My Review and Build of Bronco Model's 1/350 scale Kit #NB5020,
Gepard, K-335, Akula III Nuclear Attack Submarine
Introduction and What's in the Box - September 28, 2014
About the ship:
This model is a 1/350 scale model depiction of the Russian Akula III class Nuclear attack submarine, Gepard, K-335.
The Akula nuclear attack submarines (SSNs) were built by the Soviet Union beginning in the 1980s as an asnwer to the US Navy's Loa Angeles class submarines that were built throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The Soviet Union, and then later, the Russian Navy, built a total of fifteen of these boats in three batches. They were called Akula I, II, and II. Six Akula I SSNs were built and put in service by the Soviets. Seven Akula IIs were built and put in service by the Soviets and then the Russians. One Akula III was built and put in service by the Russian Navy.
The Gepard, K-335, is the only Akula III class submarine in service. It was built after the fall of the Soviet Union by the Russian Navy, being laid down on September 23, 1991 at Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk; was renamed Gepard on February 22, 1993; was launched on September 17, 1999; and was commissioned in January 2002, well over ten years after its construction started. It was the last Russian Akula vessel put in service for the Russian Navy.
Six other Akula IIs were started by the Russians. Of those, three of the hulls were later used to build more modern ballistic missile submarines. Of the three remaining, one, K-152, Nerpal, was contracted for completion and funded by the Indian Navy, and ultimately completed and commissioned in 2009, and then leased to the Indian Navy for ten years, with an option for a second ten period, as the INS Chakra in 2011. A second, similar vessel which is laid up incomplete, is said to have been contracted by the Inidans for completion like the Chakra.
The Akula II design increased the length of the Akula I desing by three meters and increased the displacement by 700 tons. The Akula IIs had significant quieting measures added to them, and they updated their . sonar system/suite with the MGK-540 Skat-3 sonar system.
The Akula III project increased the length of the original Akula design over that of the Akula II. Notably, the very large towed array that had been housed on top of the vertical rudder of the Akula I and II SSNs was removed, and replaced with a much more compact and modern towed array housed within the hull of the vessel. In addition, the sail was enlarged somewhat and set up somewhat higher with less gradual fairing into the hull as a result. Finally, the Akula III benefitted significantly from the sell to Russia by Japan of nine axis CNC milling equipment from Toshiba which had originally been developed by the Norwegian firm, Kongsberg Vaapenfabrik. This allowed the Russian to make the Akula III significantly quieter than previous Akula vessles, matching the quietness of the Improved Los Angeless Class boats that were later produced by the US Navy in the 1990s.
All Akulas are double hulled submarines which allow them to have significantly more reserve buoancy than single hulled vessels. it also imparts significant strength to them allowing them to dive deeper, and be more resistant to light weight torpedos. Conversely, these designs also require more poer to allow them to operated at depth and at speed.
The Akulas, including the Akula III, K-335, Gepard, are heavily armed with four 533mm torpedo tubes and four 650mm torpedo tubes. They carry in excess of 40 weapons of all varieties including heavy weight conventional torpedos, short range rocket powered super-cavitating torpedos, conventional and nuclear cruise missiles, and mines. Twelve Granite missiles are usually carried for the 4 650mm torpedo tubes.
Specifications of the Pepard, K-335, Akula III:
Displacement: 12,770 tons
Length: 110.8 m (360 ft)
Beam: 13.6 m (44 ft)
Draft: 9.7 m (31.5 ft)
Propulsion:
- 1 x OK-650M Thermal nuclear reactor (190 mW)
- 2 x 410 shp auxiliary motors
- 2 x 750 shp diesel generators DG-300
Max Speed: 33 knots submerged, 12 knots surfaced
Operating depth: 520 m (1,700 ft)
Test Depth: 600 m (1,950 ft)
Compliment: 73 personnel
Armament:
- 4 x 533mm torpedo tubes (28 weapons)
- 4 x 650mm torpedo tubes (12 weapons)
- 3 x SA-N-10 Igla-M SAMs launched from the sail
The Kit:
The Bronco kit is well done. Brnco produces great 1/350 scale model kits, particularly for submarines.
They always have an excellent instruction booklet that includes a full color patining scheme and include the paint stock number for several paint manufactureres. The instructions are always intuitive and well laid out.
This kit comes with a full length hull split into three pieces, a single piece for the upper hull, and two pieces for the lower hull. Except for the very forward part of the sail, the entire sail is molded directly into the upper hull section.
There are a lot of details, and options including the compartments for the auxillary propulsion units on either side. I intend to show one of them open. In addition, the control surfaces on the vertical rudders and horizontal surfaces can be built to move, which I intend to do.
There are two sprues of grey modled parts and the stand included. In addition a small prue of photo etch metal parts is included with the nameplate and straps for the sides of the sail for personnel to hold to when the vessel is surfaced.
All in all, there are 60 parts to the model.
The kit also includes a nice set of water-slide decals. It includes 32 decals.
Here's how all of that looks out of the box:
The Build - Buidling the hull and adding the control surfaces, painting the hull - September 28, 2014
The hull went together quickly and fit well. Once it was glued together I began adding all of the control surfaces as well as the compartment for the auxilliary propulsion.
Once that was completed (and dried) I painted the entire hull in a flat black, and then masked off the lower hull and painted it in Ensignia Red.
She's looking good. I will next work on the masts, decals, and completion in the next session.
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