1:350 SS-571 Nautilus Kits?

I do not think so. However I recently built the Blue Ridge 1/350 resin kit, and it is truly a fine model.

www.blueridgemodel.com

I cannot recommend it highly enough!

A really good book is "The Ice Diaries" by Captain Anderson.

GMorrison

I do not think so. However I recently built the Blue Ridge 1/350 resin kit, and it is truly a fine model.

www.blueridgemodel.com

I cannot recommend it highly enough!

A really good book is "The Ice Diaries" by Captain Anderson.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Per one website, I thought that kit was OOP.

I will also check on the book by the captain of the Nautilus.

The 1/350 kit of SSN 571 USS Nautilus by Micro Mir is quite nice.  I just received mine a few days ago and was pleasantly surprised by the overall quality.  I took the kit down to the USS Nautilus Museum in Groton, CT (I live nearby) and compared the kit visually against the real ship.  It compares quite well in detail and proportion. Plus, it is a fraction of the cost of a resin kit.

On a similar note, I also received my order for all of their USN nuclear boats. These include the Thresher, Permit, Sturgeon, Sturgeon-class long hull, Skipjack, Skate, and the SSBN 598 USS George Washington.  Don't pass these kits by if you are a modern-era submarine enthusiast!

Bill

Thanks for the tip on Micro Mir kits.

I am checking for availability.

I ordered mine on eBay directly from Ukraine. It took two weeks to receive them, but they arrived in terrific condition.

Bill

I found it on the Freetime Hobbies website. The price is about $25.

What an ironic commentary on the weird state of the plastic kit industry. American modelers have to rely on a Russian company for a plastic kit of the most famous American Cold War submarine. Admiral Rickover must be turning in his grave.

Could You Mean ;

   Spinning at 350 Rpm as would a sub screw ?

jtilley

I found it on the Freetime Hobbies website. The price is about $25.

What an ironic commentary on the weird state of the plastic kit industry. American modelers have to rely on a Russian company for a plastic kit of the most famous American Cold War submarine. Admiral Rickover must be turning in his grave.

It is ironic that the Russians would offer a kit of our subs...................just as I notice how many of the USA's modern fleet are offered in kit form by companies on the Chinese mainland...........

I have the impression that virtually all the major manufacturers nowadays actually have their kits molded in Asia. Even the Eduard 1/48 Spitfire was (according to the box) molded in South Korea.

Hi,

In real life I'm actually a Naval Architect, & Marine Engineer and to be honest in the past I've actually bought a couple model kits that were made in China to help demonstrate some ideas and also do a little reverse engineering.  I realize that the models may not be 100% accurate, but on many of them you can tell that the company has gone to great lengths to try and make them look accurate, and taking rough measurements off a model alot of times is a bit handier than trying to take measurements off photos from the internet or other sources.

jtilley

I have the impression that virtually all the major manufacturers nowadays actually have their kits molded in Asia. Even the Eduardo 1/48 Spitfire was (according to the box) molded in South Korea.

PFJN

Hi,

In real life I'm actually a Naval Architect, & Marine Engineer and to be honest in the past I've actually bought a couple model kits that were made in China to help demonstrate some ideas and also do a little reverse engineering.  I realize that the models may not be 100% accurate, but on many of them you can tell that the company has gone to great lengths to try and make them look accurate, and taking rough measurements off a model alot of times is a bit handier than trying to take measurements off photos from the internet or other sources.

I would not be surprised if the Chinese model makers had access to naval architect plans of the ships.

Oh, well.  I can now build most classes of USN nuclear boats.  I forgot to mention that Micro-Mir also makes the L. Mendel Rivers, another Sturgeon variant.  Now, if they would only manufacture a kit of my first boat . . . USS Ethan Allen SSBN/SSN 608 and the other classes of the original "42 For Freedom".  Given their recent release of the USS George Washington, I have no doubt that they will do so.

Bill

I forgot to add that these kits come with some photo etch parts. In the case of the Skipjack and later, the propeller is the only photo etch part. But, five-bladed and seven-bladed propellers are included.  The Nautilus and the Skate, however, comes with very well-detailed photo etch decks, propellers, hand rails, radars, and other miscellaneous parts.  I just dry-fitted the Nautilus parts; the fit is very good.  Masts and antennae seem somewhat simplistic at first glance until a cursory check of the instructions revealed that those miscellaneous photo etch parts are to detail them.  There are also parts for the hydraulic struts to the bow planes. The photo etch anchors are realistically depicted and are actually in several parts.

The only negatives that I can find are that there is some minor flash to deal with, and that the lower hull detailing is too lightly engraved.  Other than that, these are very nice kits of previously unavailable submarines.  And, Micro-Mir has also released some early Soviet-era boats. I also got the Whiskey for my collection.

Man, what a great time to be a ship modeller!

Bill

Micro Mir is in Ukraine. Ukraine is NOT a part of Russia. At least not this morning.

It does sound like they are in the business of selling other peoples kits, so I don't know the provenance of those US boats. Good to hear that they look good.

