Author Topic: "Molch" – 1/35  (Read 2740 times)

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Offline falo

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"Molch" – 1/35
« on: 07 Feb , 2018, 04:12 »
Hi Gents,


Hobby Boss has released a new "Molch" kit (1/35 scale):


http://www.hobbyboss.com/index.php?g=home&m=product&a=show&id=1390&l=en


Regards
falo




Offline GlennCauley

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Re: "Molch" – 1/35
« Reply #1 on: 20 Feb , 2018, 11:45 »
Ooooooooohhhhhhhhh

I hope it's not a reboxed Mikro-Mir kit... I wouldn't wish those on anyone.

Glenn Cauley
President, IPMS Ottawa
gc-scalemodels.ca

Offline GlennCauley

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Re: "Molch" – 1/35
« Reply #2 on: 09 Mar , 2018, 10:18 »
I picked up the new Hobby Boss 1/35 Molch last night.
Overall it is very nice.

  • Includes a detailed cockpit... which will never be seen unless you do a cutaway.  :D
  • Molded welds do not look like welds.  I will likely sand them off and making proper welds using putty or other.
  • Torpedoes are "meh"
Glenn Cauley
President, IPMS Ottawa
gc-scalemodels.ca

Offline Natter

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Re: "Molch" – 1/35
« Reply #3 on: 20 Mar , 2018, 14:06 »
Quote from: GlennCauley
Torpedoes are "meh"
Yep :-)

Offline GlennCauley

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Re: "Molch" – 1/35
« Reply #4 on: 20 Mar , 2018, 14:14 »
LOL

It really astounds me the differences amongst supposedly "same torpedoes" produced by different companies.
Glenn Cauley
President, IPMS Ottawa
gc-scalemodels.ca

Offline GlennCauley

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Re: "Molch" – 1/35
« Reply #5 on: 20 Mar , 2018, 14:20 »
Another thing that I noticed on this Molch kit was the very odd representation of the prominent hull welds.   The forward circumferential weld is huge... and then all other welds behind it are barely noticeable.   Sources seem to show that the major welds... around circumference and along the length of the hull... are the same size.   HobbyBoss absolutely does not render the hull welds in such a manner, so I plan to standardize the welds myself.
Glenn Cauley
President, IPMS Ottawa
gc-scalemodels.ca

Offline falo

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Re: "Molch" – 1/35
« Reply #6 on: 23 Apr , 2018, 23:13 »
Hi Glenn, hi Natter,


just for completeness you can find a deep inbox review of this kit on "Modelling News":


http://www.themodellingnews.com/2018/04/in-boxed-135th-scale-german-molch.html#more


Regards
falo

Offline Natter

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Re: "Molch" – 1/35
« Reply #7 on: 24 Apr , 2018, 04:57 »
Hi Glenn, hi Natter,
just for completeness you can find a deep inbox review of this kit on "Modelling News":
Several errors in the description of the Molch and (especially) the torpedoes.
The model show a pretty well overall shape of the torpedo-hull, but otherwise the details are awful (what's that "hook" in the nose of the supposed warhead?). I'm not gonna mantion the colourscheme...

Offline GlennCauley

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Re: "Molch" – 1/35
« Reply #8 on: 24 Apr , 2018, 08:37 »
Hoooo boy, the HB torps.    The hook nose is just embarrassing.  :/

Basic questions about the G7e:
a) Confirm the number of blade on each prop.  (We know there were 2 props.)
b) G7e *does*  or  *does not*  have fins behind the props?


Glenn Cauley
President, IPMS Ottawa
gc-scalemodels.ca

Offline Natter

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Re: "Molch" – 1/35
« Reply #9 on: 24 Apr , 2018, 10:00 »
Quote from: GlennCauley
Hoooo boy, the HB torps.    The hook nose is just embarrassing.  :/
And would have no purpose on a warhead. Exersizeheads would have a hook though, but with a very different shape, and of course the head would have numerous features missing in this model (ref the photos of the black Molch displayed in Johannesburg, presented in the link with the review).
Note that the box-art for the model displays something that resembles the early (faulty) pistols G7A-MZ / G7A-AZ. These were not in use after late 1941, and would of course never have been used on a torpedo for a midget submarine...


Quote from: GlennCauley
a) Confirm the number of blade on each prop.  (We know there were 2 props.)
As a general rule, all torpedoes have a pair of contra-rotating propellers to neutralize the torque-effect of the engine. The exeption is of course torpedoes with rocket or waterjet-propulsion, and the most early torpedodesigns, were they solved the problem initially by "twisting" the vertical fins to counteract the torque of the engine.
 * All G7e variants have 2-blade propellers.
 * The G7a-variants had initially 4 (later 6) blades.

Quote from: GlennCauley
b) G7e *does*  or  *does not*  have fins behind the props?
There are two basic designs of the torpedo tail-piece:
"Whitehead" and "Woolwich" (presumabley named after the initial designer/manufacturer).
 * The Whithead-tail has the propellers placed in front of the rudders (for example: G7a(TI))
 * The Woolwich-tail has the propellers placed aft of the rudders (for example the G7e torpedoes).

No general rule, but the first variant were more common in the early days, and Woolwich is the most common tailpiece in modern torpedoes. It's a simpler design in most ways, but the Whitehead-tail is more robust (it was the main reason for the G7e-torpedo only being suitable for underwater launch, ie all german surface-vessels* used the G7a(TI) for the whole duration of WWII).

*One exepction: The G7es(TVa) "Zaunkönig", specially adaptet version for the S-Boote.

Offline Natter

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Re: "Molch" – 1/35
« Reply #10 on: 24 Apr , 2018, 10:04 »
Note that the Molch used the same torpedoes as the Seehund, ie G7e(TIIIc) and G7e(TIIIe) "Kreuzotter" (the TIIIe were probably not used in high numbers due to late introduction during the war though).