PHArchivist
Master Member
Inspired by Hotshot's work, and a recent viewing of the film on Blu-Ray, I figured it was time to do a long-time-waiting project.
I've had the Dragon brand version 1:350 scale model kit of the Russian Typhoon sub for many years, with the intent of modifying it to look like the Red October. Though I must admit, when I first got it, I figured I'd be adding a sonar pod to the rudder sail and that'd be about it. Ha!
Hotshot's work, along with studying the available reference on the studio model, show there are many more subtle differences. Perhaps at the time the film was made the Russian Typhoon wasn't as well documented? Perhaps the filmmakers took some creative license? Regardless, there are some notable differences.
The original sub (and model kit) had flares in the hull along side the conning tower, which had to be sanded down, with some filler added on the backside.
Beginning the cut to extend the hull...
The script states Red October is "12 meters longer and three meters wider than a standard Typhoon." In this scale 12 meters (39 feet) is 1.35 inches. I added one inch in length to the hull, but no width. I figured, at the current dimensions of my model (with one inch added), if you magically expanded the whole thing so that the extension grows to 1.3 inches, then the width would grow comensurately, to about .3" wider (three meters in 1:350 scale is .34"). So the way I figure (if my mental gymnastics are correct) I have just about the right porportions, with a slightly reduced scale (maybe 1:375). Make sense?
I added styrene over the "girders"...
And filler over the styrene (my favorite - Elmer's wood filler).
By the way, to give this some scale, here's a closer shot of the cut-away. If I've done my math correctly, the sub is 55 feet tall! That's about the height of Hollywood sign, or a five-story building! Imagine how small a man would be standing next to that pillar!
Here's a closer shot of the extension. I used styrene, square "tubes". Getting it aligned in all directions was a bear.
I've had the Dragon brand version 1:350 scale model kit of the Russian Typhoon sub for many years, with the intent of modifying it to look like the Red October. Though I must admit, when I first got it, I figured I'd be adding a sonar pod to the rudder sail and that'd be about it. Ha!
Hotshot's work, along with studying the available reference on the studio model, show there are many more subtle differences. Perhaps at the time the film was made the Russian Typhoon wasn't as well documented? Perhaps the filmmakers took some creative license? Regardless, there are some notable differences.
The original sub (and model kit) had flares in the hull along side the conning tower, which had to be sanded down, with some filler added on the backside.
Beginning the cut to extend the hull...
The script states Red October is "12 meters longer and three meters wider than a standard Typhoon." In this scale 12 meters (39 feet) is 1.35 inches. I added one inch in length to the hull, but no width. I figured, at the current dimensions of my model (with one inch added), if you magically expanded the whole thing so that the extension grows to 1.3 inches, then the width would grow comensurately, to about .3" wider (three meters in 1:350 scale is .34"). So the way I figure (if my mental gymnastics are correct) I have just about the right porportions, with a slightly reduced scale (maybe 1:375). Make sense?
I added styrene over the "girders"...
And filler over the styrene (my favorite - Elmer's wood filler).
By the way, to give this some scale, here's a closer shot of the cut-away. If I've done my math correctly, the sub is 55 feet tall! That's about the height of Hollywood sign, or a five-story building! Imagine how small a man would be standing next to that pillar!
Here's a closer shot of the extension. I used styrene, square "tubes". Getting it aligned in all directions was a bear.
Last edited:
