Scale Models - View Single Post - Revell 1/72nd Type VII U-Boat.

**Bunkerbarge** · 08-11-2006

The final chapter in the U-boat saga was to add some figures to the bridge.

Painting small items is one of the few things I can do on the ship in what bit of spare time I get to myself so I usually try to tae one or two things with me and a selection of paints. This time I took some figures for the Envoy class tug to put a bit of life on her and I took some superb white metal figures for the U-boat.

They were Heckler and Goros items, purchased from Historex, and the level of detail is staggering. Obviously I did not have the luxury of a magnifying lamp so it was up to the Mark One Eyeball and a steady hand. Now that I have taken a few shots with a very good camera I can see how the figures do not exactly set any standards and the painting leaves a lot to be desired but they do enhance the bridge significantly and they do look good when placed in the bridge scenario.

They also do some very nice gun crew but I particularly wanted my boat to be in an "entering harbour" mode with the kill pennants flying so gun crews would not be maning the gun during these times. I also have one figure left but I am not sure whether I will fit him or not. He is wearing a complete set of Sou'westers which doesn't look right somehow amongst the other five who are not and I also don't want it to look too crowded so I am still undecided.

Anyway here's a couple of shots of the finished beast. I took her out on the pond again last week and she once again behaved perfectly. The only issue I had was turning her in a pretty fresh breeze when she took a bit of water over the deck and some got inside. I am not going to make any modifications as the deck kept the majority of the water out and I won't be sailing her in such conditions again anyway. She really is a fairweather vessel but with just a bit of a swell she looks amazing at speed and makes a perfect wake.