Review by Julian Seddon
Pontos have turned their attention to the somewhat venerable 1:72 Revell MK V11C U-Boat.
I have had this kit in my stash for years now, its big box languishing, unwanted, on my shelves. Pontos has reactivated my interest in it.
The instructions, 6 pages of them, are the usual coloured A3 sizes pages and are clear and comprehensive.
Page 1 deals with the hull brass and the wooden decking.
The deck is made from a thin sheet of wood and it looks as though it is laid on top of the kit deck. The slots are cut through it so I think that there will be the appearance of depth to it although I don’t understand why they didn’t go for a more rigid full replacement. Too much surgery needed I suppose.
There is quite a bit of metal to add to the deck with the fore and aft sections being totally metal. The sheet appears to be made of steel of some sort and includes deck railings which are delicate and will have to be left to last.
The seats for the railings (bottom left of the instruction sheet are included in the wooden deck sheet. There is some necessary detailing for the sides of the conning tower.
Lots of nice additions here, particularly the wire cutters, these are more robust than those I have seen previously.
The brass included here make for a spectacular bridge, the periscopes, torpedo aimer and bridge floor are included on the brass sheet or the brass parts bag. The cannon is made entirely from brass and etch – no kit parts are used. The 88 has a barrel in brass and some essential brass parts to make it snappier.
Page 5 is for the assembly of the cannon. I haven’t looked at the kit yet but I guess there was nothing usable in it. I seem to recall it looks rather flimsy. This certainly piles in all the detail that one can want for this. It seems to be quite a model in itself.
ZOOM - Move your mouse over image
The final page of instructions deals with the detail for the conning tower. The hatch just has to be open to show off the interior detail The UZO (the targeting optics -unterwasserzieloptik!! – the German language never uses one word when three will do). This is another all brass detail. Very finely detailed it is too.
This kit will more than satisfy those who wish to round off all the edges of the Revell kit. I am afraid that, with all this detail you will have to drill out all the drainage holes!
I am in the middle of the Coastal Craft Models Fairmile D at present but I want to construct this with all the CMK interior parts and a special lighting set up. It has been done before but, as it involves so many different skills it will be both a challenge and a lesson both to me and you!!
Keep an eye on Build Now for the start of this huge undertaking!
Julian S.