Flankerman Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 Just delivered - courtesy of Hannants and Royal Mail - Mikro-Mir's latest 1/350 scale submarine USS Parche SSN-683 - Late Version. Box art - note the divers lockout chamber on the aft casing - disguised as a DSRV.......... The instruction sheet is a flimsy A4 page folded in half ........... the first page gives a brief potted history of the boat and a painting guide (!)... The reverse is the construction diagram....... The hull is split horizontally..... The only other sprue provides the upper and lower decking, sail, control surfaces etc.... note that it DOES NOT include the DSRV !!! The package is finished off with a small decal sheet for the depth markings and escape hatches - plus a small etched brass part for the propeller and towed-array sonar. This is another nice kit from the prolific Ukrainian enterprise of Mikro-Mir - but they are being a bit naughty not including the DSRV - as it is already provided in their (Early) version kit.... Note the DSRV at top left. As I have already scratched a model of this version :- http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/model_submarines_USA.html#USS_Parche_SSN-683_ it will be interesting to compare mine with MM's kit - they probably had more info to hand - I couldn't find much about the 'Hush-Hush' undersides at the time - but I have just found this cutaway drawing... https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fa/70/a6/fa70a6ef6d59cc1e12d33ca39229e447.jpg All my 1/350 scale subs are here :- http://www.flankers-site.co.uk/model_submarines_link_page.html Stay Safe... Ken 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dolphin38 Posted February 17, 2021 Share Posted February 17, 2021 I don't think Parche carried the DSRV lockout chamber after its refit to lengthen it as it didn't need it, the lockout chamber was incorporated in the extra length of the hull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted February 18, 2021 Author Share Posted February 18, 2021 As with most Mikro-Mir sub kits, the parts have large sprue gates and need a lot of 'fettling' (scraping and sanding) to make good mating surfaces..... The ventral structure for the divers saturation chamber is made up from two sides and a floor (or 'roof' - depending on your point of view)..... There are no positive location pips - so I added strips of L-section plastic to form a ledge on which the 'floor' can sit..... This made locating the sides much easier.... ..... although there are still seams to fill..... Similarly, the top and bottom hull halves needed a lot of work to scrape away flash from the mating surfaces - I have added strips of thin plastic card to make a better join........ More later..... Ken 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted February 20, 2021 Author Share Posted February 20, 2021 Gluing the upper and lower hull halves reveals the usual join line - easily fixed with the application of filler..... The join lines in the ventral pannier are filled and sanded smooth...... Ken 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 A little progress...... Taping the lower pannier to the hull........ ...reveals a large mis-fit at the front and rear...... I sanded the mating surfaces to a bevelled-edge - which made the fit better... and finished off with filler. The Conning Tower/Bridge/Sail is made up from two sides and a top section... Guess what? - the cutout in the top decking doesn't match the contours of the sail - so more fettling and filler... Finally - all the major parts are fitted and she's ready for a coat of primer.... I'm hoping that the overall black finish will hide a lot of my botching...... More later... Ken 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 Looks like another quick build there Ken. Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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