My Review and Build of Hobby Boss's 1/350 scale Kit #83526 ,
The Russian Yasen Class, Severodvinsk K329 Nuclear Submarine
  
Introduction to the Yasen Class SSN
The Russian Navy operates some of the best nuclear powered submarines in the world. Alhtough they are technologically somewhat behind American nuclear submarines in terms of sensors and in terms of quietness (though they are very quiet themselves), their rugged construction and safety measures in many was exceed that of US submarines, and their weapons fit are just as strong, and in some cases bettrer.
However, after the fall of the Soviet Union, due to severe financial considerations, the submarine force fell into a state of disrepair except for a few units. The Soviet force of scores of nuclear attack, guided missile, and ballistic missile submarines fell off to the point where the Russian Navy did all it could to maintain perhaps 8-10 of each type (and sometimes less) in a seaworth state.
For the attack submarines, from the late 1980s through the first decade of the 2000s, (over twenty years) this consisted of a few Victor III boats, two or three Seirra boats, and a few Akula submarines. The Akula and Akula II submarines were approaching the later flights of the Los Angeles attack submarines that the US Navy deployed in the 1990s. But the US Navy had also moved on to the three Sea Wolf class submarines and the new Virginia Class attack submarines (of which ten have already been build and put into service) which were hands down the quietest and most lethal attack submarines that existed in any numbers on the earth.
The Russians desired to build a new, modern class of attack submarine that would be able to compete with the American boats. The result of that desire became the Project 885 Yasen/Graney class submarine. Inital design plans for the boat germinated not long after the fall of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s, but plans for it had to be put on hold due to financial considerations. The Russians did attempt to start constructing the 1st boat in 1993, but were unable to proceed so the projject remained on hold.
Finally in the 2004 time frame, Russia had enough money to proceed. Still, because of national emphgasis on the new class of Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBN), the Borei class, progress was slow. But, ultimately, in June 2010, the first boat, the Severodvinsk, K-329, was launched. she began her sea trials in september 2011, and was commissioned into the Russian fleet in December 2013.
A second boat, the Kazan was laid down in July 2009. A thrid boat, the Novosibirsk, was laid down. The 2nd boat is expected to be launched in 2014. The 3rd boat is expected to be launched in 2017. Russia intends to build ten of these vessels.
The Russians designed these boats really to be a hybrid vessel that will replace both the SSN class attack submarines (like the Victor IIIs, the Akulas and Sierras) and to replace the Oscar and Oscar II Class SSGN, guided missile submarines as well. Although they will be officially classed with the SSN designation, they will be very capanble in both roles. (Note: The US Navy intends to insert a new hull extension into Virginia Class SSNs beginning in 2018. This "Payload Module" will add 28 vertical launch tubes to future Virginia Class SSNs, bringing their total VLS tube count to 40, and allow them to to become hybrid SSN/SSGN boats like the Yasen). Because of their additional vertical launch missile tubes and because of the double pressure hull and additional ballast the Russians build into their submarines, the Yasen Class vessels have a large displacement.
The Specifications of the Yasen class indlude:
Displacement: 13,000 tons
Length: 390 ft. (120 m)
Beamt: 50 ft. (15 m)
Draft: 27.3 ft (8.4 m) Speed:
- 20 knots surfaced
- 28 knots submerged (Quiet)
- 35 knots submerged (Max)
Depth: 1,950 ft (600 m) (Test)
Crew: 90 (32 officers)
Armament:
- 32 x VLS Cells
- 08 x 650mm torpedo tubes
- 02 x 533mm torpedo tuibes
Thirty two Cruise missiles, Anti-ship missiles, or anti-submarine missile for VLS tubes
Forty torpedos, anti-ship missile, anti-submarine missiles, or mines for torpedo tubes.
What's in the Box
Hobby Boss builds numerous 1/350 scale submarines. They always do a good job with very nicely detailed injected molded plastic parts, and adding photo etched detailed parts to each class. This Yasen Class vessel is no exception.
