Scale Plastic & Rail

1:35 Fantastical Fish-Shaped Submersible from Fichtenfoo

1:35 Fantastical Fish-Shaped Submersible
Industria Mechanika
Catalogue # IMFF001
Available from Industria Mechanika for $99.00 

 

This is the place where I would normally recite a small history of the subject that I am reviewing, and lead into the actual kit review. This differs very slightly with this this release as this kit is a Fantasy release, and the first one we bring to Scale Plastic & Rail. Fantasy modelling has many different genres of its own, and I couldn't even begin to define a few of them, save for the genre of this kit. Imagine a Jules Verne creation. Imagine 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Ok? Imagine a creation that looks quasi-Victorian in that it comprises of clockwork-looking elements, and also steam boilers. Now if you feel that you understand where I'm coming from here, then you have successfully identified the genre known as 'SteamPunk'!

To me, the undisputed king of SteamPunk creation is Michael Fichtenmayer, who simply produces some of the most visually interesting and tactile looking Fantasy models on the market. For customers within the EU, Michael's excellent 'Fantastical Fish-Shaped Submersible', known within this review now as the 'FFSS' can be purchased from our friends at Uschi can der Rosten.

Packaged in a box just over 6 inches square, with a depth of just over two inches, you can tell that there are some substantial resin parts within simply by the weight. The top opening rigid card box is then wrapped in an attractive sleeve with a regular image of the finished model, beautifully weathered, and also of one in a fantasy setting on the other side. The FFSS is produced in limited numbers, each identified with a hand-written number of on the packaging, with this current batch being one of 48 kits available. My sample is number 20/48.

Opening the box, it's clear to see that all parts within are very well packaged in order to prevent any damage. One large clear packet contains two smaller packets; one of these containing the clear resin 'fish-eye' portholes for the subs pilot, and the other bag containing the remainder of the smaller resin parts for this kit. Within the outer, larger bag are the fish head and the internal steam driven paraphernalia which sits recessed into the underside of the Fish sub. All of these bags are packed into a larger bubble-wrap envelope in which you will find the main component of the kit the rather large and heavy solid resin submersible body.

Facts and figures out of the way first. This kit comprises of 27 parts cast in a pale, cream coloured resin with 2 parts cast in clear resin. A large photo etch fret consisting of around 40 parts is also included, as it a narrow diameter rigid metal rod.

The most obvious part, the subs body, is what catches my eye first. This solid cast part has detail dripping from it. The exterior of the sub looks very '19th Century' and 'industrial' in its appearance, with the whole sub being based on the shape of a piranha, from what I can fathom. That exterior is made to resemble thick metal plates, overlapping each other where they join laterally, and being fastened with large dome-headed rivets. Where the plates simply butt together, the scribing is excellent. There is a recess in the bottom of the hull into which the propulsion mechanics fit, and one small remnant of a casting block tag on both the upper periscope deck and rear tail area.

This model has a fully detailed cabin too, displaying again some excellent steam pipe and pressure gauge technology pre-cast within. Along with the pipework, bulkhead detail with large mechanical fasteners, a wooden deck is present with a large, flanged attachment point is cast, into which the pilots seat fastened. The detail is simply beautiful. There is no other word to describe it. The various pressure gauges within this area and the fish head are provided as photo etch parts, complete with their quasi-Victorian detail.

The hull will need only a little clean-up to remove the casting tags and just a sanding sponge to clean up the occasional seam and sharp edge that has minimal 'flash'. I estimate around 30 minutes total before you are ready to fit this vessel out and paint her.

The 'head' of this sub has all that same excellent exterior rendition as the hull, along with a serrated plate at the front which represents the piranha's slightly open mouth, along with its teeth and a cast hinge! The eyes are cast as portholes where you will need to use a nice sharp scalpel to remove a slight unevenness within the internal rim. The appearance of these as flanged fittings is excellent. Into these openings fit the clear resin portholes with a secondary flange and rivet detail. Great design and implementation.  The clear resin parts have a casting block to remove, and clarity is excellent.

The interior of the head shows yet more pressure gauges and associated pipework which makes some early aircraft cockpits look sparse! When modelling this, I would use some metal pins to hold the head into place so that you can remove this and exhibit the interior to your fellow modellers. This can easily be achieved with a small spare length of the metal rod included within the kit.

Michael has worked wonders with his depiction of the steam drive engine in the belly of the Fish. Various pressure pipes, capped pipe ends and an ornamental boiler make this area look very authentic and entirely feasible, as does the inclusion of drive sprockets and teeth near the propeller socket. A little clean-up will be required of this part in order to remove a couple of seams and a little light flash.

The remainder of the resin parts are cast equally as well, including the pilots seat with its upholstered leather cushion, and the exquisite steam valve handles. These latter parts are cast into a single thin bed of resin and are very delicate. Two of these are included due to the numerous locations for them.

Of special mention should be the propeller and propeller brace. The prop itself is a flat plate corkscrew-styled part, and this is cast in a single piece! That must be quite challenging to de-mould and is a testament to .JPG Castings, who make all of the resin parts for this kit. With a little cleaning and sanding,  this part will look excellent under a coat of metallic paint. The brace looks suitable antique, and test fitting the prop between this and the main engine parts shows a perfect fit, even without any clean-up.

How do you control an antiquarian submersible? Of course, you have two control sticks; one for each hand! Whilst the grip for these is resin, the stick parts themselves are supplied as a metal rod that you will need to measure and cut. Several areas of construction require you to clean out various holes with a drill bit, so make sure you have a small range of these at hand.

The various fins and the tail of the Fish are supplied as photo etch parts, again looking very 'clockwork' in their execution. The hinge section of these control surfaces are produced from layered photo etch. These are semi-ornamental and look extremely attractive.

The photo etch fret itself is produced by ParaGrafix is beautifully made, with excellent etch relief detail on the fins and instrument gauge faces. Also included on the fret are a series of ornamental numbers (1's and 2's) that you can use as identification plates for your submersible. An excellent antique Foundry Plate is also included which certainly will give your model that added touch of authenticity.

The instructions are printed on the inside of the box sleeve, so you will need to cut this at a corner and open it out. The constructional sequences are given as black line drawings and are drawn superbly, so following them will be simple. Text annotation is given with reference to areas that require either special attention, or simply as constructional tips and guides.

What you don't get is a painting guide, but come on.....this is fantasy! The model on the box is shown as copper, and that's what I would try to emulate. Of course, you could try and complete in an iron colour and cover with rust streaking. This model will really be a test of weathering to make it look as authentic as possible. I'm thinking you'll need to use a little green in places as a patina, and perhaps alter the copper tones with a little filtering using oils.

So what do we think?
I am absolutely delighted with this kit. Everything about it wants you to start building it immediately and this is what I will be doing shortly. The parts are beautifully made and Michael obviously has an extremely fertile imagination to be able to dream up something so bizarre, yet retain an aura of reality to it. You get a lot of excellent resin parts in this set, and for the asking price, I consider this to be an absolute steal!!! Remember though, these are limited edition, so PLEASE put your order through to avoid disappointment.

Very highly recommended.

Our sincere thanks to Uschi van der Rosten for the review sample used here. To purchase this directly if you are in the EU, click THIS link. Visit the excellent Industria Mechanika website HERE for a range of other amazing Steampunk creations!

James H.