What Modern (Coldwar and later) Subs are available in 1/72??

[HvyCGN9]

I have been wondering for awhile what Sub hull kits are out there available ?? Apart from Caswell and a couple of others, I only know of handful of other suppliers.... a couple from Ark (Song class,Kilo class....neither of which interest me too small!!),a couple of places doing LA class hulls and Engel does the 1/70 scale U212 which is close enuff...

So the question is what else is out there??? and what have been peoples experinces of quality??

Cheers Bruce

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

The gold-standard used to be my stuff and Mat Thor's. Availability of Thor's stuff is very ify now as he's winding down his production work.

It would do you no service for me to list all the good guys who no longer manufacture r/c submarine hulls. However, there is this, http://www.submarineworks.com/index.html -- just about the only other now active GRP kit manufacturer in the States who offers a quality product. There are a few others, but I know next to nothing about them.

M

[Subculture]

OTW Traflagar
OTW Valiant
MMB LA class (bit of an odd scale that one, but relatively close to 1/72)

Suppliers come and go, and sometimes come back again. Others come along with new items and sometimes the tools are sold on.

Personally I prefer the smaller scale of 1/96 for nukes, attack class boats are small and easy to handle and work in shallow waters, bombers remain reasonably manageable, apart from a Typhoon which remains a monster even at that scale.

I thought the loss of SWM was a real shame, saw a couple of those kits built up in the UK and thought they were lovely little models. I think the cheap injection moulded plastic kits affected the market a lot- most modellers will baulk at the prospect of a two or three hundred quid GRP hull, when they can get a styrene kit at a tenth of the cost. They don't wear as well though.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

OTW Traflagar
OTW Valiant
MMB LA class (bit of an odd scale that one, but relatively close to 1/72)

Suppliers come and go, and sometimes come back again. Others come along with new items and sometimes the tools are sold on.

Personally I prefer the smaller scale of 1/96 for nukes, attack class boats are small and easy to handle and work in shallow waters, bombers remain reasonably manageable, apart from a Typhoon which remains a monster even at that scale.

I thought the loss of SWM was a real shame, saw a couple of those kits built up in the UK and thought they were lovely little models. I think the cheap injection moulded plastic kits affected the market a lot- most modellers will baulk at the prospect of a two or three hundred quid GRP hull, when they can get a styrene kit at a tenth of the cost. They don't wear as well though.

I was totally remise not to mention OTW's stuff, Andy. Thanks for covering. Norbert Brugenn's little DELPHIN (not 'cold-war' but has that look).

M

[trout]

There is one being retooled by Ron Perrott in England that deserves a mention. He is working with Stephen Pryce on revamping his Resolution class submarine kit.

It looks really nice. I do not know what the price will be.

[Subculture]

Just to avoid any confusion it's 1/96th scale, not 1/72nd.

[trout]

Thank you Andy. I was not thinking of scale, but sub alone. Sorry.