Alpha - First and possibly last? (Kit reviews)

[Haddock]

This one's for Big Kev and Haddock! Sorry I can't invite everyone but seats are at a premium. (PS. Your invitations are in the post)

Nice blue water that, wonder where it is. Could it be a very large swimming pool?
Haddock.

[Pen-Pusher]

Spurn Point!

[Haddock]

      Never remember it looking like that, usually a mucky grey-blue-brown from all the sediment from the Humber being washed out to sea.
Haddock.

[Pen-Pusher]

Don't be fooled by the colour. The flash lightens it quite a bit. I've used Tamiya Acrylic medium sea grey which is nearest I can find to the Soviet medium grey used on this and two other Alpha boats.
Decals are very thin and pleasing but DO take a time to apply due to their fragility.

This depicts K-373 launched in 1976 and commissioned two years later. She spent her whole career with the Northern Fleet and bore the number 691 between 1987-90 before she was placed in reserve at Zapadnaya Litsa until 1993. Her reactor was removed in that year but the fate of the hull in not recorded.

Quite please so far.... Now the periscopes!!!

[Haddock]

Neat,            and very clean for a sub.
Haddock.

[Pen-Pusher]

Thanks. I take that as a big compliment from you. Clean as in finish or lines - agree on both. I have to decide on periscope clutter yet as rarely would all be deployed at once? This one will be on a stand and not 'ploughing' through the white horses of the North Atlantic so weathering....? No final decision made!!

[Pen-Pusher]

'Lyre' (Alpha) Submarine #6 (K-493) of Project 705 - Fleet no. 691 c.1988 complete.

(I'll be using a different display stand!)

Next up on the slipway - probably an Oscar II ?

[Haddock]

If that's a brush painted finish, can I have some of what you're having.
Haddock.

[Bigkev]

He's drinking that Tamiya Retarder you told us about....................!
Bigkev

[Pen-Pusher]

... twelve year old!