Neat kit of Kriegsmarine midget submarine Type XXVIIB. Simple to assemble, but detailed. An oversized box that resulted in some parts breaking loose from the sprues and some slight damage at the break points.
Generally very nice kit.
Two problems – one in design, one in execution.
Design problem – the photo-etch front propellers for the
torpedoes are extremely finicky – maybe best solution is to score fixing
points.
Execution problem – in my version, at least, it looks like
part of the mold for the top of one of the hull halves was not filled in
completely so parts are missing – at first thought it wouldn’t be a big deal
because would be covered by conning tower, but the missing areas can be seen
from the top view so these had to be roughly recreated with plastic card. Not hard to fix, but kind of a weird thing
for what should be a first-rate kit – only comparable have experienced was
where ark models (former Alan) zis-5 had one sprue half molded in the wrong
direction (!) dirt cheap price of ark
models made that lack of quality control a little easier to understand even if
the result was worse.
What color to paint Seehund and torpedoes? (G7e torpedoes?)
Per Dougie
Martindale’s article on Kriegsmarine U-Boat Colours and Markings, the
Kriegsmarine used a dark grey anti-fouling paint below the waterline known as
schiffsbodenfarbe III grau. This
suggests that the two medium or light grey colour schemes in the Bronco
instructions are apocrycphal. In fact,
upon seeing the apparent reference for the first scheme (#17), it looks like
the submarine was completely repainted from the original. No reason to know whether the owners thereof
were or were not historically accurate, but it seems odd that schiffsbodenfarbe
III grau would not be used – particularly as Martindale also notes greater
predominance of darker greys in the later years of the war.
Therefore,
schiffsbodenfarbe III grau will be the primary colour, for which I will use
Tamiya Dark Sea Gray (XF-54) – mainly because I have some, but also because it
seems to match the Martindale’s colour same of schiffsbodenfarbe III grau the
best (although monitor colors, etc. make matching somewhat imprecise).
There may be some
basis for a lighter color on the “coning tower” but for now it will be left
schiffsbodenfarbe III grau. According
to the Martindate, the lighter grey was more for aesthetics, but there do
appear to be some reference photos showing a lighter conning tower, and that
would consistent with bigger boats.
Torpedo color seems to be a mystery.
Bronco’s first scheme (#17) shows a red warhead with a blue body. The source Seehund has these in fairly
bright shades, which seems unrealistic.
While the historical accuracy seems questionable, for aesthetic reasons,
I went with the red warhead, blue body and steel tail, for which Tamiya Hull
Red, Field Blue and Gun Metal were used.
Hull Red and Field Grey are somewhat more subdued and therefore perhaps
a little more plausible that the bright red blue of the source.
