Russian attack akula class submarine8/6/2023 The first one I tried shattered very easily. The waterline decals were another story entirely. The smaller decals went on well using Microscale solutions. I really don’t think this detracts from the model at all, but it might be a contest consideration. The geometry of the prop suggests left hand (counter-clockwise) rotation, but the pitch seems to be such that left hand rotation would be backing the ship. When I painted the prop I noticed something a little odd. I painted the model as per the instructions, using Floquil Tuscan Red for the lower hull and Model Master Navy gloss gray for the upper hull. For Hunt for Red October fans there is a pair of hatches covering what might be something like the “caterpillar” drive in the movie but that is mere speculation. The extra details of sensors and other external are great. Only minor tweaking was needed to get them looking right. I can’t really explain why the masts aligned easily, but the pins on the bases are long enough and fit well. This is an area that really can be hard to get right. The parts are just darn small! Another really nice kit design feature that worked well is the alignment of the periscopes, navigation, and other masts. Those pieces do not have really good attachment points, but I have no suggestions for a better method or technique, other than using some small shims or wires. The only areas I found to be tricky were the mast, scope, and bridge covers/hatches. Hull planes and parts have good attachment points. The hull fit is not at all problematic, with few of the fit issues sometimes associated with long seams. While a submarine is not particularly complex compared to many models, the surface details of hatches, rails, non-skid, etc., are well done. There is little to no flash on any of the parts, and the detailing is excellent. I did not check the model dimensions in detail, but overall the model appears to match well with published actual dimensions of the K335 and sister ships.Ĭonstruction was a wonderful experience. The drawings are clear enough, but the inset or detail diagrams showing various options need to be looked at carefully. There are plenty of little add-on details that I found to be best left to the very end. However, don’t do like I almost did and forget to take it off before priming! The instructions are well laid out nonetheless I recommend that you review them in detail with regard to what options are to be used. There is a nice touch to the PE fret packaging, a thin layer of protective plastic. The hull comes in 3 pieces, such that a waterline representation could be done with minimal modification. The instructions are multilingual in English, German and Chinese. The box is stout, providing good protection to bagged and sealed sprues, a decal sheet, a PE fret and very nicely done glossy color instructions. The box art is well done, with a chilly representation of the K335 on the surface at high latitude. The first member of the class, the Viper, is scheduled to be withdrawn from service in 2015, with the Giepard/Gepard scheduled for retirement in 2025.įirst impressions of the kit were quite good. One member of the class, the Nerpa, is reportedly leased to the Indian Navy. The K335 name appears as “Gepard” in some references and “Giepard” in others. Research sources are somewhat ambiguous, but generally agree that the Akula II class is a lengthened and improved Akula class, incorporating quieting technology. It really is an honor to critique a new model and share the fun with the greater modeling community.īronco Models chose to represent the K335 Giepard, one of the three Akula II submarines constructed by the Amur Shipbuilding Plant Joint Stock Company at Komsomolsk-on-Amur and by Sevmash at the Severodvinsk shipbuilding yard. Thank you to Alain of Dragon Models USA and John of IPMS for allowing me to review this kit.
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