My personal wish list is USS Triton SSRN-586, USS John C. Calhoun SSBN-630 and USS Simon Bolivar SSBN-641.

I am looking at their Skate sprue shots online.

The refinement of detail and general finish of the Blue Ridge Nautilus is easily several orders of magnitude higher that that of these kits, which have pretty overstated recessed lines.

A really different kind of thing.

Interesting. The photos might be of a prototype model because the recessed lines are somewhat understated on my kit.  But, I'm sure that the Blue Ridge kit is as nice as their other kits.  I have several submarine kits by the old Yankee Models, which were the now Blue Ridge kits.  The detail is nice but I question their accuracy of scale.

For example, I have the Yankee Models USS George Washington, which is a good three inches smaller than the Micro-Mir variant.  The Micro-Mir kit seems much more accurate in scale than the resin kit.  I also have the Yankee Models Soviet Akula, Alfa, and the German Type XXI, all of which are significantly smaller that than their Hobby Boss, and Bronco counterparts.  Also, the Yankee G.W. does not appear to fit in the same scale as the Dragon Ohio class submarines, but the Micro-Mir kit does.  However, I haven't done any math to determine scale accuracy; I am just going by general appearances.

Anyway, since it seems that the Micro-Mir and the Blue Ridge kits of the Nautilus are the only games in town, whichever one pleases the individual modeler is the one to go with.

Bill

Belay my last!  I just physically compared both the Yankee Models USS George Washington with that by Micro-Mir.  The Micro-Mir model is one inch longer, slightly bigger around, and has finely engraved hull opening and penetration detail both above and below the waterline.  The Yankee Models kit has better upper hull details but nothing below the waterline except the torpedo tubes.  Neither has overstated engraved hull details.

Therefore, I believe that the primary difference between the kits rests in the medium in which the kit is modeled.  If the builder prefers injection-molded plastic over resin, go with Micro-Mir. If he prefers resin over injection-molded plastic, go with the resin kit.  Both present decent models. Each requires a different set of skills.

Bill

I did decide to order that 1/350 Nautilus by Micro Mir as I am currently more experienced with plastic vs. resin.

I look forward to building it .

Too bad the other 1/350 Micro Mir kits of modern subs were sold out. 

Apparently, those are popular with ship builders.

Thanks for the input, guys.

Sprue,

Keep looking!  I am enjoying my model of the Thresher today, the 54th anniversary of her loss. May the crew rest in peace!

Bill

warshipguy

Sprue,

Keep looking!  I am enjoying my model of the Thresher today, the 54th anniversary of her loss. May the crew rest in peace!

Bill

I was 7 at the time and I remember the incident very well.  I also remember thinking that we would soon see a plastic model kit of her but one never materialized until the recent release by Micro-Mir. It is a shame that all the growth within our hobby comes from overseas.

Bill

warshipguy

...........  I also remember thinking that we would soon see a plastic model kit of her but one never materialized until the recent release by Micro-Mir. ........................Bill

I honestly don't know, so I emailed the company and asked them about their history. I will post an answer when they respond.  I also asked them if they have any plans to manufacture a kit of the USS Ethan Allen (SSBN 608), my first boat.

Bill

I just received my Micro Mir kit.

It appears to be a very nicely crafted kit and the photo etch items are a bonus.

The improvements in both information and technology certainly are evident when comparing the old 1950s Revell kit with the Micro Mir kit.

I can certainly see why so many of the Micro Mir kits are sold out and I expect to buy many more of the nuclear sub kits as they are re-stocked.

.

Thanks again for the advice and info.

It's worth noting that (according to Dr. Graham's history of Revell) that old Revell kit was released in 1953 - months before the real Nautilus was launched. The kit designers had no idea of what the real thing would look like; the plans were strictly classified. Three plastic kit companies, Revell, Aurora, and Lindberg, raced each other to get a model of her on the hobby shelves. According to Dr. Graham, Aurora guessed a little better than the other two, but none of them would qualify as a scale model today. But it's an interesting museum piece in the history of plastic kits.

The Revell kit, however, was one of the company's best sellers well into the 1960s.

The designers made it a little more sophisticated-looking than the competition by adding the Loon missile, launcher, and "hangar" tank - none of which the real Nautilus ever carried.

LOL I built it when I was 9-10 late '50s. Plastic with a LOT of glue all over it. Loved subs ever since!

jtilley

......... Aurora guessed a little better than the other two, but none of them would qualify as a scale model today. But it's an interesting museum piece in the history of plastic kits.

I built that AURORA kit under the Sea Wolf variation during the 1960s.............unfortunately, it did not survive my first move - a fate which befell most of my assembled kits.

I am surprised by the Loon on the Revell kit as my AURORA sub had an all in one , very crude multi stage missile and launcher 

.

FWIW........a photo of the AURORA Nautilus- dunno how long it will remain viewable

http://www.gasolinealleyantiques.com/kits/images/Boat/aurora-nautilus1.JPG