1:72 Biber

The Biber midget submarine 1:72 (Special Navy)

An injection-molded plastic model of the German one-man Biber midget submarine in 1:72 scale from the Special Navy brand. It is a short-run kit of modern tooling: the parts are on two gray sprues and one clear one. Its small size and the simple shapes of the hull make it a quick and attractive build; the decal sheet offers several marking options, including a shark mouth and one multicolor camouflage scheme.

The real subject

The Biber (German for beaver) was a German midget submarine developed at the end of the Second World War as one of the improvised weapons against the Allied invasion fleet. It was handled by a single man and carried two torpedoes slung in recesses along its sides. It was a small, simple and inexpensive craft meant for attacks on ships in coastal waters; its combat use, however, was dogged by serious technical trouble and heavy losses among its crews.

Building and painting tips

As with short-run sets, expect to clean the parts up more carefully and perhaps to fill. Glue the parts with modeling cement for plastic, glue the clear parts (the vision ports of the tower) so that nothing runs, and mask them. Paint the hull and the small tower with an airbrush over a primer; both the single-color gray finish and a camouflage scheme come to life with a fine wash and restrained picking out of the rivets and hatches. The submarine can be displayed to good effect on a stand or in a diorama by a quay.

Who the model is for

• Collectors of German naval subjects of the Second World War in 1:72 scale
• Modelers interested in midget submarines and special weapons
• Builders who will appreciate a quick build and room for a diorama
• Anyone interested in short-run sets

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.