"U-20: Submarine that Sank the Great Lusitania"
By Brian Kemp

I have a definite interest in classic ocean liners, and boats in general. I have collected numerous models over the past several years, and check the TRMA website frequently, but due to both work space and display space constraints, most of these models have gone unbuilt. Eventually, I rediscovered a resin and photoetched model of the U-35 that I got several years ago. At the time I didn't have the time to work on this model, but now I am a school librarian which means I have some long breaks where I can devote some time to working on models. For some time I had thought of converting this model to the U-20, the submarine that sank the Lusitania. Finally, after doing multiple online searches for pictures of the U-20 with few results, I went to the library at the University of Texas. Here I looked through about 2 dozen books, looking for a source that would give me some good pictures, but also, most importantly, a side view that would show below the waterline, where I knew the rudder was different. Finally, the last book I looked at had a decent side view, including below the waterline. Appropriately for a school librarian, it was a children's book. Other changes to the model, such as the addition of a small stubby stack in front of the conning tower, a different style of deck gun, adding small rigging poles to the side of the conning tower, and switching which side the antenna poles attached to the submarine were largely made by using the few pictures that could be found online. After working on this model on-and-off for a couple months, I finally completed it to a level I'm satisfied with. I'm not an expert model builder, and this was my first time to make a few scratch-built parts, but I think it came out reasonably well. If you have any questions or comments, please send them to me at brian.kemp@comcast.net.