Build Review of Revell of Germany 1/72nd Scale
Deutsches Schnellboot, German Fast Attack Craft
S-100 Class
Kit no. 05051
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2001
Out of production
I paid $19.99 for my kit, back 20 years ago, at the local Hobby Lobby store.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2001
Out of production
I paid $19.99 for my kit, back 20 years ago, at the local Hobby Lobby store.
HISTORY:
Swarms of them emerged from the morning mist, launched their lightning attack and disappeared as quickly as they had come. They were called “The Greyhounds of the Sea”. At the beginning of WWII the Friedrich Lurssen shipyard, Vegesack carried out successful pioneer work and developed a fast, seaworthy type of speedboat that was capable of top speed even in heavy seas.
It had brilliant maneuverability and was built until the end of the war without major modifications.These speedboats, also called S-boats, generally proved their worth on escort and security missions, sea reconnaissance, mine warfare and in particular in combat against enemy submarines and surface units.
They operated primarily off the Dutch and French coasts, along the English coast and in the Channel as well as in the North Sea and the Baltic and were also used in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The ultimate variant to be operational in significant numbers was the so-called S-Boot type S-100, which was produced from 1943 onwards and was reputed to be the best fast patrol boat of its time.
The S-100 class was also called the “Colotte”,as it had a rounded armored bridge made of welded segments (approximately 10-12mm armored-plated steel). It was driven by three Daimler Benz MB-511-V engines giving it an overall capacity of approximately 7,500 hp and developed an outstanding speed of 43.5 knots (briefly accelerating to 48 knots).
The S-boat was generally armed with 2 torpedo tubes (torpedo G7A) and a 20mm machine gun (Flak 38) in a rotating gun mount that could be lowered and a 20mm twin-barreled gun amidships on a fixed mount. Later additions were a 37mm Flak 36 cannon aft.
Thanks to their superior speed and maneuverability the new S-100 fast patrol boats were always able to evade attacks by superior opponents or use their advantages to strike back.
Swarms of them emerged from the morning mist, launched their lightning attack and disappeared as quickly as they had come. They were called “The Greyhounds of the Sea”. At the beginning of WWII the Friedrich Lurssen shipyard, Vegesack carried out successful pioneer work and developed a fast, seaworthy type of speedboat that was capable of top speed even in heavy seas.
It had brilliant maneuverability and was built until the end of the war without major modifications.These speedboats, also called S-boats, generally proved their worth on escort and security missions, sea reconnaissance, mine warfare and in particular in combat against enemy submarines and surface units.
They operated primarily off the Dutch and French coasts, along the English coast and in the Channel as well as in the North Sea and the Baltic and were also used in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The ultimate variant to be operational in significant numbers was the so-called S-Boot type S-100, which was produced from 1943 onwards and was reputed to be the best fast patrol boat of its time.
The S-100 class was also called the “Colotte”,as it had a rounded armored bridge made of welded segments (approximately 10-12mm armored-plated steel). It was driven by three Daimler Benz MB-511-V engines giving it an overall capacity of approximately 7,500 hp and developed an outstanding speed of 43.5 knots (briefly accelerating to 48 knots).
The S-boat was generally armed with 2 torpedo tubes (torpedo G7A) and a 20mm machine gun (Flak 38) in a rotating gun mount that could be lowered and a 20mm twin-barreled gun amidships on a fixed mount. Later additions were a 37mm Flak 36 cannon aft.
Thanks to their superior speed and maneuverability the new S-100 fast patrol boats were always able to evade attacks by superior opponents or use their advantages to strike back.
THE KIT:
Revell is an old prolific model company based in Venice, CA. This kit was made in Poland by Revell’s German plant.
The cover art shows 2 S-boats at sea, attacking an enemy freighter that is exploding. Both S-boats are overall stark-white and have black water-lines on their bottoms. The one in the lead has an illustration of a black lion on its side. It is firing its deck gun.
One corner of the box art says it is a plastic model kit that makes-up to be 48.6cm long (slightly over 15”), in multiple languages, including English.
One side-panel of the box gives the history of the S-boat in 4 languages, including English. Revell of Germany’s web address. Followed by: An unassembled plastic model kit. Paint and cement (not included) are needed to complete the model as shown. 1/72nd scale. Length 48.6cm. Pictorial multilingual instruction sheet provides precise assembly instructions. Kit suitable for ages 10 to adult. In 8 languages, including English.
Revell is an old prolific model company based in Venice, CA. This kit was made in Poland by Revell’s German plant.
The cover art shows 2 S-boats at sea, attacking an enemy freighter that is exploding. Both S-boats are overall stark-white and have black water-lines on their bottoms. The one in the lead has an illustration of a black lion on its side. It is firing its deck gun.
One corner of the box art says it is a plastic model kit that makes-up to be 48.6cm long (slightly over 15”), in multiple languages, including English.
One side-panel of the box gives the history of the S-boat in 4 languages, including English. Revell of Germany’s web address. Followed by: An unassembled plastic model kit. Paint and cement (not included) are needed to complete the model as shown. 1/72nd scale. Length 48.6cm. Pictorial multilingual instruction sheet provides precise assembly instructions. Kit suitable for ages 10 to adult. In 8 languages, including English.
