Recently finished this model of a Type IXC U-boat made from Nichimo kit. Scale is 1/200.
I thought it might give a little diversion from all the Type VII’s out there.
Model has special significance because my Dad’s best friend was torpedoed by a IXC when he was a boy returning to the States from Africa. In the '70s he exhaustively researched the whole thing and was able to pinpoint which U-boat sunk the ship he was on. It was the U-66 commanded by Friedrich Markworth who was a U-boat ace and Knight’s Cross winner. Later during the war the U-66 was rammed and sunk by the U.S. Destroyer Escort Buckley and remarkably a large portion of the U-boat crew survived. In the late 70’s or early 80’s my Dad’s best friend contacted the survivors of the U-66 and met them in friendship as he had no war animosities. The radioman provided a picture of the U-boat circa '43/'44 in Lorient which shows the starboard side. I matched the rust patterns fairly close to those shown in the photograph.
In retrospect I wish I had made the barnacle patches a little smaller and more subtle, but overall I’m pleased with Das Boot.
that looks sharp! and I like when you can have a good story to tie into a model… it makes it much more personal… I like to model things I know, i.e. my uncle flew tailgunner on a SBD-3 in WWII… my great uncle flew tailgunner on a B-26 over North Africa and was shot down there (he was rescued)… so I plan on building both of those one day soon… soon as I get done with my group builds I guess which is never…
I’d like to see come close ups too… it looks real good on that base, the darkness of it kinda sets up the sub for viewing!
I’m hoping to convert a Gato class to the Cavalla soon… the Cavalla is a museum not far from me. She sank the Shokaku of the Pearl Harbor raid, I would like to do a same scale model of that one too but am afraid I don’t want to give up my bedroom to host it (think the Gato is 1/150 or 1/200 so the Shokaku would be HUGE)
Thanks for the comments. I’ll try and get some close ups in a few weeks. I’m on vacation from Oct. 10 through 24, and I’d have to use up a whole roll of film before I could get pictures. So after the 24th I’ll get some close ups.
I used photoetched ladders for the small ladders from the upper-deck wintergarten to the lower-deck wintergarten. Kit detail is very basic. I won’t be winning any awards with this one but I’m still pleased with the way it turned out. This is my first serious model since the early '90s. And I plan to get back into this hobby full swing.
Look’s great. I’ve got that same kit started, just need the right color paints to continue. I don’t have any “RLM” paints. Just to lazy to buy some I guess.[:P]
I’ve actually been looking into this myself, as I want to buid a 1/72 model of the IX C boat U-517 which sank the HMCS Charlottetown September 11, 1942. I grew up in Charlottetown, and am keen on building this Flower Class corvette in 1/72 as well (lots of kitbashing from the Revell kit to make it authentic though)
Anyway, after some research, I think I found a place that sells a basic vacuform hull for an IXC, Combat Models via Rosemount Hobbies:
