Calling all Los Angeles SSN-688 class fans

[intruder500]

Hello All:

I am building a 1/350 scale Dallas and want to know if the Dallas has both the planes on the tower and the ones that fold in? Directions are sketchy and the sub used in the Hunt for Red Oct. is not the Dallas. I checked. Any help would be very appreciated...

Stephen C.
intruder500

[NukeMM]

Intruder500,

The USS Dallas SSN-700 had the planes on the sail, not the bow planes that retracted into the hull. I have heard that the USS Louiseville SSN-724 (which has the vertical launch tubes for the tomahawk missiles) portrayed the USS Dallas (which didn't have vertical launch tubes) in the movie.

NukeMM
MM1/SS USN 1982-1995
USS Baltimore SSN-704; USS Alexandria SSN-757; USS James Monroe SSBN-622; USS Nevada SSBN-733; USS Maine SSBN-741.

[goldenpony]

That is correct the USS Louisville did play USS Dallas.

Also, the Louisville was a west coast ship and the movie was filmed in Pudget Sound. The USS Houston also played the Dallas in the film.

The USS Wadsworth FFG9 played the Ruben James. I knew several fellow sailors from the Wadsworth that played Russians in the movie.

[Tom Dougherty]

the Dallas has both the planes on the tower and the ones that fold in?

NONE of the Los Angeles class boats have both sail and bow planes-it's either/or. Unfortunately, the new Squadron book "US Nuclear Subs in Action" has a cover drawing which shows both, confusing folks by implying that such an outfitting exists. The book also has a series of rather inaccurate drawings of the submarines. I would not use this as an authoritative source for modern attack submarine modeling.

The LA class was built in 3 distinct blocks:

Flight 1 had sail planes (SSN 688-718)
Flight 2 had sail planes and vertical launch system (VLS) tubes for Tomahawk missiles (SSN 791-725, and 750)
Flight 3 had retractable bow planes, VLS tubes, and other equipment for operation under ice. (SSN 751-773)

[Tracy White]

The book also has a series of rather inaccurate drawings of the submarines. I would not use this as an authoritative source for modern attack submarine modeling.

This is unfortunately now par for the course with Squadron books.

[Tom Dougherty]

This is unfortunately now par for the course with Squadron books.

Absolutely correct! With the many photos of the Los Angeles class in drydock on Navsource and official Navy web sites, there is simply no excuse for continuing to put giant Cadillac vertical fins on the sternplanes of these submarine drawings. They were never on the LA class. It seems that the sources the Squadron illustrators use are the DML kits of the early 1990s.

I noticed the new Squadron "Ohio Class Submarine on Deck" has a beautiful painting of an SSBN on the cover- BUT, it's NOT an Ohio class! It's a Lafayette class Polaris boat. Do they have anyone who knows anything check these ???

[davidwaples]

Has anyone created a Dry Deck Shelter (a.k.a. Advanced Seal Team Delivery System) in 1:350 scale?
Dave

[Tracy White]

Blue Water Navy released a kit of the USS Polk SSBN-645 that had two - the molds were picked up by Yankee Modelworks and are in their catalog. You might look for one or contact Yankee to see if they'll sell individual pieces, but be aware that you'll need to do some work to make them fit due to the hull shape difference.

[Walt]

This is unfortunately now par for the course with Squadron books.

Absolutely correct! With the many photos of the Los Angeles class in drydock on Navsource and official Navy web sites, there is simply no excuse for continuing to put giant Cadillac vertical fins on the sternplanes of these submarine drawings. They were never on the LA class. It seems that the sources the Squadron illustrators use are the DML kits of the early 1990s.

I noticed the new Squadron "Ohio Class Submarine on Deck" has a beautiful painting of an SSBN on the cover- BUT, it's NOT an Ohio class! It's a Lafayette class Polaris boat. Do they have anyone who knows anything check these ???

Tom a few LA Boats had "outriggers" installed on the stern planes to aid in floating wire operations. They were quickly removed due to serious high speed cavatation problems. Maybe it was a photo or reference from one of these boats that prompted that misque?
However the Ohios do have the outriggers.

[Atma]

Besides the excellent Riich models of LA class, Hobby Boss is releasing a new LA class submarine in 1/350:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10177200
Notice from the box description that it includes options for the three types of LA(Dont ask how this is possible, cause I dont know)

[Tom Dougherty]

Tom a few LA Boats had "outriggers" installed on the stern planes to aid in floating wire operations. They were quickly removed due to serious high speed cavatation problems. Maybe it was a photo or reference from one of these boats that prompted that misque?

No, actually it is a total fictional drawing on the cover, with big Cadillac fins on the sternplanes & both fairwater and bow planes. Take a look for yourself:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images ... 55&s=books

Further, some of the drawings on the inside are incredibly poorly done! From the Squadron web site, it looks like it is OOP, removed from the market before additional damage was done!

