kit is much smaller than that on the plans. 

Al Ross

 

  • Member since
    December 2005
Posted by PTConsultingNHR on Saturday, March 25, 2006 12:20 PM

Dr. Ross is correct Dan.  Additionally, as my co-author Dave Krakow told me that the location of the torpedo tubes are too far aft, amongst other errors in the kit that are too numerous for me to accurately remember here.

But, people such as Mr. Krakow and Steve Wiper have told me that you'd use so much sheet plastic and more time scratchbuilding items that you'd end up with a - basically - scratchbuilt model.  Yes, I know, that's a oversimplification ... but you get the idea.  I am sometimes criticized for even holding that opinion, but so be it.

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Belgium
Posted by DanCooper on Saturday, March 25, 2006 1:40 PM
Ok folks, I've got myself the Schellboot-book, and indeed that part you call "bilge" looks defferent compared to the instruction sheet I've downloaded from the Airfix website, but since the model will be "in action" that doesn't matter much to me.
As for the other inaccuracys, I'll just have to wait and see when I get my kit Disapprove [V]
One of the things I noticed though is that in the book there is a side drawing of the S-7 with the comment that the crew added a machinegun on the front deck, the kit comes with this same machinegun, but represents the S-10.
Is it possible that more crews decided to add the mg, or is this one of the inaccuracies of the kit ?

On the bench : Revell's 1/125 RV Calypso

  • Member since
    December 2005
Posted by PTConsultingNHR on Saturday, March 25, 2006 1:51 PM

Dan,

What book do you have? 

The S-7 Class did have a provision for either a MG15 or MG34 on their foredeck.

Garth

 

 

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