SubRon6 - Fleet

The SubRon6 Fleet

Russian Akula

Jerome Simon

A small tug (relatively same scale) push the sub into port.

Photo by Jerome Simon

At 1:72 scale the model measures roughly 66 inches in length.

Photo by Jerome Simon

View of the stern.

Photo by Jerome Simon

View of the master plug, molds and final hull. What an expensive way in time and money to get the hull you want!

Photo by Jerome Simon

Here is a series of pictures showing my 1/72 scale Russian Akula nuclear attack submarine. I opted for this scale as I was not pleased with the smaller 1/96 scale and was not up to a back breaking 1/48 scale. The design of the model is based on Greg Sharpe's (Deep Sea Designs) drawings and readily available photographs of Akulas on the surface; most notably from Jane's Fighting Ships Edition 97/98.

The master plug for the submarine started out as two 4x8 boards of oak. The oak was too green and after sitting for awhile they began to warp. I was forced to use a lot of Bondo automotive putty to fix the shape and quickly build the fiberglass molds. From the molds I pulled a set of fiberglass hulls to build the final model.

The internals of the submarine were built to use compressed CO2 to blow the ballast tank. The water tight cylinder (WTC) and most of the internal pieces are scratch built. Future plans envolve replacing the CO2 system with a pump system. The CO2 system easily handles the job, the high pressures envolved and the need to drag around a heavy fill tank have swayed me to try other methods to control the dive system.

Propulsion is a single 12V Dumas motor coupled to a 3-1/2" seven bladed 'scimitar' screw purchased from the Prop Shop through Ship's 'n Things. Outside of the motor, prop, radio and high-pressure components of the CO2 system, everything is scratch built.

You can find more photos and information about the construction of this submarine at.

Akula Construction Part I
Akula Construction Part II