Italeri

1/35 Schnellboot Typ S-100

Kit Number: 5603

Reviewed by  Chris Durden, IPMS# 29474

MSRP: $249.98 Kit Supplied by MRC-Academy: www.modelrectifier.com This model is big. So big in fact, that you have no hope of ever sneaking it into the house without SWMBO finding out about it. Seriously, even the most wizened plastic ninjas - masters of camouflage and subterfuge - look at the box and shake their heads. Even if you sent the 'war department' away on an errand, there is no way to slide this kit into the depths of the stash without it sticking out like a sore thumb. So be warned that, in this case, semi-honesty is the best policy: "it was on sale" or "I won it in a raffle".

Arriving in a 39.5" x 13.5" x 6" box, the kit consists of over 464 parts (my count which includes multiples of the same part number) in plastic, photo etch, thread (2 different sizes), screws and a clear sheet of pre-cut stock for the windows. As in some other Italeri offerings, a small guide is included with some reference and assembly pictures. None of the parts in my example were broken and only three parts were off of the sprues. The moldings are all free of flash and sharply defined, including some very nicely molded stanchions with holes through which to thread the included scale "rope". Given the size of some of the pieces (the hull halves are 39" long), I am impressed by the consistency of effort down to the subtle rivet and wood grain details.

The large sheet of photo etch includes over 50 pieces on a large brass sheet which comes packed in a separate box along with the instructions, decals and the clear sheet. Of special note is the method engineered to represent the windscreen on top the bridge - a one piece metal frame is bent over a pre-cut clear piece (which is helpful, since portions of the windscreen are angled). A helpful step-by-step photo breakdown of the assembly process is included in the small reference guide for the windscreen and other photo etched pieces.

Since molding a one-piece hull would have been difficult, the manufacturer molded the hull into 4 parts. The sides have almost no flex in them and seem to be a bit thicker than normal. The sides are screwed together through large internal braces and along the keel. The screws are then hidden by plugs on each side that should be easy enough to cover by sanding out the seams. Unfortunately the placement of the plugs may result in some rivet detail being lost in order to completely eradicate the seam, especially if you are a bit ham-handed with the sanding stick like me. The instructions are clear and broken down by section. The assembly photos included in the reference guide provide an additional reference for some of the trickier parts. It will be prudent to carefully review each step as there are a several areas that will need holes pre-drilled in the deck from the bottom. Some additional details included in the kit are: The bridge and armored wheelhouse are well detailed and the large armored portholes for the wheelhouse can be assembled either open or closed. The firing mechanisms for the torpedoes are included and the front and rear tube doors can be assembled either closed or open - this will allow for a modeler to portray a torpedo being loaded or fired. The rafts are assembled with the included scale 'rope' - a nice touch. All weapons are well detailed and should look good straight out of the box. There are a variety of armor detail sets and aftermarket barrels available should you feel inclined to use them. Markings are included for two examples - "Lang" and "Ha-Ju" of the 4th S-Boote Flotille based in Holland, 1945. Overall this is an impressive kit and my enthusiasm did not diminish as I examined all of the parts and instructions. I was inspired to clean my workshop to make some room to start assembly and my daughter claims that I have started to roll my 'r' sounds and say "ahoy", "avast" and "schwinehund". Stay tuned for an expanded build article for the IPMS Journal and see the very end of this review for some teaser pix of the completed model. My thanks to MRC and Italeri for the review sample.

After the Battle: 2 June 2009. Despite the fact that it seemed to take as long to tame the kit as it took the allies to tame the Kreigsmarine - it is done. An impressive kit that fits together well for the most part, but not without some significant flaws and historical omissions. Stay tuned for a full build review article in the Journal, where I hope to answer the question "Now where do I put it?" .