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The
modeler has many choices when it comes to genres, kits, paint and
supplies. Often times, modelers are introduced to the hobby by a friend
or family member and as such, are steered towards a particular subject
matter. I started building models at a young age, my first kit was
Monogram’s F-105D in 1/48 scale and as a result, I primarily build
aircraft, specifically WWII Axis aircraft. But one day, on a trip to the
local hobby shop, I wandered into the ocean-going section of the shop.
After browsing the shelves for several minutes I decided it was time to
expand my interests, but to what? Submarines seemed to be the likely
choice; they are basically tubes with very little rigging and little or
no wooden decking to tackle. So I decided to dive into the model ship
genera by building a U-boat or ten. Model submarine construction is
pretty straightforward; the only difficult part is making that tubular
shape interesting to look at. Fundamentally you have one or two colors
of paint, that you then weather and during construction, you have the
option to include details sets to enhance the detail of your submarine.
Anyone who’s ever picked up a modeling magazine knows there is an
emphasis to produce aesthetically pleasing and historically accurate
models. I would argue the one technique that sets a great model apart
from a good model is the paint and weathering. U-boats have simple paint
schemes; gray on gray. Therefore, it’s weathering that makes submarines
interesting to look at. Since deciding to build my own, I’ve viewed
dozens of web sites dedicated to model U-boats. Some U-boat models I’ve
seen are weathered too little for my taste, some too much and some are
just right. But in all cases, weathering is what makes that otherwise
boring, tubular shape stand out.
The
hard facts are any weathering technique used on armor or aircraft will
work on submarines. On my first U-boat, I used artist oil paints to
mimic rust and oversprays of thinned enamel to give depth to the paint.
I’m sure that powdered weathering products would create the same effect,
as would water colors, inks and pastels. I don’t have a favorite
weathering technique; I use them all and on my next U-boat project
chances are I’ll try something different.
Only
a handful of manufactures produce submarine kits, the majority of which
are injection molded 1/144 scale and smaller. However, some very nice,
limited run resin kits are also available, typically through mail order.
In the past few years, Revell introduced three submarines in 1/72 scale.
These include two U-boats and one U.S. Navy Gato-class submarine. These
kits are big, all measuring about 36-inches long, and not cheap.
Several aftermarket companies (Eduard, White Ensign and others) have
produced photo etch (PE) and resin detail sets, conversion sets, white
metal accessories and decals for submarine kits. This is good news for
those of us who can’t leave well enough alone. The aftermarket decals
are nice because it gives us a chance to build a specific U-boat. The
detail and conversion sets are nice because they add interest to your
models as well as correct kit deficiencies. Other kit enhancement
products include crew members, ship stores (food stuffs and the like),
torpedoes and torpedo loading equipment.
As is my custom,
I went nuts and bought about a dozen U-boats in various scales, some
photo etch detail sets and the tools to properly bend the PE sets. What
will follow in the next few installments is a series of reviews of some
of the kits and detail sets I’ve purchased. Hopefully you’ll find these
articles both interesting and informative. |
