Search the Community

Hello everyone! This is my fourth model and the first one that I actually like in terms of the quality of my work. I've built it in summer 2024. I used an old "Zvezda" kit and painted it with "Tamiya" paints. A bit about the prototype's history: The K-3 was the first nuclear-powered submarine in the USSR and the third in the world. It belonged to Project 627, classified by NATO as the November-class. Its design began in 1952 under the lead designer, Vladimir Peregudov. The submarine was laid down in 1955 and entered service with the Soviet Navy in 1958. It served in the Northern Fleet, based in Severomorsk, and from 1961 at the new base, Zapadnaya Litsa, specially built for nuclear submarines. In its early years of service, the K-3 suffered from numerous technical troubles, particularly reactor coolant frequent leaks. Nevertheless, in 1962, the submarine made a voyage to the North Pole, becoming the first Soviet ship to reach it. After this voyage, the submarine underwent repairs, which included replacing the reactors with functional ones. It was also modernized under Project 627A, which involved relocating the sonar station from the sail to a bow dome. The submarine then continued its service in the Northern Fleet. As the first Soviet nuclear submarine, it was quite famous and was visited by Nikita Khrushchev and Yuri Gagarin. The submarine served throughout the Cold War, participating in most Warsaw Pact naval exercises in the Atlantic, and during its deployments it tracked NATO surface action groups. In 1967, during a deployment, a serious fire broke out in the bow of the submarine, resulting in the deaths of 39 sailors. In 1987, the submarine was decommissioned, and in 2023, it was turned into a cringeworthy museum in Kronstadt (not recommended). Based on the upgraded 1962 K-3 design, 12 other Project 627A (November-class) nuclear submarines were built. They were not particularly stealthy, but they were fast, with a maximum speed of over 30 knots, which exceeded the maximum speed of their U.S. nuclear submarine counterparts by 7-8 knots, allowing them to pursue surface action groups moving at full speed. The submarines were armed with 8 torpedo tubes and 20 torpedoes. During ocean deployments, 6 of these torpedoes were nuclear-tipped. This model represents the K-3 at the time of its voyage to the North Pole, before its modernization and reactor replacement — with the sonar still in the sail and the hull number 270.

Does anyone know of a review of the Trumpeter 1/350 Luda class destroyer "Chinese 166 Zhu Hai" ? Many sources seem to suggest it was derived from the Russian Cold War Kotlin class, and if that is the case I am considering converting and back dating it to a 60's era Soviet Kotlin. Any views or references? Thanks Terry

The Chinese love an odd theme park, see Oriental Land near Shanghai. This one, located on the shore of the Bohai Sea a quick bullet train ride from Beijing (50 minutes at 300 kph) is perhaps the bizarrest, celebrating Russian culture with a former Soviet Navy aircraft carrier as its centrepiece. Binhai 11 Shenyang J-6s in various states of decay are dotted about the place, decorated in faux Soviet markings. Binhai 13 Shenyang JJ-6s are not common display aircraft, so it was good to see this one. Based on the MiG-19, the original manufacturer did not build a two-seat variant; the JJ-6 is indigenous to China. Kiev 2 Entry to the ship is through the torpedo tube bay. Kiev 15 The magazine for storage of the P-500 cruise missiles that serve as the ship's main armament. Kiev 17 The hangar deck is occupied by models of aircraft that never served with the Soviet Navy, including this J-10 full scale mock-up sitting below the deck level lift. Kiev 76 The air movements controller's cupola. Kiev 77 Five Nanchang Q-5s and a Yak-38 mock up on the flight deck. Hangar deck lift at bottom right. Kiev 38 The Yak-38 mock-up. Despite being nowhere near as capable as a Harrier, the Yak-38/Kiev Class combination gave the Soviet Navy a blue water fixed wing air element for the first time. Around 12 to 13 Yaks were operated from each ship, being originally intended for vertical take off operations, but rolling take offs became standard to increase the aircrafts' load carrying capability. Kiev 53 Helicopter landing points on the after flight deck and a Mil-8 stand-in for the Ka-25s. Classified as aircraft carrying heavy cruisers, the Project 1143 ships were primarily anti-submarine/anti-shipping strike warfare vessels, equipped with guided missiles as their main armament and impressive active/passive sonar equipment fit. Horse Jaw I had no idea what this was until I got home; the text board in Chinese giving the only clue; "Horse Jaw". This is the sonar unit fitted into the ship's bulbous bow. Kiev 87 The Kiev and her sisters were formidably armed; cruise missile launch tubes, SAM and ASM launchers visible. Kiev 101 Retired from service in 1993, the Kiev was bought by a Chinese entertainment consortium with the intent of creating a floating hotel, but with only a few rooms converted, it has yet to officially open to paying guests. The 'theme park' was opened in 2004 and despite much of the interior being gutted to facilitate the 'hotel', the ship still looks impressive from the outside. Link to photographs: https://www.flickr.com/photos/147661871@N04/albums/72157695139636851/with/40333574150/