Revell U-Boat re-released

Is that the 72nd one??

Yes it is the 72 scale kit.  I'll probably nab a few of these in case they get scarce again!

Ye, sorry, the 72nd one. I thought i would get my hands on one as soon as possable. Before the collectors and e-bayers get hold of them and put the price through the roof.

I am definately not gonna screw around this time!

I'd like to grab two!

have just picked mine up, and boy is it big. Considering the price, there not alot on the box, if you take away the hull. But its deffinatly worth it, i have been waiting years to get my hands on this. I plan on takeing my time with this build, doing a little at a time between other builds. I got the Eduard PE set as well which looks rather nice, and got a couple of other AM parts to go with it.

O, and it now comes with a set of Revell naval figures, so that will save me getting the CMK figures.

I don't think i would get a second one, just going to make sure i do a damn good job on this one.

Which kit was re-released?

Weren't there originally two?

One kit was the Atlantic version I believe.

BTW,I love your av Bish.

TD, sorry, i should have mentione dthat. The one they call the Atlantic version, no idea why as all Type VII's served in the atlantic, thats a VIIc/41. The kit just released is the earlier VIIc that Revell label as Wolf pack.

That's a huge kit!  I had one, er, twice (bought it new, sold it when needed the money, bought one second hand (the same one I think), but decided I'd rather build something else!  IIRC, it's over 3' long.  Of course, with a kit like that, it's the weathering that will really make it stand out.  Looking in it, I had decided to use the 'smear' method of weathering - dabs of oils at the top (near vents, etc), then 'pulled' down.  I saw this in a magazine, and looked amazing!

Its a fraction over 36 inches long. I have had to stand it behind the TV as i don't have the room for it with the rest of the stash.

I agree about the weathering. I plan on getting hold of the smaller U-99 kit, i did build it years ago but it just got a basic paint job. This time i want to use it to get the paint and weathering right before i move onto the bigger one.

That's an inspired idea Bish - to practise weathering on an older, smaller, kit, before transferring to larger, newer (and more expensive) kit.  Hope you post some pictures!

I paid a small fortune on mine from EBay about 3 months ago. Got the CMK interior and all of the available PE sets. Glad to see it being re-issued- but I wish it was earlier! Now I would like to see a re-working of the HMCS Snowberry- a great complement to the VIIc.

Rob

I will do. But it will be a while before i get round to it. I plan on doing the large kit over a long period, a bit at a time. maybe spend of week or so on it between other builds. Though my first job will be to drill out all the drain holes, and i might start that soon, just doing a few at a time.

As for the U-99, i might try and get one in the new year, but again, it will be a while before i build it.

max, i almost got one on E-bay back in July. But then i saw on Hannants it was due to release, so i waited out. I think the ones i saw on E-bay went for a bit less than Hannants has them for, but at least mine is new and i get the figures. I got the eduard PE set for it and plan on getting the White Ensign set and the Nautilus wooden deck and thats it.

have you started on yours yet.

Hey Bish,

So far I have opened all the flood and drainage slots, and I am in the process of oil canning the hull (I regret starting this). I have built the engine, command and torpedo sections using the CMK kits, cut out the appropriate openings in the hull. I have Eduards and White Ensigns PE sets, ordered the Archer transfers for the rivets and weld seams, and have a 4 crew figures. this has taken me a few months to get to this stage, and I don't foresee getting the hull together any time soon. I have some WIP pics on the (A)SW GB II.

Rob

i have one of each in my stash. actually started on the VIIC carving out all the drain ports. what a pain but just saw one at a conyesy that didn't do that and it makes a big difference, especially the bow "see-through ones". also have an eduard pe set which may or may not be worthwhile (no offense to eduard or their set) and i  have the nautilus wood decks for both and they are worth it.

a suggestion would be to build the /144 first as i am doing, along with 10 other assorted kits. the builds are identical one is just a bigger mold of the other. there may not be a lot in the box but they are impressive when finished. another suggestion is to document the named sub. if you don't weather it a lot, say so as in "kust starting on a new patrol after a refit or returning to port after 60 days in the atlantic in winter. i have a VIID in the stash and U-215(?) was lost off the canadian coast on her first patrol so not a lot of weathering.

Nice to hear from other with the kit.

Max, i was thinking of getting the white ensign set, but after reading a review on it i am in two minds now. From what i gather most of it is decking that you can have open or closed. Seems a bit pointless if i am getting the wooden decks. Whats your take on the white ensign set compared to the Eduard one.

waynec, my initial impression of the eduard set is that it looks rather nice. Those wooden decks definatly look very nice. I would like to get a few more U-Boat kits, deffinatly going to get the U-99, Hannants still has one in stock, and might look at ne of the other ones as well. Thanks for the suggestion.

i have not seen the WEM set. my 1/72 has been a shelf queen for a couple of years. have taken seconds in local contests with a pair of type XXVII midget subs and just finished trumpeter 1/144 type XXIII. have a IIC and VIIC (early) at the paint stage to be finished this week.

my feeling on pe issometimes i don't think the cost and time are worth the results. from all the big u-boats i have seen (local and at Nats) a really clean build and quality painting and weathering (with appropriate documentatiion) is more than adequate. sometimes more is not necessarily better. i usually don't get aftermarket pe for armor, i do for ships if the kit doesn't come with railings. just my 2 cents.of course, since i have it i will use it when i get back to the big boat.

Hello Bish,

I got that kit (WEM PE)purely to replace the 16 vents on the lower aspect of the saddle tanks (16 in total) as well as a few other items not covered by the Eduard set. I also did get the Model Brass kit for the torpedo cheek sections, but decided not to use them and dremeled them out- and they look quite good, but it took some work. Granted, the torpedo section is too long and placed slightly further aft than it is supposed to, but I am drawing a line as to the modifications that I am going to do- I've been picking and choosing. And whether I recreate every flood hole that was specific to U-552 is irrelevent to me- it will still be a cool looking model.

i know this is going to sound like blasphemy to some folks but i have mellowed when it comes to being obsessed with accuracy and exact colors. i have judged in 3 contest this year, 2 local and Nats. Nats is a whole different animal. it is likely the judges will be ship modelers, just not necessarily in that catagory. in local contest, usually the judges end up judging a catagory they don't build in because many of them have entries. i look for the basics as described in the ipms standards AND I READ THE DOCUMENTATION.  of course whern it gets down to the final 2 or 3, the additional work, if done well AND NOTED will make a difference.

ps i demeled thin and carved out all the rectangular vents in the bow under the dive planes. good thing it's painted a dark grey because i don't think any of them are pure rectangles. sure did learn a lot about what not to do.

The Revell GATO class is even larger than the U-BOAT. Here is a size reference picture. Below there's a 32'' LCD and it wouldn't fit inside the showcase where my U Boat is in. Oh yes, those models below it are 1/72 including the SB-Dauntless

To open the vent holes, I did use a Micro sander like the one below. It makes the job a lot faster, but has to be careful not  to sand for too long in the same spot or one can mar the plastic. IMHO, it makes the heck of a difference if those vents are opened. I'm in for another U-Boat. Good luck with your build.

there were a couple of GATOs and a couple of lindberg kaiten subs at Nats. i used a dremel with a burr and thined the plastic on the inside and carved out the now super thin plastic in the venys. i agree, makes a big difference.

wayne, its not blasphemy if you are happy with it. I normally go over board with Am on my aircrfat and armour kits. But i don't plan on it with thsi kit. I think the Eduard PE and the wooden decks will be enough. I reckon i can get a good finish by concentrating on the paint and weathering and takeing my time.

The only ship kits i have built were the U-99 and a few airfix kits but that was years ago. But i would like to do a select fewerman ship kits, namely this U-Boat and a Bismark kit. o its nice to get some tips from you guys on this.

Bloody hell that GATO is huge.

As for the sander, i had to think for a bit. Would i be right in saying you used it to thin the plastic from the inside until you had taken enough away that it just left the hole open. I was just thinking of drilling them out.

not bish but i thinned all the plastic from the inside until i could see throgh it. the round holes were simple drill, on the oval holes i used a pin drill at the 2 round ends and an xacto to carve all the remaining middle. plastic. IIRC on the lower bow drain holes after thinning i punched some holes with a drill and carved the remaining rectangle. i would use a scalpel now instead of an xacto. the drill won't give you the right angle on the rectangular holes.

Got ur, thanks for the advice.

Here is a better size comparo picture:

Holy S**T, if i didn't have that U-Boat kit sat here next to me i would say thats rather small. I am guessing 5foot for the GATO. When it comes to sdhips i only plan on getting a select few German kits, but that GATO is impressive enough that who know's, one day i just might,

Does the GATO hull come in one piece like the U-Boat.

O ye, and well impressive builds as well.

I just got mine, finally after three years of wanting one, scored it off Ebay for $75.00 !!! (not including shipping). Wow this thing is big !! Bigger than I had anticipated. It was pre opened, you take a gamble with these, not bad condition altogether but someone tried opening some of the drain holes and was recently released from the institution/suffered stroke/parkinson's etc. not in horrible with some work but not perfect either although I'm happy. I can't wait to start this !!

Size definately does not matter with these 1/72 Revell subs.The U-Boats are usually twice the price of the Gato kits.That was before the re-release.I got my Gato for $65.At the time all the U-Boats I found were $125-$150.