At nearly 33 meters long and displacing 100 tons, the WWII German Schnellboot ("fast boat") was nearly twice the size of its Allied rivals, had better range, and in general was better suited for operations on the open seas. Also known as S-Boote in the Kriegsmarine or E-Boats by the Allies, these boats featured a top speed of over 44 knots and could carry a wide range of weaponry, including torpedoes and deck-mounted cannons. The S-Boote saw increased action toward the end of the war as other ships in the Kriegsmarine were lost to battle.

Italeri's massive kit of the massive Schnellboot is touted as "the world's biggest 1/35 scale plastic model kit," and at exactly 1 meter (39.4 inches) in length, I'd find it hard to disagree with that claim! Not only is this kit huge, but with over 600 parts developed with advanced technology, it's probably one of the most detailed kits in the world, too! Enhancing those details are photo-etched metal parts, taking the level of realism to stratospheric levels. The huge hull features an "innovative assembly method," according to Italeri, and the kit features detailed instructions with a "new, innovative graphic design." Also included is a very cool photographic reference manual full of historical notes and pictures, plus color profiles. Figures not included. An amazing model!