Admiral Kuznetsov Diorama by Louis Carabott | |
Brand: | Trumpeter |
Scale: | 1/350 |
Modeler: | Louis Carabott |
AircraftProfilePrints.com - Museum Quality Custom Airctaft Profile Prints
This model is awarded by Editor's Choice - Excellence Award!
Build article of the Kuznetsov can be found here:
Hangars in mid deck were entirely scratch built from plastic card,on trestle support fretwork. Different gauges of telephone wire for piping and trunking used as well as components from a spent PC motherboard used for the side panelling of the hangars. I had to limit myself to detail as information avaible is very sketchy. A 12 volt ac current lighting system was also made to illuminate both hangars as well as the top deck island. The airwing comprises 2 squadrons of sea flankers , a squadron of frogfoots and a number of KA 25 choppers. A visiting squadron of KA29 assault choppers was also included for more colour and to further enhance the top deck. Control surfaces of all the seaflankers on deck were individually altered for a more lifelike look , some aircraft even have their canopies open for a more realistic look with pilots in their seats ready for departure. A master of a snarling tiger's head and a diving eagle were handpainted for the Tail artwork for the two flanker squadrons. The ship is portrayed in full operations with one fully armed squadron on a sortie. All ordnance was scratchbuilt, with each missisle having as much as 9 to 10 different bits. Deck Equipment is very limited,a few tractors and non descript crane and ambulance which have seen better days..... these were also extensively detailed... a far cry from the American carriers. About 100 figures representing seamen and pilots holding helmets were also included, painted in drab colours. The Russian Navy does not use the different colours present in US Navy for its deck crews.
Photos and text © 2009 by Louis Carabott January 29, 2009 |