My Review and Build of Trumpeter 1/350 scale Kit #05606,
Russian Kuznetsov 063, Aircraft Carrier
Introduction and What's in the Box - May 10, 2014
Introduction and Overview
The Soviet Union was very agressive in its maritime/naval operations. It developed a robust surface and sub-surface military capability in the open sea and agressively pursued its interests there, and made a point of challenging the US Navy.
One of the principle doctrines of the Soviet Union was to develop a nuclear submarine, ballistic missile capability (SSBN) that could be used as a credible deterrent to any first strike, and could also itself be used as part of a first strike option. To this end the Soviets produced numerous nuclear missile capable nuclear submarines and created "bastions" for them, from which they would be able to launch their weapons in relative safety.
In order to assure that safety, the USSR developed surface action groups that they used to defend those bastions against intrusion and attack by oposition forces, particularly opposition submarines.
Utlimately, the Soviets realized that they would need aircraft carrier groups to help defend these bastions, and to perform other maritime operations in pursuit of Soviet interests.
The emphasis of the carriers that the Soviets designed, and this consisted of first the two Moskva-class helicopter carriers, followed by the four Kiev-class carriers (both of which were essentially guided missile cruisers with progressively larger landing decks), was to provide significant anti-submarine and anti-surface guided missile capabilities, to be assisted, first by helicopters (Moskva) in those roles, and then by VSTOL aircraft (Kiev). As time progressed, it became apparent that these vessels, even with fairly significant anti-air capabilities, were woefully inadequate to defend the submarine bastions, and perfrom other maritime duties if they were threatened by a US aircrft carrier group.
So, in order to address these deficiencies, the Soviet Union developed a 65,000 ton, angled, full-deck carrier of their own. This aircraft carrier would be large enough to embark a strong air wing of air superiority fighters, and numerous helicoptes so it could perform both air defence for the groups protecting the submarines, and perfrom significant ASW duties itself. The Carrier also carried a heavy, anti-surface guided missile armamnet of twelve, long range P-700 Granite missiles for confronting and attacking any large surface combatants that intended to penetrate the bastion.
The Admiral Kuznetsov was the result of this design effort. She was laid down in 1982, launched in 1985, and initially commissioned in 1990. But she did not become operational until 1995, ten years after her launch. This was because of the fall of the Soviet Union, which intervened, and the lack of funding for the Russian Federation to complete the vessel until that time.
During that process, the Admiral Kuznetsov started construction as the Riga; was launched as the Leonid Brezhnev; embarked on he sea trials as Tbilisi; and was ultimately named Kuznetsov under the current Russian Federation. A second vessel was started, the Varyag, built to the same specifications. When the Soviet Union fell in the early 1990s, the Varyag was over 85% complete, but there were no funds to complete her. Ultimately, in the later 1990s she was put up for sale and the Chinese bought her in the early 2000s and she was towed to China and completely refitted and completed, then launched and commissioned as the Liaoning, CV-16 for the Chinese Navy, the PLAN.
Specifications for the Kuznetsov include the following:
Displacement: 65,000 tons (full load)
Length: 1,001 feet
Beam: 236 feet
Draft: 33 ft.
Speed: 29 knots
Propulsion: 8 x turbo-pressurized boliers
2 × 50,000 hp (37 MW) turbines
9 × 2,011 hp (1,500 kW) turbogenerators
6 × 2,011 hp (1,500 kW) diesel generators
4 x shafts
Crew: 1,690
Aircraft: Up to 50 aircraft, consisting of:
- 14 x SU-33 Air Superiority fighters (Current)
- 28 x Mig-29K Strike fighters (After refit))
- 04 x SU-25 attack aircraft
- 12 x KA-27 ASW helicopters
- 04 x KA-31 AEW helciopters
Armament:
- 12 x P700 Granite SSMs (VLS)
- 18 x 8 3K95 Kinzhal SAMs (VLS)
- 08 x Kashtan CIWS (2 x 30mm cannon + 8 x 3k87 SAMs each)
- 08 x AK-630 30mm CIWS
- 02 x 10 RBU-12000 UDAV-1 ASW Rocket launchers
Elevators: 2
These are very heavily armed vessels. With very significant self defenses, a strong airwing, and a heavy anti-surface capability.
In 2012, it was announced that the Kuznetzov would undergo a 3+ year refit beginning in 2014-2015. During the refit the basic nature of the role of the carrier would be changed. The 12 large anti-surface missiles will be removed and the hanger spaces enlarged. The older SU-33 air superiority fighters will be retired in favor of new-build, Mig-29K strike fighters, which the carrier will embark twice as many of. These fighters are the same aircraft that the Russian Federation has sold to India in significant numbers to equip two Indian carriers, the Vikramaditya (which is a complete refit of the last of the Kiev class carriers, giving it a full deck with a ski jum), and the Vikrant, the Indian's first indegenous carrier.
What's in the Box:
Trumpeter is a Chinese modeling company that has emerged over the last ten years as perhaps the largest model maker in the world, and one of the best.
They have a very large inventory of 1/350 scale warships from most of the world's navies. They iclude vessels from World War I and before, up to modern times.
