Forty years after its cinema release, Wolfgang Petersen’s masterpiece “Das Boot” has lost none of its fascination. Revell now honors this cinematic legacy with a special Collector’s Edition of the U-96 model kit, which will not only delight model builders but also all those interested in maritime history and film culture.
The historic U-96: More than just a film boat
The submarine U-96 was by no means just a Hollywood invention, but a real German submarine of the Kriegsmarine in World War II. This Type VII C boat was among the most successful German submarines and was commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock between 1940 and 1943. The U-96 undertook eleven war patrols and sank 25 ships with a total of over 180,000 gross register tons.
What many don’t know: Wolfgang Petersen and his team meticulously studied the original blueprints and eyewitness accounts to achieve the most authentic representation possible. The film sets were constructed according to the exact dimensions of the historical submarines, which is why the Revell kit represents not only a film model but also a historically accurate replica.
From book template to film classic
The story of the U-96 began as early as 1973 as a novel by Lothar-Günther Buchheim, who had himself served as a war correspondent on submarines. Buchheim drew from his own experiences and thus created one of the most authentic war novels in German literature. The film adaptation by Wolfgang Petersen eight years later catapulted the story into the world’s attention.
The film was an international success and received six Oscar nominations, including for best film and best direction. With a budget of about 32 million D-Mark, it was the most expensive German film production of its time. The invested funds mainly flowed into the construction of the authentic submarine set, which can still be visited today at the Bavaria Film Studios.
Technical masterpiece in 1:144 scale
Your new model building project now brings this cinematic and historical significance into your living room. With 87 individual parts and an impressive length of 465 millimeters, the kit offers enough detail to challenge beginners as well as satisfy experienced model builders. The difficulty level 3 is perfectly chosen: challenging enough to remain interesting, but not so complex that frustration arises.
Particularly successful are the variably representable periscopes, which you can mount either retracted or extended as desired. The two-piece hull enables stable construction, while the included display stand ensures that your finished model can be presented worthily.
Das Boot in popular culture
After the film’s success in 1981, “Das Boot” experienced several resurrections. In 1985, a six-part television version appeared with over five hours of runtime that was even more detailed than the cinema film. In 2018, a modern TV series on Sky followed, which received mixed reviews but nevertheless proved the continuing interest in the subject matter.
The fascination for submarine warfare and maritime technology has also captured other media. Video games like “Silent Hunter” or “UBOAT” let players slip into the role of submarine commanders, while documentaries regularly illuminate the technical aspects and life aboard. Your model thus stands in a long tradition of engagement with this chapter of naval history.
Authenticity down to the smallest detail
What particularly distinguishes the Revell kit is its closeness to the film original. The decals correspond to the historically correct markings of the U-96, and even small details like the arrangement of the periscopes and the shape of the conning tower were designed according to the original plans. This authenticity makes the model interesting not only for film fans but also for history enthusiasts and maritime aficionados.
The included paints in proven Revell Aqua Color quality ensure that you can start immediately. The color scheme corresponds to the typical light gray of German submarines of that time, supplemented by the characteristic red and white markings.
Collector’s heart and anniversary value
This Collector’s Edition for the 40th anniversary is more than just an ordinary model kit. The included replica poster of the original film poster from 1981 makes the set a genuine collector’s item. Such anniversary editions often gain value over the years, especially when they are equipped with additional extras like this one.
The display stand emphasizes the presentation character of the model. You can showcase your finished submarine worthily, whether in the living room, office, or in an existing model collection. The stable construction ensures that the model will still stand securely even after years.
Building joy for young and old
With the age recommendation from 10 years, we deliberately address younger model builders as well. Because “Das Boot” offers an excellent opportunity to make history tangible. During building, you can talk about the technical challenges of submarine construction, discuss the living conditions of the crew, or classify the historical events.
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The illustrated, multilingual building instructions ensure that even beginners don’t lose track. We have focused on a clear, understandable presentation that guides step by step through the building process.
A piece of film history in your hands
When you have completed this kit, you hold not only a detailed model in your hands but a piece of cultural history. “Das Boot” has not only shaped the German film landscape but also set international standards. The film proved that German productions can definitely keep up with Hollywood and tell complex, multi-layered stories without falling into black-and-white thinking. 
This Collector’s Edition for the 40th anniversary is thus more than just a model kit – it is a tribute to a masterpiece of cinema and simultaneously an authentic replica of a significant chapter in naval history. For all those who equally appreciate films, history, and model building, this set is an absolute must.
Have you already gained experience with other submarine models, or would this be your first excursion into the maritime model building world?
Building inspirations
Here you can see a tour through the original film sets at Bavaria Filmstadt Munich:
For building, you naturally also need a proper soundtrack – either take the film score or: One of the biggest techno hits that ever appeared in the German charts 🙂
Finally, Jürgen Prochnow – Herr Kaleu himself – gives us a tour through the boat here: