K141 "Kursk" from FlyModel

Fishcarver

Active Member
While checking in on the Kartonmodellbau site, I found this announcement (translated by Systran"):

"K-141 Kursk
Parts: 1671 + 46 template elements
Yardstick: 1/100
Length: 154 cm

One does not know it, on which one is to be pleased more whether over the fact that the FlyModel publishing house nevertheless still lives and production brought its 142er out or over the breath-robbing full trunk model of the Russian submarine the OSCAR ii-class K-141 KURSK as precision cardboard model construction set in gigantic yardstick 1:100.

If one reads the description of submarine history and the date of issue of the kit exactly regarded, it becomes clear that at production a certain kind participation in the misfortune from 12 August 2000 takes place on the part of the publishing house… The model technical designer, Rafal Turalski, which seems rather stably connected with the FlyModel publishing house, proved with the submarine that also large-scale models can be detailed precisely: over 1,5 m-length and near 2000 details - does not occur!

After a long break at the beginning of the 1970er under guidance of engineer R.R. Pustyncew and engineer I.L. Bazanow the U-ship-project 949 (as nor subsequent construction of the echo class from the 60ern) developed, which resulted in the year 1983 in the setting into service of the new OSCAR I class. Their underwater displacement amounted to 14600 t and it was with 24 SLCM (submarines - Launched Cruise Missile = of U-ships of cruise missiles which can be shot) SS-N-19 granite (NATO: Shipwreck) arming the same, which is used also on the cruiser KIROW. This class of the U-ships knows in the center a Druckkörper of 9,1 m-diameters up and had at both long sides ever a row from twelve forward missile silos bent under 40°. The rocket size forced a relatively small diameter of the rigid trunk of 8,5m. Beyond that the U-ships have four 533 mm and two 650 mm torpedo pipes with a supply of 24 torpedo rockets Nowator SS-N-15 Czakra and Nowator SS-N-16 Stallion and a transportation facility of up to 32 naval mines. In the figure eight range of the rigid trunk is the engine room with two nuclear reactors and two steam turbines. The class OSCAR-I consisted two units, which became later ships, which developed on basis of the project 949A of, extended by 11m (displacement dived in: 16700 t and emerged: 12600 t) and are called OSCAR ii-class. It was planned to equip it with the SS-N-24-Raketensystemen. From them nine units were in the service, the tenth ship with the on-board number K-141 in the year 1992 on Kiel were put, 1994 to water left and KURSK baptized. The units of the type are purposefully sketched for the tasks of the fight against attack aircraft carrier federations. Whereupon their armament with accelerated (with airplane-like tail units) rocket bodies with large range is aligned. The targets can be conveyed by the own Air Force, and/or satellite. The OSCAR II represent the world-wide largest U-ship type, to that had cruise missiles and its submerged depth become estimated on 300m. All units of the type lead a salient hollow body, which originally provided for much attention among experts on the highest place of the tail vertical stabilizer, since one accepted it as a new drive system - now one knows that an antenna of a passive dragging sonar is kept there.

In August 2000 the largest summer maneuvers of the Russian north fleet, in which about 30 units participated, began among them also one of the most modern nuclear-powered U-ships, the K-141 KURSK. Nobody suspected at that time, what dramatic events thereby will take place… On Thursday, the KURSK with their 118-köpfigen crew the base Widajewo left 10 August 2000 against 10:00 clock. Except the sailors also numerous high-ranking were military of the north fleet command, as well as observer and line coworker of the equipment company TRADE UNION OF GERMAN EMPLOYEES DIESEL from Machatschka in Dagestan on board. During the exercises a guidable projectile should fired and it should tests with a new torpedo construction, which was since 1998 in development, be accomplished of the submarine. On 11 August, around 12:40 clock became the 1. Part the attempts finally, as the projectile GRANITE with a blowing up head mockup was fired according to plan. Despite the release by the exercise commanders against it out enlightened reasons no torpedo exercise attacks were accomplished. After the beginning of the maneuvers, on 12 August around 11:30 clock the KURSK dropped to the sea-bottom of the Barentssee, about 85 sm northwest of two days from Siewieromorsk. It put on the rocky, with approximately 1 to 2 m-Watts covered sea-bottom in a position 25° too to starboard bent. After it within the range of the dropped U-ship by several units, among other things by the cruiser PIETR VIELKIJ, participating in the exercises, in addition, by Norwegian seismic Institut Norsar two explosions were registered briefly: one with a strength from 200 to 300 kg TNT and after 2:15 min. one in 3,5° on the judge scale, which pointed TNT to a quantity of approximately 2 t… All further at information, which arrived up to now at the public, are more or less only speculations… During the misfortune it did not create the crew any longer to release a signal buoy which would make the exact detection possible of the U-ship, it also no emergency systems started, which could prevent a sinking of the KURSK. Further also no attempts were undertaken to leave the U-ship although the unit was equipped with individual evacuation equipment with a Rettungskapsel, which could make a evacuation from a depth of up to 1000 for m possible, and… On a note note, which was found with one of the victims, and which was written on 12 August around 13:15, stood only that after an explosion all humans in the nose departments on the place were killed, to have survived only 23 men of the fuselage segments VI to IX, which found protection in the last section of the trunk construction. On the U-ship complete darkness and the saving prevailed weakened by the effect of carbon monoxide very… During the rescue action of several days of the KURSK no survivors, saved by 118 humans only 12 corpses died…

Drive: two water-cooled atomic reactors VM-5 with an output of 190000 KW, which supply two steam turbines GT3A (with 72000 KW), two marine propellers; Underwater -/Überwassergeschwindigkeit: 25-30/18 kn; Crew: 135 men.

1671 elements + 46 template parts (on 37 elbows 30x42cm) offer: the helm, as well as the Bugruder, which as movable be built can, which know rocket pits with detailed schliessvorrichtungen as are closed or as opened copied, 24 rocket bodies of the type 3M-45 granite (NATO: SS-N-19 Shipwreck), Excellency copied equipment of the tower: Radio, satellite antenna, radar with warning system, salient spiral marine propellers and the hollow bodies of the dragging sonar, Relinge and grasps on template basis…

Exemplary pressure quality and colour in fine computer graphics. Numerous construction drawings and assembly sketches are supplemented by Polish building guidance."

All of you subphreaks out there oughtta love this!
Jim
 

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Stev0

Active Member
That WOULD be a very interesting model.

Sad that so many men were lost due to such an easily preventable accident. It was suggested that the torpedo's peroxide mechanism leaked causing the torpedo to blow inside it's tube and the resulting fire blew the remaining stores. The forward area was consumed by a fireball with the remaining survivors succumbing to the fouled remaining air supply.

They still debated that the brits could have rescued the survivors but the call for help was delayed. When the divers put a line into the hatch to draw out air the fouled air poured out tell the fate of all.

The torpedo would not have blown in it's tube if proper maintenance had been done to the stores and more care was taken in it's transfer to the ship.

Brave men submariners are.

I'd love to see this model built. =)
 

Fishcarver

Active Member
Red Star Rogue

Then, there was the Golf-class boat lost off Hawaii in 1968 while ostensibly trying to pull off a sneak nuke attack on Pearl Harbor. This story is well told by Kenneth Sewell in his book "Red Star Rogue: The Untold Story of a Soviet Submarine's Attempt at a Nuclear Strikle on the US. See below.

http://www.amazon.ca/Red-Star-Rogue-Submarines-Attempt/dp/0743261127

Recovery of the boat involved was the reason behind the construction and deployment of "Glomar Explorer" by the late Howard Hughes.

Sewell's book is GREAT.

Jim


PS: There's a big move in our future, but once we get settled, I'd like to give this a go. It would be interesting to build and display alongside "Surcouf", both in 1:100 scale.
 

Stev0

Active Member
I just bought the Surcouf model. I was astonished to see it with MASTS ...

I think I found my favorite non-fiction model type. =)
 
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