If you have seen Das Boot very carefully, the U-96,like the firrst VIIC models, have the net cutter, the enlarged bridge in proximity of the decck gun and a plain deck at the bow ( Later boat used a slightly heightened bow (like in the game)). The only different thing was the after part of the conning tower.
A good thing could be use the hull of the VIIB for the VIIC and using the current VIIC hull to fit the VIIC/41 and VIIC/42 ( to see at least a visible difference
)
note the plain deck
