Type XXI U-Boat

Subject:
U-2518
German Type XXI U-Boat
Kit Used: Revell-Germany 1/144

Review & model by:
Stewart W. Bailey
Pictures: R. Forys

June 2002
Model of the Month

History: The German Type XXI U-Boat was one of the most revolutionary submarine designs in history, and if produced in quantity, could have had a major impact on the duration of the Second World War. The Type XXI was the first "true submarine," being designed from the outset to operate continuously submerged. Equipped with a snorkel to provide air to its twin diesel engines, it also featured air conditioning, a garbage disposal system, freezers for keeping fresh meat and vegetables and advanced hydrophones that could track multiple targets up to 50 km away. In short, it had everything it needed to wage war without surfacing, and would have been a serious threat to Allied convoys in the Battle of the Atlantic.

The Type XXI was prefabricated in eight sections which could be assembled in less than 30 days, greatly speeding the production process. The first Type XXI was completed in July 1944 and they began to enter operational service in March 1945. A total of 121 of these submarines were in the water by war's end, however many were destroyed in strategic bombing raids and only two boats, U-2511 and U-3008 made operational patrols before Germany's surrender.

The Kit: The kit is an easy build with simple components and a good fit. The only problem area was the port side of the conning tower, which required an insert. (The kit was designed for multiple versions, with changes to this area.) Working with the insert requires careful filling and sanding to blend the seam.

The only modification was the addition of stanchions and railings along the deck edge. (These are shown in the instructions, although I have not seen them in any photographs of Type XXIs.) They were installed by drilling holes in the deck edge, and gluing .025 dia. Evergreen styrene rod in the holes. Length did not matter, as I made a "guide" out of sheet styrene and cut all the stanchions to an equal length with a pair of side-cutters after they were all in place. The cable railings were made using invisible thread, as were the antenna wires.

The paint scheme was done using Modelmaster Gunship Grey for the upper surfaces and RAL 7021 Schwarzgrau for the areas below the waterline. The props were done in Brass, with an overcoat of Future floor wax. Decals are from the kit and comprise only the small numbers on the sides of the conning tower.

Weathering was done with a variety of methods. After the boat was painted, it was coated with Testors Glosscote. Once this had dried for a couple days, I used "sludge washes" which are made by mixing Polly Scale water based paints, water and liquid dish detergent. (5 parts water to 2 parts Polly Scale to 3 parts dish soap.) For more on this technique, see Paul Boyer's article in the November 2001 issue of Fine Scale Modeler. For the U-2518, I used Polly Scale Grimy Black for the upper sides and SP Lettering Gray for the undersides.

In addition to the washes, I used Pigma Micron pens for detailing. These pens are available in the calligraphy section at Michael's Art & Craft stores. They come in multiple diameters, of which the .01 and .03 millimeter sizes are the best. I used the black to fill in all the deck details, drains and vents in the hull. I also used the sepia brown color to simulate rust on the hull and superstructure. I would "scribble" the ink onto the area I wanted rusted, and then streak it using a dry cotton swab. I found the ink streaked best on the gloss finish. The great thing about these Micron pens is that the ink is water soluble, so if you overdo it, you can take a wet swab and wipe it off. After I was done with the weathering, I sealed it all in with a coat of Testors Dullcote. As a final touch, I added a few more "intense" rust spots using the Micron pen, at the tops of the rust streaks.

References:
U-Boats in Action by Robert C. Stern; Squadron/Signal Publications, 1977
U-Boat War by Lothar-Gunther Buchheim; Alfred A. Knopf Publishers, 1978
Pictorial History of the German Navy in World War II by Edward P. Von der Porten; Thomas Y. Crowell Company, 1976
Fine Scale Modeler, November, 2001