The hull comes in two pieces, an upper and lower half which dry fit extremely well together with no gaps and very little seam. The sail is abuilt into the upper hull and has the characteristic smooth, blended modl of Russian attack submarines. The numerous details on the hull have been done very well, with the various tiles and other details are all finely etched into or raised appropriately on the surface. The prop assembly looks very good, with little of no flash on the pieces.
The kit comes with the two hull havles, a sprue that contains the sail, dive planes, stabilizors, and all of the antennae and sensors for the masts (25 parts altogether). Another bag contains the base for the stand. A PE sprue contains various sensors, panels, and a name plate for the stand (12 parts altogether). This makes for a total of 40 parts which should allow for a fairly quick build. Here's how that looks out of the box:
  
The decals are on a sheet and contain hull markings, flags, and other markings for varios hatches and sensors on the vessel. The paint scheme, like all Hpobby Boss paint schemes is on a glossy, full color sheet that gives a very good representation of the vessel and all of its markings in three views. The instructions are on a two page instruction sheet and are very intuitive. The decals are on a sheet
   The Build - Assembly of the hull and the dive planes and rudders. Painting the hull.- January 7, 2014
I started by simply glueing together the upper and lower hull halves. They were a superb fit. I then gathered and assembled the dive planes, rudders, and control surfaces. These included ten pieces and went together very well. Hobby Boss usually has either recesses indentations where these parts fit into the hull, or slight raised outlines for them. Both provide a much better seal for the glue and thus a tighter, stronger fit with little gap.
  
I then painted the completed hull. I painted it in Floquil Weathered Black. This is a slightly off black color that does well for many applications like non-skid surfaces on submarines, or for the type of tire black called for here by Hobby Boss.
  
Next session I will add all persicopes and all of the sensors on the sail, including the hatches for each of the periscopes and sensors to retract into the sail. I will also add the PE pieces to the boat. In addition, I will add the screw on the back of the vessel.
SCHEDULE for Future Activities - January 7, 2014
- By Feb 31, 2014, Start the Russian Carrier Group centerd on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov with a CGN, a DDGs and a SSN.
- By Apr 31, 2014, Start the US Navy Amphibious Ready Group centered on the Gallery USS Wasp with an LHD, an LPD, a DDG, a SSN and two LCS.
- By Jul 31, 2014, Start the PLAN Amphibious Ready Group centered on the Trumpeter Type 071 LPD-999, with a FFG, and three DDGs.
- By Sep 31, 2014 Go back and start fleshing out the rest of the DDG and FFG escorts for each CSG and ARG group.
The completion of the PLAN Carrier group was centered on the already completed Trumpeter's 1/350 scale PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier CV-16, Liaoning, (in addition to the other escorts already completed) included Mini Hobby's's PLAN Guangzhou, DDG-168. I recently pre-ordered a 1/350 scale model of the PLAN Type 071 LPD, Yuzhao Class, announced by Trumpeter and due out in October, 2013. I will end up adding two of those, propbably LPD-998 Yuzhao and LPD-999, Jinggangshan, add the PLAN- DDG-139, Ningbo, and the PLAN DDG-115, Shenyang, along with the PLAN Weifang, FFG-550 and thus build a PLAN ARG.
The completion of the US Carrier Strike group was centered on the completed Tamyia's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65, (in addition ot the other escorts already completed) included Trumpeter's, USS Freedom, LCS-1, Dragon's USS Preble, DDG-88 and Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. When a 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-80 (or any Gerald R. Ford Class) is released from Trumpeter, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser. Whichever Ford Class coms out in 1/350 scale, I will build it as the USS Enterprise, CVN-80.
The US ARG will include Tamiya's 1/350 scale, USS Iowa, BB-62(which I have already completed), Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Gallery's 1/350 scale USS Sommerset, LPD-25, Bronco Models 1/350 Scale USS New York, LPD-21, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Acadamy's 1/350 scale USS Rueben James, FFG-57, and another Flight IIA US AEGIS class detroyer based on Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Lassen, DDG-82...all of these models which I already own.
