US Navy Submarine models in 1:350 Scale
USS Gato 1941 configuration - AFV Club kit.
USS Gato 1941.
USS Gato - SS-212.
USS Virginia SSN-774 - Bronco Models kit.
USS Virginia.
USS Virginia.
CyberHobby USS Maryland SSBN
CyberHobby USS Chicago SSN
Sturgeon Class box art.
Instruction sheet.
Sturgeon kit parts - nice decal sheet.
USS Sturgeon
Pit Road resin kit - USS Grayback - SSG 574
Pit Road resin kit - USS Halibut SSGN-587
Thresher box art.
Instruction sheet.
Kit parts.
Micro-Mir Models USS Thresher - SSN-593
Micro Mir USS Nautilus
Etched Brass detail, decal sheet and front page of instruction sheet.
Injection-moulded sail, scopes and diving planes, etched decking and instructions.
Two halves of hull.
Decking inside sail.
3-part sail completed, hull cemented together, rear dive planes, etched-brass decking and forward sonar dome added
Adding the etched-brass handrails to the sail.
Filling the step between the etched decking and the plastic hull.
Nearly finished........
Micro-Mir USS Nautilus SSN-571
AFV Club Gato-class 1943 hull - with deck extension from plastic card.
The 'sail' is from the AFV Club 'USN Guppy 1B Clas Sub' - the cylindrical hangar is from a pipette.
Deck extension starboard side
Port side complete.
Recess cut out for the hangar.....
... and test fitted
Painted with Halfords rattle cans - Rover Tempest Grey and Gloss Black. Pennant numbers from spare decals.
Scratch-building the Regulus I missile and launch rail.
Missile temporarily in place.
Finished model
US Nuclear Attack Submarines
USS Virginia, USS Chicago, USS Sturgeon, USS Thresher, USS Skipjack, USS Nautilus.
USS Nautilus SSN-571
USS Skipjack SSN-585
USS Thresher SSN-593
USS Sturgeon SSN-637
USS Chicago SSN-721 (Los Angeles Class)
USS Viginia SSN-774
Micro Mir USS Skate.
Box art.
History and painting guide.
Construction diagram.
Hull parts.
Conning tower/sail, dive planes, periscopes etc
Etched brass decking, props, mooring cleats, safety rails etc - plus white pennant numbers
Ready for painting.....
Finished model.....
Micro-Mir USS L Mendel Rivers box art.
The kit is the USS Sturgeon with a new sprue for the Dry Deck Shelter (DDS) fitted to this sub.
Finished Model
Scratch-built Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC) with SEALS.
Another view of the CRRC.
USS George Washington
Box art for the Micro-Mir 1/350 scale George Washington.
Instruction sheet.
Assembly diagram.
Decal sheet - with markings for all five of the class.
Micro-Mir USS George Washington test shot - essentially a lengthened Skipjack hull with a new missile decking.
Test fitting the new missile decking.
The real SSBN is a lengthened Skipjack hull - here's a comparison with Micro-Mir's Skipjack.
Ready for painting.
Finished model.......
USS Menhaden
The 'Yellow Submarine' - decomisioned and painted yellow for the Naval Underwater Systems Center.
Made from two AFV kits - hull from GUPPY 1B and sail from GUPPY II kit.
USS Cusk
Box art for the 1943 version of the AFV Club kit.
All these parts are common across all versions - except the upper hull.
Common sprue at top - sprue for the 1943 version at bottom.
Etched brass and 'generic' decals.
Upper and lower hull parts - including a pressure hull which is hidden.
Cutting away the rear of the conning tower.......
.... to a new shape.
Carving the hangar from an 8mm plastic knitting needle.
Temporarily tacked in place.
Test fit.....
Making the launch ramp.... (with a bit of artistic licence)...
Almost ready for painting.
KGW 'Loon' carved from sprue, rod and plastic sheet.
Assembled Loon - wingspan is 15mm.
All the main components in place.
Ready for final assembly.
Finished model.......
Return
Based on the Mikro-Mir kit of the USS Lafayette
Kit parts.
Instruction sheet.
Colour diagrams, etched brass and decals for 4 subjects.
Adding strips of plastic card to help location.
Missile section is separate.
Parts for the sail - clear windows are included.
New bow planes mounting from plastic card carved to shape.....
.... and cemented in place.
Ready for painting.
Close-up of the scratch-built 'mini-sail' with the re-located dive planes.
USS Daniel Webster SSBN-626
Based on the Mikro-Mir kit of the USS Lafayette
Kit parts.
Instruction sheet.
Colour diagrams, etched brass and decals for 4 subjects.
Adding strips of plastic card to help location.
Missile section is separate.
Parts for the sail - clear windows are included.
New bow planes mounting from plastic card carved to shape.....
.... and cemented in place.
Ready for painting.
Finished Model
Close-up of the scratch-built 'mini-sail' with the re-located dive planes.
Return
Bronco Box Art
Upper and lower hull halves
The rest of the parts.
Decal sheet - including mottled masts.
Return
USS Seawolf was a modified Nautilus Class boat - lengthened by 52 feet and converted into a 'Special Projects' sub for covert ops.
I'm using the excellent Mikro-Mir Nautilus model to make her.
I'm using two Nautilus kits to stretch the hull - the anchor is moved forward and I have added the holes for the side thrusters.
The bow sonar dome on Seawolf is on top of the bow - unlike Nautilus where it is at the bottom.
I have removed the sharp bow section from on top - and I am replacing it with the more blunt radome section cut from
the 'spare' Nautilus lower bow dome.....
.... and grafted it to the top of Seawolf's bow. I also added a sloping section using plastic card.
The lower part of the bow is sanded to a sharper profile.
It will need a triangular section of plastic card at the sides to make the flare between the new upper bow and the existing profile.
New bow thruster holes will need to be cut into this new flared section. I'm making it up as I go....
Flared section added and filled....... along with the free-flood holes on the decking.
Close up of the new bow - more filling and sanding needed.
The stepped conning tower is made from a balsa core wrapped in thin plastic card...
.... not finished yet.
Still working on the bow sonar - I'm not happy with the shape yet.........
.... getting better - the sides if the sonar array are vertical - so plastic card to the rescue.
Much better now.
The conning tower is almost finished.
Making the thrusters,
Bow and stern thrusters - conning tower is temporary.
Making the 'gondola' for the diver saturation lock out using L-shaped plastic.
Flat bottom added from plastic card - with bits of etched brass for 'detail'.
Finished gondola from the side.
Etched brass decking, landing 'skegs', various 'bumps', conning tower, rear diving planes etc all fitted.
Underside view.
All ready for painting.
Adding the support brackets for the DSRV.
Close up of the DSRV.
Scratch-built sail.
Re-contoured bow - with side thrusters.
Retractable skegs.
DSRV and crew figures,
Strong carboard box - front artwork.....
Rear artwork showing both versions in the kit.
Extremely good packaging and coloured instructions.
Superbly cast resin parts - note the two styles of sail, the DSRV and etched brass.
The instructions are colour-coded for each variant.
USS Seawolf SSN-21
Bronco Box Art
Upper and lower hull halves
The rest of the parts.
Decal sheet - including mottled masts.
Finished Model
USS Seawolf SSN-575
USS Seawolf was a modified Nautilus Class boat - lengthened by 52 feet and converted into a 'Special Projects' sub for covert ops.
I'm using the excellent Mikro-Mir Nautilus model to make her.
I'm using two Nautilus kits to stretch the hull - the anchor is moved forward and I have added the holes for the side thrusters.
The bow sonar dome on Seawolf is on top of the bow - unlike Nautilus where it is at the bottom.
I have removed the sharp bow section from on top - and I am replacing it with the more blunt radome section cut from
the 'spare' Nautilus lower bow dome.....
.... and grafted it to the top of Seawolf's bow. I also added a sloping section using plastic card.
The lower part of the bow is sanded to a sharper profile.
It will need a triangular section of plastic card at the sides to make the flare between the new upper bow and the existing profile.
New bow thruster holes will need to be cut into this new flared section. I'm making it up as I go....
Flared section added and filled....... along with the free-flood holes on the decking.
Close up of the new bow - more filling and sanding needed.
The stepped conning tower is made from a balsa core wrapped in thin plastic card...
.... not finished yet.
Still working on the bow sonar - I'm not happy with the shape yet.........
.... getting better - the sides if the sonar array are vertical - so plastic card to the rescue.
Much better now.
The conning tower is almost finished.
Making the thrusters,
Bow and stern thrusters - conning tower is temporary.
Making the 'gondola' for the diver saturation lock out using L-shaped plastic.
Flat bottom added from plastic card - with bits of etched brass for 'detail'.
Finished gondola from the side.
Etched brass decking, landing 'skegs', various 'bumps', conning tower, rear diving planes etc all fitted.
Underside view.
All ready for painting.
Adding the support brackets for the DSRV.
Finished Model
Close up of the DSRV.
Scratch-built sail.
Re-contoured bow - with side thrusters.
Retractable skegs.
DSRV and crew figures,
USS Halibut SSN-587 with DDS
Strong carboard box - front artwork.....
