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Kitbashing a Virginia-class submarine in 1/250
After building Seawolf and Jimmy Carter, I decided to try my hand at a Virginia-class attack submarine. Unfortunately, there aren’t any free card models of one.
The Virginia class is the submarine the U.S. government decided to build after realizing the Seawolf class would be too expensive. Visually, the two look similar, have similar sails and tail arrangements and propulsion. But Virginia-class boats are longer than the Seawolf and have a narrower beam. So I started thinking…. With some creative photocopying and resizing and cutting and gluing, why couldn’t I kitbash a Virginia-class submarine in 1/250th scale? I got out the calculator and ruler and did some figuring. I’ve had trouble getting gray models printed at my local print store, so I thought, “Hey, these boats are mostly black. Why don’t I just print it on the black and white printer we have at home?” I resized and repurposed the late John Bowden's private redesign of Jimmy Carter, which started out as Trent Henry's Seawolf. The results were so-so, and it ain't pretty, but I figured it could be considered built-in weathering. The early Virginia-class boats had hulls that were assembled of 10 sections, so I'm thinking that plays into the look. The kitbash required some creative work and I had to scratchbuild a few items, but it looks like a Virginia-class boat, more or less, and will have to do until a professional designs one. I also scratchbuilt the Dry Deck Shelter (DDS), the compartment on the top of the hull that can carry SEALs and divers and various equipment. Several Virginia-class subs are equipped to carry a DDS. Last edited by dhanners; 06-28-2020 at 11:18 PM. |
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#2
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Well, I think you did an excellent job there. Well worthwhile the effort!
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The SD40 is 55 now! |
#3
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Model looks ready for the movie's special effects team to place on the set.
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Screw the rivets, I'm building for atmosphere, not detail. later, F Scott W |
#4
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Thanks. You're too kind. In the building process, I read a few modeling articles online about weathering modern submarines. When I got the model done, I realized I was most of the way there, although the model lacks the "scum line," which is basically the sub's waterline when it is surfaced. They usually have all kinds of gunk below the scum line.
I might go back and add some very light and restrained rust streaks. Apparently, it isn't unusual to see them on modern subs, although they are nothing like what you'd see on a WWII U-boat. Here are a couple of close-ups of the DDS. I scratchbuilt it out of 160gsm paper; it is about 4.7cm long. I painted it dark gray, then added a little drybrushing with light gray. Last edited by dhanners; 06-29-2020 at 03:01 AM. |
#5
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Be sure to check whether the hull might have a non-metallic anechoic covering.
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Screw the rivets, I'm building for atmosphere, not detail. later, F Scott W |
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Indeed. And I’ve seen photos of subs with their and hoof tiles missing. That’d be hard to model, though....
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"And hoof"??? |
#8
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Hehe! Imagine how boring the world would be without autocorrect!
Moderately related anecdote: Went to Walmart a little bit ago to buy a few small odds and ends, bill came out to $6.88. Hmm, "688", I know that number from somewhere, but where? "Six-eighty-eight. Six-eighty-eight." Hmm ... Maybe the Navy. But what in the Navy? Got home, googled, Ahh, Los Angeles class attack subs!
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Screw the rivets, I'm building for atmosphere, not detail. later, F Scott W |
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