Just received the new Revell type IX U-Boat. Apart from some rather heavy hull side detail looks very nice. Might try a different way of displaying the model by mounting it on a base, full hull, but adding a “Faller” water line surface, plus “Germania Figurens” deck crew. (As posted by “TeddyBeer”) I got started by drilled the handrail stanchions holes for replacement thinner handrails, then the messy part opening the hull flooding vents by thinning the plastic from the inside. (Did that overlooking Keswick on a nice warm afternoon while waiting for my grandson No.2 on a school project.) (Only did the most obvious vents). Next was to work out the base dimensions and layout. Once the basic base was constructed the hull was drilled in the side to take 2 lengths of Perspex rod at the hull bulkhead positions for strength and holes drilled to fix the submarine to the quayside. Now I set about creating the rest of the base to receive the finished U-Boat.
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Once the boat hull was joined together, I placed it onto a piece of cardboard and I drew around the hull to make a template for cutting the “Faller” waterline. Quarter round rod was glued to the hull side to help support the “Faller” sheet water line.
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Not happy with that water colour so back to the paint pots. Started work on the hand rails. Kept the stanchion up-rights but replaced the handrails (not perfect but appearance a bit better)
The handrails on the Conning tower fitted, and the top rail removed and a new replacement handrail fitted using 020” Evergreen plastic rod with the intention of then doing the lower handrails but the impression on looking at the effect of only replacing the upper rail was quite effective so left the lower as is. (Not perfect but!)
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Model painted in a way to represent the boat against a harbor wall and the part under water with a green tint and light reflecting off the upper hull side.
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The sea bed was also lightly sprayed to show the shadow of the boat and the greenness of the water on the sea bed. Boat fitted to base and water fitted to the hull and blended in using “Scenic Water”. All the ancillary parts now fitted to create the impression of a boat having light maintenance and restocking of some last-minute supplies in a Norwegian Fjord. (No mountainous background available so made do). Hope you like it as I'm not sure about the presentation of the water. My idea was to show the boat as if afloat but also showing the full hull rather than just on a sea base. All being well it will be at the Keighley show so you can see for yourselves.