The completion of the UK Group featured the Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Illustrious, R06as its centerp[iece until a 1/350 scale Queen Elizabeth carrier is released. When that happens, I will add that carrier to the group as its centerpiece. The Royal Navy CSG will also include two Airfix 1/350 scale Daring Class DDGs (one of which is already completed), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Type 23 HMS Duke class Frigates (one of which is already completed), and the Hobby Boss 1/350 scale HMS Astute SSN (which is also already completed) and Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Tragalgar SSN. One day, when a 1/350 scale HMS Ocean LPD come out, I will use tt to start building a Royal Navy ARG.
The French CSG is centered on Heller's 1/400 scale Charles De Gualle, R91. I have purchased the 1/400 scale Heller French De Grasse, D612 DDG, which is an ASW DDG, the French Duquesne, D603 DDG which is an anti-air multi-purpose DDG, and the French Aconit D612 FFG and Gueprattet F714 FFGs, both of which are Lafayette class frigates. These five vessels will round out my French CSG. As soon as a French Robin class nuclear sub, like the French Perale S606 SSN is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will add that to the group. Also as soon as the Forbin D620, Horizon class anti-air DDG is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will purchase two of them and replace the De Grrasse and Duquesne with them, and then save those two for when a Mistral Class LPD is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale so I can create a French ARG with those vessels.
The completion of the Japanese JMSDF group was centered on Fujimi's very finely detailed, 1/350 scale Hyuga, DDH-181. It will be escorted by Trumpeter's 1/350 scale DDG-177, Atago, an AEGIS class DDG and the JMSDF, DDG-174, Kongo class (which I own), Trumpeters's 1/350 scale DDG-114 Susunami and DDG-111 (both of which are Takinami Class DDGs which I own), and by the 1/350 scale SS-503 Hakuryu (which I own), one of Japans new, very modern and capable AIP Diesel Electric submarines. As soon as a DDG-115 Akizuki in 1/350 scale is released, I will add it to this group. Should a 1/350 scale Osumi Class LPD be relased, I will buy two of those vessels and create a JMSDF ARG.
Then, finally it will be a complete Russian CSG (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov which I own) the Russian Kirov Class nuclear battle cruiser (CGN), the Peter the Great, by Trumpeter (which I own), the Russian Slava Class cruiser, Varyag by Trumperter (which I own), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Udaloy DDGs (which I own), Hobby Boss's Akula II class SSN (which I own), and the new Yasen class Russian SSN (which I own), all in 1/350 scale. Some time in the more distant future when a 1/350 scale Russian version of the French Mistral class comes out (which is building in real life right now), I will add two of those and build a Russian ARG.
Recently I purchased Heller's 1/400 scale Foch, the Clemceau Class carrier that was sold to the Brazilians in 2000 and in 2002 was refitted and became the Brazilian CV, Sao Paulo, using steam catapaults. I will build the model as the Sao Paulo and thus start a Brazilian group, though the Type 22 DDGs and the FFGs the Brazilians use are not available at present. I have however purchased a set of 1/400 scale A-4 Skyhawks and S-3 Trackers to build a suitable airwing for the Sao Paulo.
Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build an Italian Carrier Strike Group centered on the Cavour and their Horizon DDGs, a Spanish Carrier Strike Group centered on the Juan Carlos and their F-100 AEGIS FFGs, and ultimatly an Australian Strike Group centered on the new Canberra Class LPD and the Hobart class AEGIS DDGs. If they ever build the models, an Indian Carrier Strike Group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier, the Vikrant, and their Kolkata class DDGs and Shivlak class FFGs would also be nice.
Years more worth of work!
You can see all of these actual carriers, read their histories and specifictions at my site:
WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS
...and most of their surface escorts at:
AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD
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