Hi Jan and Glenn,
First of all, welcome to the AMP forum. Glad you can be with us. A similar welcome to everyone who has joined us.
Gaining specific info on features of U 711 will prove difficult. Info is scattered arouund various books and websites and there isn't one resource covering what the modeller needs to know. The resources Glenn pointed out are definitely places to visit. I do think there is the need for an article on the development of the Type VII, aimed specifically at the modeller of the Revell kits. I will at some point finish such an article but have the Type II set and other writing projects to finish first. As I've not finished researching the modifications made to mid-to-late war boats I will be unable to assist you to the level that I would like. But I shall try.
A colour image of U 711 in July 1944 can be found on the following the SubCommittee thread -
http://s181686668.onlinehome.us/phpBB2/messageboards.php5The following link shows the image in larger size -
http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=aVuBfDAU 711 is third from the right.
The order to fit the armoured boxes was issued on 4th June 1943. An order to remove them was made on the 30th October 1943. However, not all of the boxes were removed. U 711 still had the boxes in July 1944 and U 480 still had the boxes in October 1944.
I dare say there were variations between the boxes. The starboard side was to hold five men and the port box to hold only one man. The port box was farther forward than the starboard box. Ralf has done a very good job of the U 377 boxes so you might use his build as a reference aid.
What I'm still looking for, like yourself, is an image showing the entrance of the boxes. Still looking!
Many boats which had the boxes were also fitted with armour plates on the front face of the top half of the tower. U 711 definitely had these plates. If you have a close look at the U 711 tower you'll see a vertical line on either side of a hole. The armour plates on U 711 were not fully rounded around the tower - rather they had an edge to them in two places.
Let me know if you can't see the edges and I'll photoshop in a few arrows.
Cheers,
Dougie