Rear artwork showing both versions in the kit.
Extremely good packaging and coloured instructions.
Superbly cast resin parts - note the two styles of sail, the DSRV and etched brass.
The instructions are colour-coded for each variant.
Return
Box top artwork
Rear artwork.
Impressive packing and instructions.
Resin, etched brass and decals.
It's a simple build - after a wash to remove sticky residue, the mould seam on the starboard side was cleaned up....
....the sail and four cruciform diving planes were attached.
Alternative etched brass propellers - and the neat template plugs for bending them.
Side profiles showing the various configurations trialled by Albacore.
USS Parche - a lengthened Sturgeon class sub designed for 'Special Operations'
Using two Miro-Mir Sturgeon class submarine hulls to create one lengthened hull.
Front and rear hull sections ready to be joined.
Hulls joined - and strengthened with strip of plastic card on the inside.
A coat of grey primer to highlight any more filling needed to eliminate all traces of the join.
Sail temporarily in place, 3 'bulkheads' attached to form the forward raised deck.
Plastic card to form the 'roof'........
.... and sides.
I added the sail from the existing Sturgeon kit - but thought it was a bit short in height....
So I removed it and cut a section from the bottom - and grafted it onto the leftover sail from a second kit....
.... it looks OK now.
Ready for the paint shop........
All painted - using car sprays. I made some decals to represent the side manoeuvring thusters.
Bow and stern thrusters applied.
Sikorsky HRS-3 operating from Sealion's aft deck.
AFV Club USS Gato Class - 1943 model
Shapeways Models 1/350 scale Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw models.
The 3d printed helicopters are sold in blocks of 4 models....
... they are stunning works of art - just 36mm (1.5 in) long...
... I just hope my old eyes and fat fingers can do them justice.
USS Lionfish (Balao-style) Fairwater.
When she was converted to the transport role, her bow.........
.... and stern topedo tubes were removed.
I made the raised deck from plastic card - scored to match the kit decking.
The raised deck attached - with the fairwater temporarily in place.
Trying out the HRS-3 for size.
Adding the side panels.......
.... blended in with filler.
Maybe a tad too high.
Top view of the raised decking.
A quick squirt of primer - and it's looking OK.
Not 100% accurate - but it will do.
Modified AFV Club Gato - with Shapeways S-55 helicopter.
Side profile.
Closer view of the Marines helicopter
USS
Albacore -
AGSS-569
(Mikro-Mir)
Page 2 - assembly diagram.
Horizontally-split hull - with great engraved detail.
Conning towe, dive planes etc...
Etched propellers, clear 'windscreen' and decal sheet.
Upper and lower hulls cemented together - and the join filled! Note the filled-in holes for the X-shaped dive planes.
As kitted by MM, the Albacore has a moveable 'rudder' on the rear of the sail....
This was not fitted to the earlier version I am modeling, so...
... I blended it in with filler.
Ready for priming....
The early variant had + shaped rear dive planes - so I used the kit-supplied X planes cut down to size and mounted appropriately.
I decided to use white primer instead of grey as a better base for the orange topsides....
Painted!
I'm guessing that the pennant numbers and other deck markings weren't re-applied until the topside were re-painted black.
This is what I am trying to re-create.....
Here's a link to the story :- https://www.ussnautilus.org/uss-albacore-agss-569-rhapsody-in-orange/
USS
Growler - SSG
577
Instruction sheet Page 1.
Construction diagram for the hull.
Conning tower, Regulus I missile and launch ramp.
Final assembly diagram.
Vertically-split hull with fine engraved detail.
Conning tower, decking and one half of the missile.
Prop shafts, missile half etc - plus the decals sheet and etched brass fret.
Parts for the Regulus missile hangars.
Missile hangar instructions.
Interior painted and constructed as a sub-assembly - ignoring the instructions.
View of the missile hangar sub-assembly...
Missile hangar fitted into port hull half...
Fit isn't brilliant - soon fixed with a smear of filler.
Starboard hull half fitted.
The domed cover doesn't fit precisely - so I covered the port side missile hangar opening with a disc of thin plastic card....
....before fitting the dome.
The side panels are then added - again the fit is a bit 'iffy'....
Port side panel in place - some filler needed!
Both panels in place.
Gaps filled, sanded, primed, more filling/sanding....
... until I'm happy that the join is hidden.
Nine tiny bollards fitted - and a final grey primer coat.
Thin white plastic rod used for the handrail. Six parts make up the missile launch rail...
Five parts for the Regulus I missile - note the 'flash on the rocket boosters. Missile is just 27mm long (1 in approx).
USS Albacore AGSS-569
Box top artwork
Rear artwork.
Impressive packing and instructions.
Resin, etched brass and decals.
It's a simple build - after a wash to remove sticky residue, the mould seam on the starboard side was cleaned up....
....the sail and four cruciform diving planes were attached.
Alternative etched brass propellers - and the neat template plugs for bending them.
Finished Model
Side profiles showing the various configurations trialled by Albacore.
USS Parche SSN-683
USS Parche - a lengthened Sturgeon class sub designed for 'Special Operations'
Using two Miro-Mir Sturgeon class submarine hulls to create one lengthened hull.
Front and rear hull sections ready to be joined.
Hulls joined - and strengthened with strip of plastic card on the inside.
A coat of grey primer to highlight any more filling needed to eliminate all traces of the join.
Sail temporarily in place, 3 'bulkheads' attached to form the forward raised deck.
Plastic card to form the 'roof'........
.... and sides.
I added the sail from the existing Sturgeon kit - but thought it was a bit short in height....
So I removed it and cut a section from the bottom - and grafted it onto the leftover sail from a second kit....
.... it looks OK now.
Ready for the paint shop........
All painted - using car sprays. I made some decals to represent the side manoeuvring thusters.
Bow and stern thrusters applied.
Finished Model
USS Sealion LPSS-315
Photo of
USS Sealion in
her LPSS
(Transport
Submarine)
guise.
Sikorsky HRS-3 operating from Sealion's aft deck.
AFV Club USS Gato Class - 1943 model
Shapeways Models 1/350 scale Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw models.
The 3d printed helicopters are sold in blocks of 4 models....
... they are stunning works of art - just 36mm (1.5 in) long...
... I just hope my old eyes and fat fingers can do them justice.
USS Lionfish (Balao-style) Fairwater.
When she was converted to the transport role, her bow.........
.... and stern topedo tubes were removed.
I made the raised deck from plastic card - scored to match the kit decking.
The raised deck attached - with the fairwater temporarily in place.
Trying out the HRS-3 for size.
Adding the side panels.......
.... blended in with filler.
Maybe a tad too high.
Top view of the raised decking.
A quick squirt of primer - and it's looking OK.
Not 100% accurate - but it will do.
Finished Model
Modified AFV Club Gato - with Shapeways S-55 helicopter.
Side profile.
Closer view of the Marines helicopter
USS
Albacore -
AGSS-569
(Mikro-Mir)
Mikro-Mir
box art.
Page 1 of the
instructions.
Page 2 - assembly diagram.
Horizontally-split hull - with great engraved detail.
Conning towe, dive planes etc...
Etched propellers, clear 'windscreen' and decal sheet.
Upper and lower hulls cemented together - and the join filled! Note the filled-in holes for the X-shaped dive planes.
As kitted by MM, the Albacore has a moveable 'rudder' on the rear of the sail....
This was not fitted to the earlier version I am modeling, so...
... I blended it in with filler.
Ready for priming....
The early variant had + shaped rear dive planes - so I used the kit-supplied X planes cut down to size and mounted appropriately.
I decided to use white primer instead of grey as a better base for the orange topsides....
Painted!
I'm guessing that the pennant numbers and other deck markings weren't re-applied until the topside were re-painted black.
This is what I am trying to re-create.....
Here's a link to the story :- https://www.ussnautilus.org/uss-albacore-agss-569-rhapsody-in-orange/
Finished Model
USS
Growler - SSG
577
Instruction sheet Page 1.
Construction diagram for the hull.
Conning tower, Regulus I missile and launch ramp.
Final assembly diagram.
Vertically-split hull with fine engraved detail.
Conning tower, decking and one half of the missile.
Prop shafts, missile half etc - plus the decals sheet and etched brass fret.
Parts for the Regulus missile hangars.
Missile hangar instructions.
Interior painted and constructed as a sub-assembly - ignoring the instructions.
View of the missile hangar sub-assembly...
Missile hangar fitted into port hull half...
Fit isn't brilliant - soon fixed with a smear of filler.
Starboard hull half fitted.
The domed cover doesn't fit precisely - so I covered the port side missile hangar opening with a disc of thin plastic card....
....before fitting the dome.
The side panels are then added - again the fit is a bit 'iffy'....
Port side panel in place - some filler needed!
Both panels in place.
Gaps filled, sanded, primed, more filling/sanding....
... until I'm happy that the join is hidden.
Nine tiny bollards fitted - and a final grey primer coat.
Thin white plastic rod used for the handrail. Six parts make up the missile launch rail...
