Military Model Scene

Title:  Schnellboot Type S-38 and S-100

Author: Carlo Cestra

Publisher:  Kagero

ISBN:  978-83-65437-71-6

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One for the Naval fans again with another of Kagero's excellent series of computer generated Super Drawings in 3D.  This one features two versions of the famous German E-Boat of WW2.  Just to clarify a very basic question, to the Allies they were E-Boats, or 'Enem' boats, while for the Kriegsmarine they remained Schnellboot, or S-Boats.  This is a softcover, 70 page book filled with full colour 3D computer generated images of the two variants.

The opening 8 pages holds the background information with an Introductory Overview, along with details of Design, propulsion and armour, Armaments, Service and Conclusion.  Then we get into a set of the 3D drawings covering the various sections of the boats, starting with the S-38b from 1942.  Bags of detail in here with armament mounts both front and back of the vessel, as well as the torpedo tubes, bridge etc.  Fine details include the bridge mounted searchlight, bell, footboards for the lookouts and more.  It is the second half of the book which does the same kind of coverage for the S-100, in 1943.  The particular difference is that instead of depth charges mounted at the stern, where they could be rolled off, the S-100 carries the much larger naval sea mines.

Tucked between the pages of the book you also find a larger, separate,  fold out sheet of scale drawings with 1/75 scale plans (and larger scale details) with S-38 on one side and S-100 on the other.  There are some neat kits of the Schnellboots on the market in both 1/72 and 1/35 scales and this reference with colours and fittings such as aerial wires will be a very useful reference for modellers.  Even the sea mines pictured on the back of the S-100 are available in kit form from AFV Club.

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Distributed by Casemate Books, who kindly provided my review copy.

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Robin