[Heavy Melder]

So I have a question; the new Riich Models kits, are they any good? They LOOK like a huge leap forward compared to the old Dragon kits. I haven't been able to find a review on them anywhere. Anybody know for sure? Want to know before I plunk down cash for them.

[Tracy White]

I've got one at home. Prop's sill wrong, so they're not a fix in that sense for people who have the Dragon kit. Largely I think they're well done. They split the hull into three sections, which allowed them to put some underside detail near the keel. The upper piece is theoretically waterlined, but it doesn't actually reflect how a lot of the boats sit (slightly bow high). Still a better start than a Dragon or Yankee Model Works kit for those that might want to waterline it.

I've only got the Flight III kit. Since they went with a common hull, the bow dive planes are faired over and need to be cut out; I don't know how well engineered their guide in the inside is or how well it will work. I've been meaning to get to that all week but haven't.

[Joe Ellias]

I've got all three versions released, and I think they are excellent kits. Very sharp detail.

Joe

[Atma]

Yes dont bother with the old Dragon release since the new Riich models are way better in detail. Also Hobby Boss is planing an LA class of their own, in 1/350.
Link for Hobby Boss:http://www.hobbyboss.com/a/gb2312/produ ... 2/825.html

[Tracy White]

I've been working on my Riich 688i and there is reason for the Dragon kit still - it's much easier to build. The lower hull and sail go together well, but the upper to lower hull fit is VERY fiddley and hard to "dial in." Additionally, the bow dive planes engineering is a little wonky and hard to locate - you run the risk of gluing it in place and leaving the hull too wide for the upper hull. So I would recommend leaving it in place but not gluing it in place until AFTER the upper hull is fit and glued in.

[davidwaples]

Does anyone have any thoughts about how to model the rubber like panels the cover the hull of the Los Angeles class subs? I'm trying to decide if it's worth a shot or just insane. Actually if anyone can tell me about these I'd be interested in hearing about them.
Thank you
Dave

[Heavy Melder]

So...... just got the new Hobby Boss 1/350 Los Angeles class.

I cant speak to it's accuracy as I don't consider myself an expect or anything. Also, I only have the craptacular Dragon kit to compare it to.

The bow shape looks good to my eye, but I don't have a really good side image or plans or anything to compare. Compared to the Dragon kit, its 1mm longer and maybe a couple mm narrower(at most, using mk.1 eyeball). Not sure if the Dragon kit scale correctly or this on is off or correct or what..... The sail is further back then the dragon kit. That hump that runs down the starboard side on top of the hull, I need photos of this area. I found a few photos of the Riich models upper hull bits, and that hump seems to be longer on the Riich models parts (the photos can be found over at the Sub Committee forums) than on this kit. On this kit it seems to be about the length and location as the Dragon kit. Again, need some photos/plans to compare.

Construction will be pretty standard for a sub kit Hull is split into upper and lower halves. They handled the 3 in 1 thing by giving you a common lower hull, two upper hull (one non-VLS, one VLS equipped), and 2 sails, on with dive planes mounted and the other without. The VLS doors are molded shut. The bow mounted dive planes will take a tiny little bit of extra work. At the seam for the upper and lower hull halves, you have to file out the flash-over cast into the hull to fit the bow dive planes. It sounds hard but honestly if a modeler cant handling that much they should probably stop playing with bits of plastic. The box dive plane btw, is a single solid piece that goes straight across the inside of the hull, so no alignment issues with assembly.

Also included are these little extra pair of fins or something just before you get to the stern of the boat. You can see them in the Hobby Boss box art. They come out on the lower hull at about 45 degrees or so. Since I'm no expert I have no idea what they are, but they are located on the lower hull by a small raised panel line. This line I'm guessing would have to be sanded off if doing one of the earlier ships. A small problem however is that a panel line (engraved) that goes around the circumference of the hull is interrupted by this spot for these outriggers. They more anal among us (me) will want to scribe in the missing engraved line. I'm talking maybe a couple of mm at most here.

PE includes two prop blades for those who want to go that route and 2 small bits for the sail. There's also a small prop less than half the size of the other prop blades. I have no idea what its for as it doesn't appear in the instructions. Oh yes, the name plate as well.

Decals include markings for Los Angeles (688, flight I), Chicago (721, flight II) and Miami (755 flight III). Also includes the bull's head for the bow of Chicago.

[carr]

..

[Tracy White]

Also included are these little extra pair of fins or something just before you get to the stern of the boat. You can see them in the Hobby Boss box art. They come out on the lower hull at about 45 degrees or so. Since I'm no expert I have no idea what they are, but they are located on the lower hull by a small raised panel line.

Anhedral stern planes. They help counteract rolling tendencies induced by the sails during high-speed maneuvers. There have been incidents on earlier classes where the submarine "snap rolled" unexpectedly due to the effect of the sail on water flow. On the 688Is they also mount some extra goodies at the tips.