1:35 German Midget submarine Delphin-I

Delphin I in 1:35 scale

A kit of the German Delphin I midget submarine craft in 1:35 scale. It is a small piece that can be built fairly quickly and still does not get lost anywhere: in 1:35 scale the craft can be set up next to figures and vehicles in the same scale, so it also works as the subject of a whole scene on a harbor quay or on a transport cradle.

The real subject

The Delphin belonged among the so-called small battle units that the Kriegsmarine staked on in the last phase of the Second World War, after the large submarines had lost their ability to operate. It was a one-man craft with an elongated, cigar-smooth hull, built for high speed under water; its operator sat in a tiny glazed cabin practically on the axis of the hull. The project got no further than test examples, though, and never took part in combat, so it belongs among the records of the technical searching of the day rather than among the weapons that decided anything.

Building and painting tips

• Clean the excess material off the parts before gluing and dry fit the assembly.
• The glue suitable for the material used is given in the manufacturer's instructions.
• The smooth hull will reveal every unevenness, so sand and polish the joints carefully.
• Wash and degrease the surface before painting.
• Mask any clear part before you spray, not after the paint has dried.

Terms of supply

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