1/350 Scale German Type IA Submarine U-26: Length: 8" These models come already assembled and painted out of the box. There is nothing to do or needed other than take them out of the packaging and display them. These models are mostly made of metal with plastic parts added for details such as antennas, periscopes, rails, guns, etc. The overall coloring and the details are very interesting, there are many grill marks accurately painted along with embossed hatches and panels. These models come with a cutaway section that reveal interior details like piping, machinery and torpedoes. The cutaway section is limited to only one side of the model. The model comes attached to a display stand. The base of the stand measures 4.75 inches by 1.75 inches. The display stand has a metal strip that shows the name/type and year of the model. This is certainly not a toy. It will not last long if played with. The box is labeled as not recommended for children under 14. German submarine U-26 was one of the two Type IA ocean-going U-boats produced by Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. Constructed in Bremen, U-26 was commissioned in May 1936. She experienced a short, but successful combat career, sinking eleven ships. Until 1940, U-26 was primarily used as training vessel and for propaganda purposes by the German government.[citation needed] During her trials it was found that the Type IA submarine was difficult to handle due to her poor stability and slow dive rate. In early 1940, the boat was called into combat duty due to the shortage of available submarines. U-26 participated in six war patrols, sinking eleven ships and badly damaging one other. On her first patrol laying mines, U-26 sank three merchant ships and damaged one British warship. On her second war patrol it became the first U-boat during World War II to enter the Mediterranean Sea. U-26 participated in three other successful patrols, sinking four additional merchant ships.