Model Fleet: U-505 Plastic Kits

U-505 Plastic Kits

Posted by Matty on January 17, 2009, 1:46:51, in reply to "U-505 GROUP BUILD"
4.235.203.156

--Originally Posted 12/5/08--

Already mentioned, is the circa-1/200 scale Aurora kit:

Click on Image to EnlargeThis (exactly the same mold, in either boxing) is the only plastic kit specifically depicting U-505 - and, despite its age, it does have one significant feature lacking in most others (below): the lower wintergarten level, aft, is extended to the proper length for U-505. Similarly, features on (at least) the foredeck, while not strictly correct, do give an overall impression similar to aerial photos of U-505 - again, superior to the other kits, below. On the other hand, the conning tower is still not quite right; its boxy portside (snorkel?) housing needs to be extended down to the deck, and further forward - and the hull shape and limber holes are still more in error. The weapons include the shielded, heavy-caliber flak gun, aft, as well as twin-mount MGs - one of which could probably be cut down to the required single-mount - but they are all (including the innacurate 88mm main deck gun) rather crude and toylike.

Far better detail - and overall dimensions - can be enjoyed in a build of about the same size, using the classic 1/200 Nichimo kit:

Click on Image to EnlargeAt top, box art for the Nichimo Type IXC (with fine print "U-511"; also described by some as " IXC/40") reflects accurately the shorter, aft lower wintergarten level of the kit, which needs to be lengthened about 25% for U-505; a modification easily performed. Likewise, correction of the portside conning tower housing would be easily done. Meanwhile, this kit contains all the required weapons - appearing correct and with some decent detail (though, curiously, no shield for the heavy flak gun). Meanwhile, the hull looks very accurate and limber holes match those visible in photos of U-505. On the other hand, very few of the deck features - with the notable exception of torpedo stowage throughs, forward - do not match those seen on U-505 from the air; correction of these (or deck replacement, wholesale) would be fairly involved.

In a smaller size, the Mirage 1/400 Type IXC (bottom), boxed as U-176, probably has a similar mix of pros and cons. Though I don't have one, based on other Mirages (see below), plus what I can see in this box art, it appears there is at least some sort of lower aft wintergarten, as well as portside conning tower box, in this mold. Note also this box art depicts forward limber holes very close to those seen on U-505. These Mirage molds, though, are not nearly as crisply done, - especially considering their smaller size - as on the 1/200 Nichimo, above.

Still, the Mirages are pretty good kits, and provide several options:

Click on Image to EnlargeShould the above Mirage Type IXC prove inadequate or unavailable, a good alternative might be their 1/400 Type IXC/40 TurmII, shown at top; boxed as U-803. Note the art depicts the late-model pinched bow, which would require substantial correction to get back to U-505. Likewise, the conning tower, with large snorkel array on the starboard side - and presumably lacking the box on the portside - might make for additional work to convert to U-505. However, note the box art depicts exactly the desired shielded flak gun on the aft wintergarten - the latter presumably also extended, as appropriate for U-505. Similarly, a pair of twin MGs are also depicted, and presumed included in the kit. That these weapons are included in this kit, I am additionally convinced by direct experience with the following Mirage mold.

The Mirage 1/400 Type IXD2 TurmII, at bottom, boxed as U-875 is the kit I actually have, and can confirm it contains multiple sprues bearing virtually all the U-boat surface weapons - right down to the shield for the flak cannon, aft. Note this fit also had the pinched bow, hence again the need for significant correction to resemble U-505. However its conning tower is more conventional - much like the Nichimo and Aurora kits above; requiring much the same (minor) correction to depict U-505. The aft wintergarten is again too short for U-505, requiring this simple correction as well.

Mirage also makes a Type IXD, boxed as I-506 (ex U-195; a boat transferred to the IJN); presumably with a suite of features somewhere between the Type IXC/40 and -IXD2 kits, above.

These kits are (or at least have been recently) available and inexpensive enough that the best solution, for a 1/400 scale U-505, might well be to get both the Type IXC (U-176) and Type-IXC/40 TurmII (U-803), and swap components to bash up a U-505 - with enough parts for another complete sub left over.

As for the other players in the U-505 story, I don't know of any 1/400 scale plastic kit of an Edsall-class DE - nor of any DE, for that matter - nor of any Cassablanca-class CVEs, in any scales larger than 1/700.

However, if you're building a 1/200 scale U-505, the Revell 1/240 Buckley-class DE is very close in scale, while being also very close in appearance - in fact sharing the identical hull - as the Edsall class; comprising 4 out of the 5 DEs in the task group which captured U-505. The fifth one, DE 665 USS Jenks, was a Buckley-class itself. One of the few Revell classics which I've never owned, the Buckley - also reboxed under the name Bligh - I have nevertheless heard repeatedly to be an excellent kit, its age notwithstanding. And there is a Gold Medal Models PE fret specifically for it (which I have used, and can attest is just excellent), too.

So, once again, there are some newer choices - all to the good - yet still the old classics remain definite contenders!

Cheers,

-Matty