Regia Marina

1/350 "TOTI" Class Italian Sub

Kit Number: MMI034

Reviewed by  Dave Morrissette, IPMS# 33653

MSRP: $35.00 Available from White Ensign Models (www.whiteensignmodels.com) Regia Marina is an Italian kit manufacturer known for their resin ships, usually of the Italian Navy. This kit represents the TOTI class of diesel Italian subs and is a multimedia affair with the sub body being resin; fins and details are out of resin or photoetch. All of the instructions are in Italian but the excellent drawings make assembly easy. I separated the hull from a minimal casting block and with a little sanding and filling was ready to move to adding on the small pieces. You have the option of adding resin on PE dive planes and rudders. I chose the PE as they were thinner and easier to handle. You also need to determine configuration as the differences notes for modification that occurred during the years. The PE is excellent and I chose a pre 1985 configuration. Some parts do need to be supplied by the modeler such as some antennas. Assembly was quick and there is a nice painting guide providing references to Humbrol and Tamiya colors. The basic sub was blue over black and I painted it as such. A few coats of gloss and it sat aside for drying. There are plenty of decals provided and I must say they are the weak point of the kit. They had a tendency to silver even over very glossy base coats. I coerced them into place with some Microsol. I added the sub to the base and added the PE propeller and the various antennas and periscopes and flatted the kit one more time. A very quick build of a well done resin kit. It is small- about 6-7 inches in length done but the detail is good. I would like to thank Regia Marina for the kit and the opportunity to review it. This should very much appeal to all fans of the modern Italian Navy and sub enthusiasts everywhere.

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