Thanks for the pictures. I was in the USN stationed on the Black Sea coast of Turkey when the Soviets were conducting sea trials on this ship. Larry, I think they sold the second ship (the Varyag) to the Indians. IIRC, it was damaged by fire.
I just did some research, and they tried to sell the ship, but no one wanted it, so they sold her to a Chinese company to use as a floating casino/curio. That was as of about four years ago. The Chinese company promised not to use the ship for military purposes, and the Ukrainians stripped it of all military hardware whatsover. Apparently she circled around in the Black Sea for well over a year because the Turks refused to let her sail out of the Dardanelles to deliver to the Chinese. [:p]
While superficially similar to American carriers, they are apparently purely defensive, acting as air superiority ships without an offensive strike capability. They are apparently meant to defend SSBN bastions.
Rather odd. Couldn’t they do that, better, from land bases? Was their construction purely a prestige thing?
Larry, when I was in the Navy and on the Black Sea, we always thought part of the reason for building the carriers was a prestige thing. We have nuclear powered carries and they have the Kiev and Moskva classes. Not much in bragging rights for the Soviets. They were primarily built to protect the Boomers but also to project Soviet Naval powere into areas where it hadn’t previously been seen. These carries were more along the lines of British and French carriers than USN carriers. I have some russian newspaper clippings of the first Soviet pilot to take off and land from the Tbilisi (Kuznetsov) and someday hope to build a kit of his SU-27. BTW, does anybody know where I can get a kit of the Moskva class? I built one while in the service but can’t remember who makes it.
archelon, so you’re building Sovremenny in 1:350 scale?. I’ll have one built later.
But for Sovremenny in 1:200 scale, I have both types built by the same modeler
(Mr. Niphon) who built this Kuznetzov :
Apart from the Slava and larger scale Kirov, I’d like to ask them to release
Minsk and Kiev Aircraft Carriers in 1:350 scale too (they have only 1:550)
No. They are selling the Admiral Gorshkov to the Indians. It is currently being modernized by the Russians according to Indian demands and will be given to us them in 2008 I believe.
I’m building the 1/200th with white ensign PE and the like, model maniac. IMO, the designs of Russian ships are so heavily laden with weapons and electronics that the just beg to be modeled in the biggest scale possible.
Excellent pics on the buildups. I’m not the most prolific modeler, and I’ve only begun work on the superstructure, so it might be a while before I have something to show for it.
Beautiful job on that 1/350 scale Kuznetsov! Very well done! Model Maniac, please be dure to pass on my admiration to the builder.
Yes, the Admiral Kuznetsov is still in service with the Russian Navy. I built her and Varyag in 1/700 scale, as well as two Kiev class ships, three Kirov class ships, several Sovremennyy’s, a couple Udaloys, and four Krivaks. I also have , and two Moskva class ships which are in 1/600 scale.
Here’s my Russian carriers:
Two of my three Kirov class battlecruisers:
and one of my Moskva class:
Personally, I’d love to see a Slava class ship, particularly in 1/700 scale. That would more or less complete my modern Russian navy.
Kaleu, the original Moskva was released by Aurora way back in the late seventies. Back in the eighties I believe, some other company (Monogram?) re-released it. That is when I got two. One I made Moskva, the other Leningrad, her sister. My Leningrad is still in the process of being updated.
duke Italieri also did the Kuznetzov in 1/720 scale (which I have) and I also have the Kiev in 1/700 scale from Aeoshima. BTW Duke I’m wondering if you built an Udaloy Mk2 version yet (which is the upgraded Udaloy).
Mike, I haven’t. Is there a kit out there of one? I don’t think I have the skills to scratchbuild one but maybe a kitbash would happen if I had enough info. Sounds like it would be a cool ship to have.
I’d love to see a Kara too, as well as a Kashin and Kildin too. I think the only kitsof those you’ll find will be resin if they are made. I personally have never seen a kit of the Kara myself. Maybe someday.
no Duke there is no kit of the Udaloy Mk2 but a website I found for the Udaloy meantioned the Mk2 refit which meantions the difference in weapons and a few cosmetic changes plus the page shows the deck coloration of the Udaloy.
Many thanks for your kind words, archelon, Duke and therriman! They’re very
encouraging!
archelon, you’re building 1/200 Sovremenny with white ensign PE?. That’s gonna be great. My 1/200 Sovre’s were built OOB only, like most other kits on my site.
Duke, you have an enviable array of Russian fleets! [;)]
