RE: Engel TAE or TMAX???
With 15years experience with boats, you should have no trouble building a kit or butting together a hull and WTC together. If you like WWII boats, the OTW range trumps the Engel subs interms of accuracy and appearance. The Sclass and the Type VII inparticular. Engel kits are more complete offerings whilst OTW is for the more experienced modeller. If you want to contact local submariners try posting in one of the UK sub/boat forums like Model Boat Mahyem.