Zobel Class

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Ironclad

Zobel Class (142)

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     With the absence of builders plans, one of the most reliable resources for creating a good scale model of the Zobel Class Type 142a "Schnellboots" is photographs. There are plenty of photos of these boats on the internet, but only a few show close-ups important for detailing.

     Below are a few of the photographs I have found. I recommend doing a complete search of the internet and obtain as many as you can get. Do not rely on other builders of the Graupner^TM kit for accuracy. Most have followed the kit's directions, right or wrong. Others have embellished the model with their own ideas, many being wrong.

     Lastly, check the photographs of individual schnellboots of this class with the particular name of the boat you want to model. There are subtle differences between each of the ten boats originally built in this class. For example, some have additional storage boxes near the front of the superstructure, and some don't, and other have them near the aft part of the structure. There are other differences, including the turret painting, etc.

This photo of the Wiesel (P6093) is actually of the Zobel (P6092) of which I changed the number "2" to "3." In reality, the Wiesel did not have the megaphone/siren located just aft of the rear turret in this photo.

Quite noticeable in photo and absent in the kit are the six plates along the hull just below the bulwarks (two are forward, one above the rub rail).

Another detail picked up here is the use of tarps covering the side and aft rails.

    This next photograph is of the Ozelot (P6101) while taking on fuel. This was the final boat of the Zobel class.

     A few more details can be picked up here, including the use of tires as bumpers. Water can be seen pouring from the ports along the hull just above the water line.

     Notice how both guns are pointing forward. This is very common, being like this in almost all of the photographs.

     Also, the use of scale figures of the crew would enhance a scale model.

Lastly, an important collection of close-up details is important in researching what the real Zobel Class boats looked like. Below are a few of the examples I have found.