The Kuznbetsov is one of these kits...and it is a large kit, with a lot of details.
Trumpeter models have very little flash or other modling issues. They create very small intricate plastic pieces for most of the ship's sensors. Many of their current, new kits include photo etch metal parts for finer sensor detail, for railings, ladders, and other equipment. The Kuznetsov model does not include any PE parts with it.
it does however contain very well modled parts for most sensors. It also includes a full waterline option to build the vessel either as a waterline ship, or as a full hull. I elect to build my vessels full hull.
The kit also comes with a very decent number of aircraft, each of which is a miniature model in and of itself. The kit comes with SU-33 aircraft, Mig-29 aircraft, Yak-141 VSTOL aircraft,and KA-27 ASW helicopters. I wil augmented my Kuznetsov with a more modern, more realistic air wing.
I have purchased, from Trumpeter, more 1/350 scale aircraft of various types. As a result, I intend to build her as she will appear after her refit, embarking only 4-6 SU-33s, and 12 Mig-29Ks. The Yak-141 was a supersonic VSTOL aircraft that never came into production, so I will not use it. But I will have 4 Ka-31 AEW helos and 6 KA-27 ASW helos.
The kit has no provision for a hanger deck. I intend to scratch build an entire hanger deck and add a lighting system to it.
The kit comes with an excellent set of decals, but I am adding an after market decal set that is more accurate in some areas, and contains a number of markings not included with the set in the kit.
Finally, I have added the White Ensign Model photo etch metal set for the 1/350 scale Kuznetsov, which includes all of the railing, safety netting, and sensors as Photo Etch metal parts, along with a Gold Metal Models railing and ladder set in 1/350 scale.
The kit has an excellent instruction booklet, and a full-color painting guide.
Sadly, when opening my kit, I found that the two "E" Frets were missing from the sealed parts. This is concerning. The "E" frets include the elevators, and a number of structural components.
Luckily, I bought the kit from a very reputable, Chinese site on ebay called sell_model. It has been over a year and a half since I bought the kit. when I receive it, I did a cursury opening and review. Upon seeing everything came sealed, I presumed that all the parts were there.
I was wrong, and have no found that the two "E" frets were not included.
I contacted sell_model and explained the porblem and sent them a picture of it (included below). To my surprise, they immediately agreed to ship me the two missing frets, completely at their cost, even though it had been so long. As you can imagine, they have earned more of my business. I have bought from them a number of times. They have some of the best prices available, with reasonable shipping from China. Usually the shipping takes time so you canot be in a hurry...but ultimately their products have always been well cared for, completely sealed, and a real bargain after all was said and done.
Now I find that they completely stand behind the prodcut, even 18 months later. I will buy more from them and encourage others to do the same. It's the the sell_model store on ebay. Huge inventory, great prices, and phenominal support.
Here are pictures of everything out of the box:
This is going to be a really fun build, and for a complete carrier of this size and air wing, with a full hanger and a lighting system, will probably take at least two months. We shall see.
The Build: Lower Hull Structural support, Sponsons, the Hanger Deck - May 12, 2014
The upper hull is in one large piece, but it has tabs for metal stiffners that have to be fitted and screwed in place. It comes with enough screws for one side of these metal stiffners, and the other side has a flange that fits into a slot on the starboard side. However, I had a bunch of plastic push screws to further tighten those down, along with screwing the stiffners into the port side.
Then it was time to build some of the auxillary decks on the port side, and then add the sponsons both forward and aft. These sponsons hold the various defense armaments for the vessel.
It turns out that the parts for the auxillary decks on the port side, toward the aft, use parts from the "E" frets. I fabricated some plastic parts to fill in. If the "E" parts mailed to me arrive in time, I will replace them when they come. Ptherwise, what I have done here will work and I will move forward.
I also added the bulbous bow to the lower portion of the hull in this session. Here's how all of that went, including the forward and aft sponsons.
At this point I began building the hanger deck. Since I am not using the waterline plate, I used that large plastic part to form the deck for the hanger. I added some support pieces underneath to ensure that they held in place. I have a good bit of plastic stock in 8 1/2 x 11" pieces to cut up for the hanger deck walls. Once all of that was completed, I painted the hanger in the gray/green floor (using Testor's Light Green and Model Master Light Ghost Gray in a 50-50 mix), and lighter gray walls used on the Kuznetsov, adding a white seperator line between the two, as shown in the last photo.
As you can see in that last photo, this session I also painted the lower hull and its sponsons in the darker gray typical of Russian Federation vessels. I used Model Master Gray primer for this.
I will now go in and add details on the hanger deck and build the aoircraft I intend to place there. Also, will start (and perhaps finish) the lighting system for the hanger deck in the next session.
SCHEDULE for Future Activities - May 5, 2014
- By May 31, 2014, Complete the Russian Kuznetsov carrier.
- By Jul 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 Sep 31, 2014, Start the PLAN Amphibious Ready Group centered on the Trumpeter Type 071 LPD-999, with a FFG, and three DDGs.
- By Nov 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