I was not familiar with this kit from Ark. I could only find a couple examples for sale on Ebay, and yes, those were very expensive!!! I see a few missing items but overall it looks very decent. I can’t tell if the missiles are separate items, nor if they are the R-21, carried in the Golf II or the earlier Golf I R-13 missile. The kit has the 722 squadron number and thus seems to be representative of the lost K-129, which sank in 1968 and was partially recovered by the Glomar Explorer in 1974. This was the squadron number assigned to the K-129 in Rybacchiy at the time. However, in all of the photos (screen grabs) I have from the Capture Vehicle of the K-129 wreck, there are no hints of the numerals 722 on what is left of the sail structure. Many photos of Soviet Golf II submarines do not have squadron numbers, so they may never have been there.
Unlike US submarines that have permanently assigned hull numbers, Soviet numbers shifted as submarines were assigned to different squadrons. US submarines do not have their numbers on the hull when deployed.
Coming up soon is a resin 1/350 scale line of the Project 629 Golf submarines from L'Arsenal. I have seen the test shots, and they include Golf I, Golf II, Golf III, the various modified missile test versions and the Chinese conversion of the Golf I for their own missile tests. I have not seen them available as yet on the L'Arsenal web site, and I don't know how they will be priced. I have a very detailed and large (like 2 feet by 4 feet) set of plans for both the Golf I (Project 629) and Golf II (Project 629A) submarines from a source that will remain nameless. I sent hi resolution digital scan files of both to Bruno at L'Arsenal.
Also available from Boris at Polar Bear Models in Severodvinsk is his resin 1/350 Golf II. He also offers the earlier, pre-conversion Golf I. He goes by "subsmodels" on Ebay, and has a complete line of Russian submarines in 1/350 scale resin, and his prices are very good. Shipping takes awhile to the US. The kits are a bit rough, with some seams to address, but can be built into a nice representation of the Golf II. It is a bit difficult to fit the three propellers into the tight spaces between the stern planes and centerline rudder. I used white glue to position and followed up with cyanoacrylate, applied with a wire to hold.
You can see photos of the Polar Bear K-129 model I built for former CIA engineer Dr. David Sharp at:
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/ss/ru/Golf-350-td/index.htm.
Mike, I know I still owe you photos of my photo etch saw blades successfully removing your printed propellers from the printing stand. I will get those to you very soon.
Tom