1:35 German Midget submarine Delphin-I

The real subject

The Delphin belonged among the so-called small battle units that the Kriegsmarine turned to in the last phase of the Second World War, when the large submarines had lost their ability to operate. It was a one-man craft with an elongated, smoothly faired hull, built above all for speed under water; the operator sat in a tiny cabin practically on the axis of the hull. The project got no further than test examples, though, and never saw combat, so the Delphin is more a record of the technical searching of the day than a weapon that decided anything.

What the kit offers

The model in 1:35 scale comes out as a small piece that can be built in a reasonable time and still does not get lost in a display case. 1:35 is the home of ground vehicles and figures, so the craft can be set up next to them: on a transport cradle, on a harbor quay or on wooden blocks in a workshop. The range of parts and the color options offered are given in the instructions supplied.

Building and painting tips

• Clean the excess material off the parts before gluing and dry fit the assembly.
• Use a cement intended for plastic models on the plastic parts, and cyanoacrylate glue on small pieces made of another material.
• The smooth hull will reveal every unevenness, so sand and polish the joints carefully.
• Before painting, wash and degrease the surface and start with a thin base coat.
• Mask any clear part of the cabin before you spray.

Terms of supply

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Paints, thinner, glue and tools are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise. The exact contents of the package are given in the manufacturer's instructions.