Micro-Mir 1/350 US SSN-637 Sturgeon Class Attack Submarine

[jcmackay]

The US Navy's Sturgeon class nuclear-powered attack submarine shouldered much of the burden of the defense of the United States during the last two decades of the Cold War Era. Many of these ships soldiered on into the mid-1990s. Essentially, the Sturgeon class was an enlarged and improved Permit class submarine. In the submarine fleet, they were commonly referred to as 'hotel boats' because their crew accomodations were a vast improvement over previous attack submarine classes. Indeed, their crew accommodations were superior to those aboard the subsequent SSN-688 Los Angeles class. Having served aboard 2 Sturgeon class submarines, I have a particular affinity for these ships and was very happy to have at long last found a company producing injection-molded kits of this class SSN.

I wasn't able to track down any information on the company that produces the model, Micro Mir, although the kits are advertised in various places as coming from an 'ex-USSR' manufacturer. Indeed, the box art and instruction sheet is replete with Cyrillic writing, confirming their origin. The instruction sheet is a single sheet: on the front is a description of the submarine class in both Cyrillic (I assume Russian) and English, along with an illustration of the commissioning paint scheme of the SSN-637 Sturgeon and the paint scheme of the USS Queenfish, SSN-651. The back side of the page has a diagram illustrating assembly, including the 7-bladed screw. The decal sheet includes the elaborate markings of the Sturgeon on commissioning along with hull numbers for a variety of 637 class ships, as well as the ever-popular DSRV Mosub markings.

The decal sheet is very complete, including things such as the draft marks, ship names (as applied at commissioning), and white circles that can be used to mark the ballast tank vents.

The hull is molded in two pieces, upper and lower half. This makes it easier to build the kit as a waterline model, although one would either have to cut away more of the upper half of the hull or 'submerge' the upper half into an appropriate base to portray an accurate water line.

I was very impressed by the level of detail present on the moldings. The various details are cleanly depicted in fine recessed lines. In addition to the plethora of topside detailing, submarine enthusiasts should be impressed by such esoteric below-the-waterline details as the torpedo tube ejection pump doors, flood grates, seawater hull penetrations, and the mushroom anchor. The manufacturer clearly worked hard to ensure the accuracy of the model. Purists might be distressed by the use of recessed lines to portray paint boundaries, though. As originally built, 637-class ships were painted anti-fouling red from the water line down; above the waterline, they were black. This transition is depicted by recessed lines on the model. The same is true of the outline of the non-skid areas on the topside and the fairwater planes. This is reminiscent of the models of many years ago that used this kind of technique to aid modelers in applying paint or decals.

The kit contains many small parts to help dress up the model, such as a full complement of masts and antennae, which are very finely molded. However, the instructions don't provide any guidelines for painting. Therefore, one would have to work off photos of the actual ships. A small piece of photo etch is included with the kit; the main item being the 7-bladed screw.

The PE sheet also has parts for displaying the model with the retractable cleats extended, but the instruction sheet does not show how to do this either in the artwork or in words. On the PE sheet are a couple of additional parts that appear to be snorkel exhaust baffles, but these would not be appropriate for this class ship.

The dimensions of the model appear to be almost spot on; the model is about 10 inches long; I calculated the scale length to be 292 feet and the beam to be 32 feet, which is very good, since the US Navy usually cites the beam as 31 feet, although other sources state the beam was 31 feet 8 inches.

IMHO, this is an excellent kit and one that is long overdue. It is ironic that such a nice representation of this Cold Warrior would be produced by a company that advertises its kits are coming from the 'ex-USSR.' 637-class submarines began entering service in the late 1960s but a note to those who are looking to portray a 637-class submarine in service after about 1980: this kit depicts an example of the class prior to the installation of the towed array, which was backfitted onto ships in service beginning around 1980. Also, be aware that some of the 637-class were 'stretch hulls.' This kit is the short hull variant.

I highly recommend this model. I got mine from the fine folks at Hobby Terra, where it is available for $16, plus shipping and handling.

John

[D-Boy]

John, thanks for this review - this kit has intrigued me. Love the commissioning decals included - a way to bring some color to the challenges of black!

[D-Boy]

And now a question - could you take a closer-up photo of the sensors and scopes on that sprue?

[Jedrek]

see here (some photos)

[Batfish A Gang]

FYI... I have searched extensively for this model. It has been discontinued! However... I was finally able to track one down! To the best of my knowlege, Free Time Hobbies in Georgia is the ONLY place online where this kit can still be ordered and they except PayPal. NOTE: There were only 14 left in stock after I ordered mine. Best of Luck!
MM1/SS

[jcmackay]

I just got a notification from Hobby Terra that they have the Sturgeon model back in stock.

John

[guilherme_ferreira]

Very good information. I was very curious about MikroMir kits.
Thanks!!!