Don Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Hello all, Well I couldn't resist...I had to build a submarine for this Group Build in addition to my "Ticonderoga". So I picked this little kit up today at the LHS: She's a Royal Navy Trafalgar Class nuclear submarine. There were seven of the class built, beginning with the lead boat HMS Trafalgar (commissioned in 1983) and ending with the HMS Triumph (commissioned in 1991). The class has 5200 tons displacement while submerged with a top speed of 30 knots submerged. The Trafalgar's have a host of offensive and defensive armaments making them an important tool in the Royal Navy's arsenal. The Trafalgar, or "T-Class" boats, have been involved in launching offensive operations against terrorist targets after 9/11 and Libya in 2011-2012. I plan on building the last ship in the class, HMS Triumph. The "Triumph" is slated to remain in service into the mid 2020's. This will be a completely OOB build and should be a fairly quick one with only about 40 total parts. Stay tuned... Thanks for looking all! Happy modeling. Regards, Don. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rightwinger26 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 2 in one GB, your crazy man! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Great choice! Was wondering when someone was going to join me on the sea floor. If those instructions are correct the paint job should be a breeze, looks to be overall black!Watching this one with interest, I was just last week looking at foreign subs.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rightwinger26 Posted September 13, 2015 Share Posted September 13, 2015 Great choice! Was wondering when someone was going to join me on the sea floor. If those instructions are correct the paint job should be a breeze, looks to be overall black!Watching this one with interest, I was just last week looking at foreign subs.---John I actually was going to enter a 1/350th Yasen, but my camera battery died so I couldn't post pre build pictures, and before I remembered the charge the battery, I was 2/3's done, oh well Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Posted September 13, 2015 Author Share Posted September 13, 2015 ..your crazy man! LOL :lol: you're not the first person to call me that...probably won't be the last either :P ! Honestly, this should be a REALLY simple build. Most reviews I have read put total assembly time between 1 and 4 hours from start to prime. I plan on working on it as I wait for some of the superstructure steps on my "Tico" to set up (as well as waiting for paint to cure etc etc). Nothing fancy, just looking to achieve a good solid OOB first Sub build. Happy modeling! Regards, Don. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Posted September 17, 2015 Author Share Posted September 17, 2015 I started on my HMS Triumph on Sunday and continued working on it up until today. WOW...I love this kit ! It goes together like a dream and builds up super quick: The hull consists of an upper section and two lower sections. Assembly is straight forward and only a few circular swipes of sandpaper along the seams took care of any imperfections (yes, the bow on the Trafalgar's have that seam that looks like a grin or the face of an orca whale): Aside from the stand, what you see here in the pictures of the sub are only about 15 or so total pieces :o !! Still, the detail is quite good...then again this is my first sub so I have nothing to compare it to. I still need to build up the propulsor and add the various antennas, aerials, and periscopes as well as the flagpoles (hence the two tiny holes on the front and rear of the upper hull). Then its off to the paint shop! This is a super quick and really fun build. I see more subs in my future! Thanks for looking and commenting all. Happy modeling! Regards, Don. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 Looks good! The detail is amazing, looks like Airfix is really cooking with their new kits. Whats the length, about 9 1/2 inches long maybe? This is going to be a little gem.---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Posted September 18, 2015 Author Share Posted September 18, 2015 Looks good! The detail is amazing, looks like Airfix is really cooking with their new kits. Whats the length, about 9 1/2 inches long maybe? This is going to be a little gem.---John Thanks John! Your estimate on the length is pretty much bang on. From the tip of the bow to the tip of the propulsor is about 9 3/4 inches . Yes indeed this little Airfix Sub is a little jewel! Looking online a couple days ago I see that there is actually a PE fret available for this kit! Had I known prior to starting this build I probably would have picked it up as its really inexpensive. My LHS has an Airfix 1/350 Type 45 Destroyer in stock and if its as good as this Sub then I am very tempted. Thanks again. Happy modeling! Regards, Don. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rightwinger26 Posted September 18, 2015 Share Posted September 18, 2015 That's a sharp lookin shark!! As far as the Type 45, I tied one on with a bunch of RN guys from HMS Defender at the Chiefs Club in Bahrain a while back, we traded coins. What a stand up bunch of guys! We taught them how to play shuffle board, and they taught us how to make to many drinking rules to play it! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Posted September 23, 2015 Author Share Posted September 23, 2015 Well folks here is my HMS Triumph all dressed up (still needs a gloss coat, decals, and flat coat though): I went with Tamiya NATO Black as the base coat and followed it up with slightly darker and lighter variations of the base color sprayed in different areas on the hull. The idea was to break up the monotone finish (I think if you look at the photos above you can see the subtle variations in color...although in person it shows up better and is more noticeable). I don't want to go crazy with weathering, just a hint-o-weathering ;). Anyway, I intend to let the sub sit for a couple days to give the paint good curing time before I gloss coat it and add the decals and flags/flag poles. Opinions please: what color should the display stand be? I was thinking gloss black. Thoughts, suggestions, ideas? Thank you for looking! Happy modeling! Regards, Don. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sebastijan Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 looks cool, especially with the odd shaped bow compared to other subs. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rich in name only Posted September 23, 2015 Share Posted September 23, 2015 Not sure on base but the glass it's on shows a nice effect--maybe rough up the base parts and paint a dark silverfish like aluminum or magnesium with titanium wash. Or an undersea pattern like in sub movies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
john53 Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Looks cool on top of the "ice". Stand is......uh stand. Would look nice on a finished hardwood stand with brass tubes holding it up. Very impressive model! Might try an Airfix one. They do any other subs?---John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Don Posted September 24, 2015 Author Share Posted September 24, 2015 John, to my knowledge Airfix only does this Sub (Trafalgar Class) in standard boxing (like mine) and gift set boxing (with paints, glue, and brushes). Their only other modern 1/350 ship kits are the Type 45 "Daring Class" Destroyer and the HMS Illustrious aircraft carrier (both having fairly decent reviews out). I wish they would produce a model of the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers...that would be impressive! Thanks for stopping by and commenting! Regards, Don. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rightwinger26 Posted September 28, 2015 Share Posted September 28, 2015 nice work, its so important to find a way to break up the single color on modern subs without going crazy. That is a true test of airbrushing skills and a good eye! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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