U.S.S. Skate - 1/350 scale display model

[DrSchmidt]

As the U-1 is a long haul, I need some side projects...the next one is a again based on a kit by Ukrainian company Mikro Mir: the U.S.S. Skate in 1/350 scale. I's ne of their earlier kits with bad fit, but just as with the U.S.S. Nautilus, with some patience, one can get a nice model out of it.

First I opened the diagonal slits for the extractable bow planes and then glued the two halves of the hull together.











The sail is made of two halves and a lid....I scratch built a bridge deck and opened the bridge on the lid. Makes for a more realistic look







The kit offers a nicely detailed brass deck. Just gluing it onto the hull will create and ugly step, therefor I decided to melt it into the styrene. To give the molten plastic room to move, I removed the major part of the plastic deck structure.







Then I fixed the deck into position using masking tape and melted it into the passtic using a soldering iron:





Then I glued the deck into place and cleaned the seams:

[DrSchmidt]

I filled and sanded the sail and then I glued it onto the deck. To give it more strength, I anchored the sail using a 2 mm diameter carbon rod that extends to the bottom of the hull. Then I filled the gap between sail and deck using acrylic putty. Then I glued the fins to the hull...the seams will require allot of filling and sanding. Finally I filled the gap under the rescue pods using Milliput. Demanding build but, but fun....

[DrSchmidt]

I added the control planes and chose two mast that I want to display extended.The anchor is a three piece PE assembly the size of a dust particle. The deck got a hatch with a hand wheel, again the size of a dust particle. Finally I replaced the PE whip antennae using 0,3 mm diameter spring steel wire. The rails on the sides of the sail where also replaced....the PE parts looked way to clumsy. So I chose to make them from pulled styrene. Ready for primer, but I'm sure the bat will need additional clean up after that....

[Das Boot]

I may get one of these and turn it into the USS Tigerfish from ‘Ice Station Zebra’.

[DrSchmidt]

Progress on my 1:350 scale U.S.S. Skate nuclear submarine by Ukrainian company Mikro Mir. I chose the earliest color scheme that has three tones. Much more entertainment for the eye than just flat black. Weathered the subsurface section of the hull using white wash and grey filter. Above the surface gray wash to emphasize the recesses and again streaking with white wash. Next are the props….

[DrSchmidt]

Finished the 1/350 scale U.S.S. Skate. Niche build, but not my best. Good looking model nevertheless. The final detail were the props, little gems made of PE blades and tiny styrene hubs. Painted with A.K. True Metal old bronze….

[Das Boot]

Can you put the Nautilus beside it for a picture?

[Das Boot]

I guess not.

[DrSchmidt]

Patience.....the Nautilus is in the display case of my 1/48 VIIc. A bit of an effort to get it out. I'll try to take a picture this weekend...

[DrSchmidt]

Here u are....Skate is substantially smaller.

[Das Boot]

Very nice. Always thought the Skate was smaller.