Type XXVIIB Seehund by Anthony Papadis (ICM 1/72)

ICM's 1/72 scale
Type XXVIIB "Seehund"

by Anthony Papadis

Type XXVIIB "Seehund"

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Description

The ICM 1/72 Type XXVIIB "Seehund" (seal) represents the early version. Designed during the spring of 1944, a total of 285 Type XXVII's were built.The Type XXVII saw active service from January, 1945 onwards and the subs of K-Flotilla carried out 142 sorties and sank 9 allied ships. Four of these diminutive subs continued to serve the French Navy after the war up until 1956.

From what I was able to gather, the later version had a taller observer's bubble as well as some sort of structure on the hull. The parts for the later version are included on the sprue and comprise five parts.

The kits comprises of approximately 40 parts and builds very quickly,indeed there are only six construction steps. I built most the structure and the tin fish whilst I was away on a work trip. The Christmas break is the first chance that I have had to catch up with some projects so the airbrush has been copping a flogging in the past few days.

The camouflage is unusual but this is the option featured on the boxtop and is one of the two schemes offered, the other in an overall grey scheme. My boat represents U-5329 of K-Flotilla 312, Ijmuiden Holland, February 1945. I wasn't able to find a reference picture of this particular sub, so I pretty much went with the kit's painting guide. The only additions that I have made are the three grab handles, one at the bow and stern and one on the conning tower. I also added some arming vanes to the torpedo noses to replace detail lost in sanding the seams.

The kit was very straight forward however my one minor gripe is that the observer's bubble is molded in solid plastic. It would have been nice to have the bubble in clear plastic. If I was ever to build another Type XXVII, this is something I would like to correct.

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