Five parts for the Regulus I missile - note the 'flash on the rocket boosters. Missile is just 27mm long (1 in approx).
Finished Model
Return
Mikro-Mir box art.
Horizontaly-split hull.
The only other sprue.
Folded A4 instruction sheet.
Etched brass and decal sheet.
The horizontally-split hull has a lot of flash that needs removing. I added strips of white plastic card to aid alignment.
Very visible joint line that needs the application.....
....filler.
The lockout shelter is in three parts - again with lots of flash.....
The sides added......
... leaving a gap at the front end.
Parts for the sail - and its rear extention.
Remind me to buy shares in filler manufacturers....
Lockout chamber, hull and sail all rubbed down...
Ready for a primer coat...
The Towed Array Sonar is just butt-jointed and very fragile..
The parts for the 'dummy' DSRV.
Painted - using Halfords rattle-can car sprays. Note the broken Towed Array Sonar cable duct...
Nearly there.....
I found this image on the Internet - it shows USS Parche as first launched (top), as first modified - and kitted by Mikro-Mir -
and in her final configuration, with a 100ft hull stretch.
My attempt at reproducing the image above - USS Sturgeon, USS Parche (Early) and USS Parch (Final configuration).
Reverse of the instruction sheet.
Horizontally split hull.
The other sprue - note the 'dummy' DSRV is not provided.
Decal sheet (with depth markings and escape hatches) - and etched-brass parts.
The ventral pannier is made up from a floor (or roof depending on your point of view) - plus two side panels.
I added bits cut from an L-shaped length of white plastic to form a ledge to make a better mating surface
between the sides and floor......
... this made attaching the sides a lot easier.
There are still some gaps to be filled.
The top and bottom hull halves also need a lot of 'fettling' to create good mating
surfaces - aided by the addition of white plastic card strips to strengthen the join.
Joining the upper and lower hulls and applying a first coat of grey primer reveals the usual join line -
easily fixed with an application of model filler...
The ventral pannier joints are also filled and sanded smooth.
The ventral pannier taped to the hull reveals.......
.... especially at the front and rear!!
Some judicious filing along the mating surface makes the fit better - and sorted with filler.
The sail is made up from two side pieces and a top section.
Guess what? - the top pannier isn't a good fit either.
Main parts done - and ready for a coat of grey primer.
Mikro-Mir box art.
Horizontaly-split hull.
The only other sprue.
Folded A4 instruction sheet.
Etched brass and decal sheet.
The horizontally-split hull has a lot of flash that needs removing. I added strips of white plastic card to aid alignment.
Very visible joint line that needs the application.....
....filler.
The lockout shelter is in three parts - again with lots of flash.....
The sides added......
... leaving a gap at the front end.
Parts for the sail - and its rear extention.
Remind me to buy shares in filler manufacturers....
Lockout chamber, hull and sail all rubbed down...
Ready for a primer coat...
The Towed Array Sonar is just butt-jointed and very fragile..
The parts for the 'dummy' DSRV.
Painted - using Halfords rattle-can car sprays. Note the broken Towed Array Sonar cable duct...
Nearly there.....
I found this image on the Internet - it shows USS Parche as first launched (top), as first modified - and kitted by Mikro-Mir -
and in her final configuration, with a 100ft hull stretch.
Finished Model
My attempt at reproducing the image above - USS Sturgeon, USS Parche (Early) and USS Parch (Final configuration).
USS Parche SSN-683 (late)
Micro-Mir box art - note the dummy DSRV on the aft casing.
Front face of
the
instruction
sheet....
Reverse of the instruction sheet.
Horizontally split hull.
The other sprue - note the 'dummy' DSRV is not provided.
Decal sheet (with depth markings and escape hatches) - and etched-brass parts.
The ventral pannier is made up from a floor (or roof depending on your point of view) - plus two side panels.
I added bits cut from an L-shaped length of white plastic to form a ledge to make a better mating surface
between the sides and floor......
... this made attaching the sides a lot easier.
There are still some gaps to be filled.
The top and bottom hull halves also need a lot of 'fettling' to create good mating
surfaces - aided by the addition of white plastic card strips to strengthen the join.
Joining the upper and lower hulls and applying a first coat of grey primer reveals the usual join line -
easily fixed with an application of model filler...
The ventral pannier joints are also filled and sanded smooth.
The ventral pannier taped to the hull reveals.......
.... especially at the front and rear!!
Some judicious filing along the mating surface makes the fit better - and sorted with filler.
The sail is made up from two side pieces and a top section.
Guess what? - the top pannier isn't a good fit either.
Main parts done - and ready for a coat of grey primer.
© Ken Duffey