DKM Navy Type IX-B U-Boat

Overall a great little boat. I've been impressed with Hobby Boss aircraft kits, and my first experience with a Hobby Boss ship was similarly impressive. It was a fun modeling experience in general as my first departure from aircraft. It was approximately a '2-weekend' build with painting and clear coating. An efficient or experienced modeler could probably build/paint it in 1 weekend. Good detail for such a small model and very good fit/finish. Shaft/screw/rudder/stern dive plane assembly was a challenge to build and paint, but doable with care and patience. I struggled with PE parts (no previous experience), as they are delicate, difficult to shape perfectly to model, and had no attachment tabs. I only used the sail 'winter garden' deck plating PE part provided in the kit. I felt omitting the remaining PE parts or using provided plastic substitutes where available would look better than my rookie effort trying to add them. A modeler with PE experience (particularly ship railings) would likely value the PE parts. Adding line/thread for the fore and aft antennas of the model would be a fairly simple mod and a great visual addition, especially if fit to the provided PE antenna mounts. Provided PE display stand is attractive, but difficult to glue together unless you have 4 hands. Also, thin edges of the metal display stand may slice/scratch/nick painted model without additional treatment. Hull is 2-piece, so I believe omitting the lower hull would provide an accurate 'waterline' model, if desired. Gluing about a dozen stainless steel BB's in the bottom of the lower hull allows proper upright floating in water. (I can't help myself - boats gotta float!)