Search the Community

Another one to add to the collection - this time the Mikro-Mir 1/350 scale 'Foxtrot' Class diesel submarine - finished as the Ukrainian submarine 'Zaporozhzhia'....... Ken

Project 641 Foxtrot Class Submarine Mikro Mir 1:350 To replace the first post-war oceanic submarines of Project 611 in the late 1950s in the CDB-18, a new project, designated 641. The chief designer of the project was S. Egorov, then this post he held from 1958 Z. Deribin with 1974 N. Kormilitsin. Project 641 was intended for the same tasks as the project 611: fighting for further communication, minelaying, reconnaissance, anti-submarine action. Compared with the previous project 611 project 641 boats had more autonomy and cruising range, greater depth of immersion, improved weapons and improved living conditions of the crew. The project was considered successful. It was built 75 ships, including 17 for export to the Polish Navy, India, Libya and Cuba. Four boats of the project (B-4, B-36, B-59 and B-130) participated in Operation "Kama" (attempt to break Cuba is in a state of blockade) during the Cuban missile crisis. In 1997, the division of Soviet Black Sea Fleet between Russia and Ukraine Boat Project 641 B-435 was transferred to Ukraine and was named U01 «Zaporizhzhia". The boat was built in Leningrad Novoadmiralteyskom factory. Launched on May 29, 1970. The structure of the Soviet Navy came under the designation B-435 January 20, 1971 and in February 1971 included in the Northern Fleet of the Soviet Navy. Over 20 years of service with the Soviet Navy has made 14 long hikes. Submarine repeatedly patrolled in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and the Barents Sea, has been involved in large-scale exercises of the Soviet Navy, attended a friendly visit to Cuba, Morocco, Syria. As of March 2014 was in the U01 ranks, being the only Ukrainian submarine and the only ship of the project 641 are still in service. In 2014, while blocking Russian troops Ukrainian Navy submarine crew offered eight times to the side of Russia, but the proposals were rejected by the sailors. On March 11th entrepreneurs of “Zaporizhzhia" supported the crew, by sending a minivan of food. On March 21st, Russian troops seized the submarine with use of an assault boat. On March 22nd the seized boat, with Russian sailors on board, moved independently to the South Bay of Sevastopol. Currently, the boat is still in occupied Russia Sevastopol. The Model Another very welcome release from Mikro-Mir, especially to all those interested in these boats. The kit comes in a fairly sturdy cardboard box with a photograph of one of the submarine sailing on the surface. Inside the kit is tightly packaged inside a poly bag complete with etch, decals and a simple instruction sheet. As with the other kits, the grey styrene is quite soft, but the details are very finely done. The sprue gates on the hull sections whilst strategically placed where the etched deck is attached, they are also on the joint faces, which will require a bit more careful clean-up. The etched parts are very nicely done with the deck sections looking particularly good. As with most submarine kits construction is very simple. Once cleaned up the two hull halves are joined together and topped off with the four etched deck sections, onto which further etched parts are added along with a styrene pipe. The tower halves are then joined together, sandwiching the periscope and aerial deck. This is then glued into position and fitted out with the two periscopes, two radar poles and two aerial poles. Around the tower etched handrails are attached and will require careful handling after. There are two escape hatches and the upper sonar dome fitted to the deck. Moving aft the sternplanes are attached along with the three propellers and rudder. Forward, the bowplanes are fitted, as is the anchor. Decals The small decal sheet provides quite a lot of markings for the submarine. There are depth marks for the bow, amidships and stern plus markings for the island which include the option of identification numbers for five different boats, all with the same colour scheme. The various shields and names are also included. The decals are mostly very small, but well printed, although there does appear to be a slight register problem with some markings. Conclusion Although the Foxtrot class is quite numerous there aren’t too many kits available, so it’s nice to have a new injection moulded kit released. With some judicious painting and weathering you will have a very nice model at the end of the build. Very highly recommended Review sample courtesy of