by Tom Dougherty » Sun Aug 08, 2021 6:32 pm
Well, the correct answer for accuracy is:
E.) None of the above
But, the old Revell kit (lately and incorrectly boxed as Liofish, previously Flasher or Wahoo) is probably your best choice. It�s really a Gato class like Flasher, not a Balao class like Lionfish was. You can fill in the limber holes with a black marker or cut them out (a very tedious process). The guns provided are rudimentary and both propellers have the same blade angle twist, instead of opposite screws. If you want, you can cut the blades off the hub on one screw and reglue them on the hub with the opposite twist. The basic hull shape is not bad, either. With some care, it can be made into something decent, on par with the other kits you mentioned. Back when this kit was the �only game in town� for a fleet boat, Nautilus Models came out with more much accurate accessories for the Revell kit. Resin conning tower fairwaters and wood decks. These are still available on their website.
The Lindberg kit is considerably off on several details. The decking is oversized and it is more like a Balao sail than a Gato. At one point Lindberg even put a rocket launcher with a rocket that looked like one from the old Destination Moon film on their Nautilus kit, about to be rereleased by Atlantis. I think Lindberg kits in general are all in the �looks okay, close nuff� school of plastic kits.
The Kit by Atlantis looks decent, but there are no railings around the conning tower fairwater platforms. Looks odd to my eye. At least the Revell kit has plastic railings.
As you know, much better kits in terms of accuracy are on the market. But if this is more or less for nostalgia, go with Revell.
Well, the correct answer for accuracy is:
E.) None of the above
But, the old Revell kit (lately and incorrectly boxed as Liofish, previously Flasher or Wahoo) is probably your best choice. It�s really a Gato class like Flasher, not a Balao class like Lionfish was. You can fill in the limber holes with a black marker or cut them out (a very tedious process). The guns provided are rudimentary and both propellers have the same blade angle twist, instead of opposite screws. If you want, you can cut the blades off the hub on one screw and reglue them on the hub with the opposite twist. The basic hull shape is not bad, either. With some care, it can be made into something decent, on par with the other kits you mentioned. Back when this kit was the �only game in town� for a fleet boat, Nautilus Models came out with more much accurate accessories for the Revell kit. Resin conning tower fairwaters and wood decks. These are still available on their website.
The Lindberg kit is considerably off on several details. The decking is oversized and it is more like a Balao sail than a Gato. At one point Lindberg even put a rocket launcher with a rocket that looked like one from the old Destination Moon film on their Nautilus kit, about to be rereleased by Atlantis. I think Lindberg kits in general are all in the �looks okay, close nuff� school of plastic kits.
The Kit by Atlantis looks decent, but there are no railings around the conning tower fairwater platforms. Looks odd to my eye. At least the Revell kit has plastic railings.
As you know, much better kits in terms of accuracy are on the market. But if this is more or less for nostalgia, go with Revell.