The Nautilus Submarine

This kit is something the world has been waiting on for a long time. Note that it is not the movie version (Any movie), but it looks true to the Jules Verne vision. Pegasus farmed out their molding to Trumpeter, and the molding is first-rate, right down to molded anchor chains! Lots of steampunk-style detailing, and a fantastic base that is a project in it's own right. The kit is also very well packaged, with foam padding to protect the fragile and clear parts. It comes with a large photoetch sheet containing railings, cables, grab handles, and stairs. The kit also comes with a masking sheet for the large, high quality salon windows. Assembly is without a hitch and the fit is near-perfect, although the front ram is a bit finicky. I didn't like the look of the photoetch cables and handles, since they're flat and fragile, so I replaced the handles with music wire, and the rigging cables with thread. I kept the cable ends from the PE sheet, which also fit the slots in the hull perfectly. The etched stairs and rails are, not surprisingly, very fragile and fussy. I replaced the molded anchor chain with model ship chain. There are 2 extra capstans included in the kit that are not mentioned in the instructions, and they are perfect for using real chain. I also bought the Paragrafics accessory photoetch set, which comes with a lot of detail parts for the salon, keel louvers, and also has a wheelhouse. I did not use the wheelhouse, because the windows are way too small to see much in that area. I did use the PE nameplate, which I like better than the vinyl one with the kit. This model is just begging to be illuminated. I lit the salon, wheelhouse windows, side portholes, and the keel vents with LEDs. Without lights, most interior detail will never be seen. The squid that makes up the stand, and the kit nameplate, are vinyl, not styrene. They go together well with super glue, and the ten tentacles are keyed so they'll go in the right place. I made the mistake of priming the squid with enamel primer. Enamel and vinyl are chemically incompatible, and the primer never dried. Fortunately, it wasn't hard to remove the enamel primer and repaint with acrylic. If you are prepared to give this kit the attention it deserves, you'll have a stunning addition to your collection. Pros: Fantastic molding, perfect fit Included window masks PE parts included Great packaging Beautiful stand Easy to light if desired Minor Cons: (Nothing that can't be fixed) Interior very dark without lighting Front ram is fussy and fragile PE cables fussy and not a very good fit Vinyl stand needs different techniques