Mikro-Mir USS Benjamin Franklin and USS Kamehameha. 1:350

[Shar2]

USS Benjamin Franklin (SSBN 640) and USS Kamehameha (SSN-642)

Mikro Mir 1:350

 

 

The Benjamin Franklin-class submarine was a group of US ballistic missile submarines that were in Navy service from the 1960s–2000s. The class was an evolutionary development from the earlier Lafayette-class of fleet ballistic missile submarine. Having quieter machinery and other improvements, they are considered a separate class. The Benjamin Franklin class, together with the George Washington, Ethan Allen, Lafayette, and James Madison classes, comprise the "41 for Freedom" that were the Navy's main contribution to the nuclear deterrent force through the late 1980s. The Benjamin Franklin’s were built with the Polaris A-3 ballistic missile, and in the early 1970s were converted to carry the Poseidon C-3 missile. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, six boats were further modified to carry the Trident I (C-4) missile, along with six James Madison-class boats. These were Benjamin Franklin, Simon Bolivar, George Bancroft, Henry L. Stimson, Francis Scott Key, and Mariano G. Vallejo.

This class can be distinguished by the fairwater planes' location halfway up the sail; the Lafayettes and James Madisons had the fairwater planes in the upper front portion of the sail. Two of these submarines [Kamehameha and James K Polk] were later converted to SEAL-mission capable attack submarines. In March of 1994 USS JAMES K. POLK (SSN 645) completed a 19-month conversion from ballistic missile submarine to attack/special warfare submarine at Newport News Shipbuilding. The January 1999 inactivation of the POLK leaves the KAMEHAMEHA (SSN 642) as the Navy's only former ballistic missile submarine equipped with Dry Deck Shelters (DDSs). In the early 1990s, to make room for the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines within the limits set by the SALT II strategic arms limitation treaty, the ballistic missile tubes of Kamehameha and James K. Polk were disabled. Those boats were redesignated special operations attack submarines and given attack submarine (SSN) hull classification symbols. They were equipped with dry deck shelters to accommodate SEAL Delivery Vehicles or other equipment. The Benjamin Franklins were decommissioned between 1992 and 2002 due to a combination of SALT II treaty limitations as the Ohio class SSBNs entered service, age, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. USS Kamehameha was decommissioned on 2 April 2002, the last ship of the Benjamin Franklin class to be decommissioned.

 

The Model

Both of these kits have been out for a little while now and since they are basically the same hull I thought I’d review them together. They are both in the familiar coloured top opening box with a picture of each boat at sea, inside of which the kit parts are safely held in a poly bag.  Considering the size of the completed models, there are very few parts, making them great kits to start with if you thinking of making a selection of submarine models. The grey styrene is not as soft as some short run kits I’ve come across and the moulded details, such as the silo doors, are very nicely moulded with only a little flash, but no other signs of imperfections.

 

The two hull halves are cut vertically rather than the standard horizontal seen in most other kits and are both full hull options only unless you wish to carry out major surgery. The two halves are glued together and the join line filled and sanded as necessary. The single piece silo section is then glued to the upper hull, followed by the six part sail assembly, consisting of two sail halves, dive planes, sail top and internal floor, being attached to the forward end of the silo section. The sail is provided with three periscopes which are fitted to the top of the sail. The instructions call for a clear part to be fitted to the front upper section of the sail, but neither of the review samples had this part, so check carefully before purchasing. The upper and lower rudders and the aft dive planes are then attached to the rear of the hull, followed by the etched propeller. With the boss in place, the blades must be twisted carefully to shape, which is shown in the instructions, but you might get better results by finding a photograph of them on the internet or your library. The only difference between the two kits is that the USS Kamehameha is provided with two, three piece dry deck shelters which are glued onto the forward end of the missile silo section, just aft of the sail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decals

Both kits come with the same decal sheet that provides the names and identification numbers for the whole class, so you don’t have to make the boat named on the box art. The sheet also contains depth markings, bollard location markers and emergency escape hatch markers.

 

 

Conclusion

As with the other boats released in this scale, these are great looking kits and even though they’re short run, they do build into a really nice model and of a decent size too, as can be seen in the Ready For Inspection section on this very forum. Another pair of winners from MikroMir, with just the Ohios to release to complete the USN Boomer set.

 

Review sample courtesy of

[whitestar12chris]

Shar youve missed the Ethan Allen class SSBN's which followed the  George Washington class to complete the line up, great review.

 

I concur these are great kits of subjects that are hard to come by, a very nice size in 1/350.

 

All the best chris