Trumpeter 1/144 scale USS SSN-21 Seawolf attack submarine

Kit: No. 05904
Scale: 1/144
Manufacturer: Trumpeter, imported by Stevens International, 856-435-1555, www.stevenshobby.com
Price: $32.95
Comments: Injection-molded, 47 parts, decals
Pros: Excellent subject, good fit
Cons: Misprinted decals

One of Trumpeter's latest waterborne offerings is its 1/144 scale USS Seawolf (SSN-21) attack submarine. In the box, three sprues of parts and a separate hull half are accompanied by markings for one boat and an instruction sheet.

The hull comprises upper and lower hull, nose-cone, and tail-cone halves. A slight mismatch between the upper and lower hull halves produces gaps where the nose and tail meet the hull, but this flaw doesn't interfere with assembly. The nose and tail cones are keyed to the hull so that all of the surface detail lines up along the model's centerline. These recessed deck details include forward and after escape hatches, weapons-loading hatch, line lockers, ballast tank valve covers, and other vent-and-drain covers.

Assembling the hull halves was tricky because no internal supports are provided to stiffen them while they are being joined. To keep the boat from rolling around during construction, I tacked the lower hull half to the assembled stand. I taped the hull halves together and bonded them with liquid cement. Capillary action joined the halves a few inches at a time.

The bow and stern planes, upper and lower rudder parts, sail, and pumpjet appendages went together without trouble. The periscopes, masts, and snorkel look accurate. The propeller looks too two-dimensional, but it's hidden under its shroud.

I painted Seawolf with Model Master enamels, spraying the propeller shroud before I attached it to the model. The propeller, its cap, and the shroud supports were painted gunmetal (B-1975).

The decal sheet has hull numbers, draft marks, escape-hatch bullseyes, and mast camouflage marks. I applied Seawolf's markings over a coat of Future floor polish. The escape-hatch markings adhered well, even over the raised safety track. All of the hull markings silvered under a second coat of Future.

I applied the camouflage decals to the mast fairings. The decals were wider than the areas they were designed to cover, so after they set I trimmed the decals along each fairing's trailing edge. I elected to omit the upper portions of these markings because they could wrap around the periscopes and antennas more than once and would be difficult to trim. The scopes and antennas were painted camouflage gray (FS 36622). The words Seawolf and submarine were misspelled as "Sea wolf " and "submaine" on the display-stand decal.

It was a quick and easy project, taking only nine hours to complete. It's big, measuring 29" long, and takes up a fair amount of shelf space.

- David Raatz