Model Fleet: Update 2/1/09: Help from HELLER?

Update 2/1/09: Help from HELLER?

Posted by Matty on February 1, 2009, 21:16:19, in reply to "U-505 Plastic Kits"
Message modified by board administrator February 1, 2009, 23:54:57

In my stash I chanced upon a 1/400 scale kit which has some potentially useful parts for a U-505 conversion:

Click on Image to EnlargeThe Heller 1/400 "U-boot" - obviously a Type VII, from the box art - and likewise, the mold itself also depicts a Type VII. (BTW, having some substantial problems in its own right. The main deck is an utterly featureless strip of plastic - I strongly suspect it was designed to accept a PE sheet - but also the limber holes are everted; projecting out as bumps, instead of inward as pits - in what clearly looks like a manufacturing screw-up.)

But what's relevant are the additional parts, which look potentially useful to depict U-505:

Click on Image to EnlargeAt top, note two conning towers are provided - in fact, both of those carried by U-505, during her career. At top-right, the later-style fit includes an enlarged, portside rectangular trunk much closer to U-505's final fit than any we've seen so far. While its lower wintergarten still looks a hair short to my eye, it is clearly longer and closer to what we want than in the Nichimo 1/200 Type IXC. Meanwhile the upper wintergarten level is clearly the wider, squared-off version of U-505, as captured. At bottom, far-right, note the deck for this platform, confirming its shape is indeed accurate.

Finally, the bottom sprue also contains the required pair of twin MGs as well as the heavy flak cannon (though none of them are very good), while on another sprue (not shown) is even a surprisingly crisp and delicate shield for the latter.

So, what am I suggesting - surely not that one scratchbuild an entire hull to accept these parts! No, what I'm thinking is that the Mirage 1/400 Type IXC mold (bottom, in link) might contain repops of exactly these parts - or if not, could still be affordably obtained in addition to this kit; for cross-substitution of parts in the easiest conversion so far to a (fairly) accurate depiction of U-505, as captured. I'll tell you, if I hadn't already had the two Nichimos on hand, this is definitely the route I would have preferred.

If anyone(s) has any further info on any of the above, let us know!

Cheers,

-Matty