TomDougherty Posted May 7 Report Posted May 7 The Soviet Union had both diesel (Zulu V, Golf I & Golf II) and nuclear powered (Hotel I & Hotel II) ballistic missile submarines. Originally, the Project 629 (NATO: Golf I) and Project 658 (NATO: Hotel I) submarines carried three R-13 missiles of short range (300 nautical miles) and had to be fired by the D-2 launch systems from the ocean surface. But units of both the Golf I and Hotel I class were modified and upgraded to Project 629A (Golf II) with the D-4 launch system, which allowed underwater launches of the new R-21 missile of 700 nautical mile range. The upgraded Project 658M (NATO: Hotel II) carried three R-21 missiles in its extended sail structure. The Hotel II class had two VM-A pressurized water reactors and twin propellers. The VM-A reactors were first generation and problematic, with a major casualty on the Hotel I K-19, as well as leaks. The Hotel II model is a 1/350 scale kit from Takom. I replaced a thin set of photo etch parts which were low rails on the aft deck. I modeled the submarine with one of the missile hatches open on the sail with an R-21 missile in the tube.
Mark Deliduka Posted May 8 Report Posted May 8 That is a fantastic model! What an odd looking submarine, but I still hope to get one in 1/700 scale. You did a sensational job!
TomDougherty Posted May 8 Author Report Posted May 8 Thanks, Mark! OKB Grigorov had kits of both the Hotel I and Hotel II (Project 658M) in 1/700 resin. I'm not sure about availability of shipping these kits to the US, but it is still listed on their website (https://shop.okbgrigorov.com). Very pricey for a 1/700 scale; the Takom 1/350 kits is much less expensive. OKB Grigorov | No. 700069 | 1:700. €40.50 ($47.75 US)
Mark Deliduka Posted Monday at 02:21 AM Report Posted Monday at 02:21 AM Thank you Tom! I'm pretty averse to building resin kits, so I'll hold off for now. Besides, as you said the postage would most likely break me!
TomDougherty Posted Thursday at 01:20 AM Author Report Posted Thursday at 01:20 AM In the case of the OKB Grigorov kits, the only "building" is usually gluing on photo etch propellers. That's it. Most of the submarine kits I build are resin, now many also have 3-D printed parts. It's really not very complex, a few different types of cyanoacrylate glue (quick set thin, thicker and gap filing). The field is currently transitioning to all 3-D printed pieces, including hulls. So the older solid resin hulls are going out of style. To fill gaps, I recently bought some liquid resin that is UV cured and a 365 nanometer wavelength flashlight. Great for treating gaps in both resin and polystyrene kits. Put the liquid resin in (slightly viscous, remove excess with isopropyl alcohol, and hit it for 60 seconds with UV light. I paint with a Paasche VL airbrush and Badger Marine acrylic colors.
Mark Deliduka Posted Thursday at 10:51 PM Report Posted Thursday at 10:51 PM That is great information Tom! Thank you. I'll definitely look into the UV glue.
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