The other side-panel of the box begins with a suggested paint color listing of Revell brand paints, in multiple languages, including English. Followed by features of the kit: New mold. New wood deck with imitation wood planking. Detailed colotte with many internal bridge details and torpedo aiming optics. Three detailed propellers. One 20mm Flak 38 in rotary mount. One 20mm twin cannon on a fixed mount with protective shield and seat frame. One 37mm cannon with armor plated shield. Two detailed spare torpedos. Detailed torpedo loading area. Detailed torpedo hatches. Two mine rails. Fuming sulfuric acid cans. Two life rafts. Anchor. Boat hooks. Rail segments. One reel of cotton string. Display stand. Decals for several versions.
This is followed by 5 color walk-around type photos of the model made up.
This is followed by 5 color walk-around type photos of the model made up.
The bottom of the box shows 6 color box arts of other Revell ship kits: Kit no. 05005, a Schnellboot S-142 A “Gepard”, Kit no. 05204, a North Sea Trawler, Kit no. 05408, the HMS Victory, Kit no. 05021, a submarine Type 206A, Kit no. 05036 Bismark and Kit no. 05226, SRK Arkona.
A photo of Revell’s paints,cement and airbrush and an explanation of skill level numbers. This kit is a level 5, which means a difficult model with over 150 parts requiring a very high level of skill.
A photo of Revell’s paints,cement and airbrush and an explanation of skill level numbers. This kit is a level 5, which means a difficult model with over 150 parts requiring a very high level of skill.
The kit comes in a long end-opening type box. It is not cello-wrapped and the end flaps are held shut with large circles of Scotch tape. I am no fan of this type of box. Invariably PE frets, decals and small parts find their way past the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 5 light-gray parts trees, a decal sheet and a roll of cotton string in 4 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a staple bound booklet of 20 pages in 7 ¾” x 11 ½” page format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white photo of the model made up, over the history of the S-100 .
Page 2 begins with READ BEFORE YOU START instructions, over 5 illustrations showing tool uses on models, in multiple languages, including English.
Page 3 has explanations of international assembly symbols in the multiple languages.
Page 4 gives a paint color listing in the multiple languages again.
Page 5 is the parts-trees illustrations.
Page 6 through to page 11 gives a grand total of a whopping 54 assembly steps.
Step 54 is a 3-view painting and marking guide. It shows the box art subject with the black lion on its side. The lettering on the display base and a Kriegsmarine flag flying behind the wheel house.
One corner shows the decal sheet.
Page 20 shows 3 more side views. All 3 are shown as overall stark-white. None of the 4 show the black water line on their bottoms as seen on the box art illustration.
The 1st one has a red no. 68 on the sides of its bow.
The 2nd one has a black shield with a white cross on it on the sides of its bow.
The 3rd one has a red no. 206 on the sides of its bow.
All are shown flying the Kriegsmarine flag. However, the flag on the decal sheet does not have the swastika that should be in the white circle on it. This is to make the kit politically correct in Germany, where showing this symbol is outlawed.
The trees are not alphabetized. They are illustrated in the instructions and do have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
The first light-gray tree holds: railings, a machine gun, cabin walls etc. (63 parts)
The kit contains 5 light-gray parts trees, a decal sheet and a roll of cotton string in 4 sealed clear cello bags.
The instructions consist of a staple bound booklet of 20 pages in 7 ¾” x 11 ½” page format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white photo of the model made up, over the history of the S-100 .
Page 2 begins with READ BEFORE YOU START instructions, over 5 illustrations showing tool uses on models, in multiple languages, including English.
Page 3 has explanations of international assembly symbols in the multiple languages.
Page 4 gives a paint color listing in the multiple languages again.
Page 5 is the parts-trees illustrations.
Page 6 through to page 11 gives a grand total of a whopping 54 assembly steps.
Step 54 is a 3-view painting and marking guide. It shows the box art subject with the black lion on its side. The lettering on the display base and a Kriegsmarine flag flying behind the wheel house.
One corner shows the decal sheet.
Page 20 shows 3 more side views. All 3 are shown as overall stark-white. None of the 4 show the black water line on their bottoms as seen on the box art illustration.
The 1st one has a red no. 68 on the sides of its bow.
The 2nd one has a black shield with a white cross on it on the sides of its bow.
The 3rd one has a red no. 206 on the sides of its bow.
All are shown flying the Kriegsmarine flag. However, the flag on the decal sheet does not have the swastika that should be in the white circle on it. This is to make the kit politically correct in Germany, where showing this symbol is outlawed.
The trees are not alphabetized. They are illustrated in the instructions and do have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
The first light-gray tree holds: railings, a machine gun, cabin walls etc. (63 parts)
The second light-gray tree hold: decks, display base legs, cabin round front wall, propellers, torpedo bow tube doors etc. (23 parts)
There are two of the next light-grey trees that are identical. They hold: torpedos and their racks, part of the display stand, cannon, more railings, life raft etc. ( 58 parts)
The hull halves are the last of the light-grey plastic parts
The roll of cotton string is next.
There is a clear sheet of plastic to cut the windows out of.
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
There are no crew figures.
I have built this kit all but the windows, which I have lost over the years. I am fabricating some more out of clear plastic sheet. I haven’t painted anything yet.
I have built this kit all but the windows, which I have lost over the years. I am fabricating some more out of clear plastic sheet. I haven’t painted anything yet.
I had something fall on my kit and the railings and one machine gun got damaged. I’m repairing them.
I bought a set of mines to add to my model by Maritime Brand 1/72nd scale resin cast products by CMK
The instructions, with a photo of the finished mines, are in the package and warnings in 4 languages and contact information for CMK are on the back .
The kit includes 4 mines and 4 bases along with 4 winches to mount onto the bases. The parts are cast in a light yellow resin with little clean up needed.
Highly recommended.