Trumpeter 1/700
Russian Navy Slava Class Cruisers Moskva/Varyag
Quick Review by Sean Hert
These cruisers, known as Project 1164 are believed to be a “hedge bet” in case the Kirov class failed. They were laid down in 1976, and the first ship of the class, named Slava was launched in 1979 and commissioned in 1983. Slava was renamed Moskva in 2000, and was assigned to the Black Seas Fleet. Varyag was commissioned in 1989, originally named “Chervona Ukraina,” and was assigned to the Pacific Fleet. The Slava class is armed with a formidable array of weapons;
Missiles:
16 x 1 SS-N-12 “Bazalt”
8 x 8 SA-N-6
2 x 2 SA-N-4
Guns:
2 x 130mm AK-130
6 x 6 AK-630 CIWS
HULL PARTS
The hull is molded as a waterline kit with a lower hull option. The upper hull had a little flash, but the hull halves fit together nicely. The one piece deck has a small gap in the bow, but otherwise fit looks good. The modeler has the choice of full hull or waterline display. Flat waterline and full hull options are molded in red. Another nice feature is that the locator holes are not open all the way through, so you won’t have to fill them if they are not used on your ship. In fact, one of the few differences between these kits is which holes you open.
SPRUES
Sorry, my scanner wasn’t up to the task so the images are poor. The parts look good in person though! No flash to be seen. The kit’s display base seems to be a default standard for many of Trumpeter’s 1/700 kits now; it’s the same one in USS Pittsburgh for instance.
INSTRUCTIONS
A ten page instruction booklet describe the assembly in great detail with a variety of sub assembly views. These instructions are well done for each kit, with only minor differences modifying a few steps, namely the placement of some holes on the decks and a selection of radars. The instructions from Varyag are shown.
Painting & Marking Guides and Decals
The full color Paint & Marking Guides are up to Trumpeter’s excellent standards, with the standared Gunze Mr. Color references.
The decal sheet is identical in each kit; in fact, the decal sheet shows a total of 4 kit numbers, implying a Marshal Ustinov and Vilna Ukraina in the future.
Varyag
Moskva
There were that many Russians in Ghaza? Just there to show moral support and eat at the 3-star hotel’s restaurant, of course. Is it possible they’re also dropping something off? Naw./s
Prior to the deployment some of the task force was exercising with NATO country Italy. The vessels transited into the Mediterranean on their way to the Gulf of Aden long before the current Gaza hostilities.
Russian Navy command deploys two task units of Pacific Fleet (PF) and Black Sea Fleet (BSF) in order to accomplish combat training missions, ensure Russian naval presence in key regions worldwide, and secure civil shipping off Somalia......
Prior to that some elements were exercising with NATO elements in the Mediterranean.
Currently the Black Sea Fleet Tanker Ivan Bubnov is hove to off the entrance to the Suez Canal. The main force of these vessels will transit through the Suez to continue with the on-going anti piracy patrols.
Here in the UK I can pick up the Morse Code weather transmissions from some of the Auxiliary vessels. The following is Russian Navy Tanker Ivan Bubnov. Positonal info stripped out from international weather transmission.
8345 Kilohertz
RCV DE RCJG 24181 99316 10323 22200 @1806Z
31.6N 32.3E Hove to
Map Link for Russian Navy vessel position from Morse Code transmission
Both Obama and Putin want to COW Bibi.
Well, guess what? Even if the US and Russia combine against Israel, they cannot be a match for Israel’s power. They have become enemies of Israel and Jehovah. Thats not a very good place to be.
And now watch what happens.
The Russian Navy Tanker, Ivan Bubnov, is still sending Morse Code international weather broadcasts. Still hove to off the Suez Canal. What normally happens is that the Auxiliary vessels will stop sending weather once they start to transit the Suez. This weather denial will remain in force until they re-enter the Mediterranean after their anti-piracy deployments. The Russians regard the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, etc too risky to transmit international weather that contains latitude and longitude.
The International weather code in use.
Vessel information including call sign
From
From 06 UTC, 25th November.
8345 Kilohertz.
RCV DE RCJG 25061 99316 10323 22200 @0615Z
31.6N 32.3E Hove to
Map Link for Russian Navy vessel position
Full Morse message with the positional and course groups in bold.
8345 RCV DE RCJG 129 18 25 1000 129 = SML FOR RJH45 RJE73 =
25061 99316 10323 41598 72606 10200 40150 56010 79162 87320 22200 00210 20000 88000 25014 = + RCJG K
Still at same location as of 18 UTC, 25 November.
8345 RCV DE RCJG 25181 99316 10323 22200 @1807Z
31.6N 32.3E Hove to
The recent reporting from the Russian Navy website stil has the Suez transit scheduled for the 27th November.
At present, BSF task force consisting of Guards missile cruiser Moskva, destroyer Smetlivy, landing ships Novocherkassk and Saratov, and auxiliary vessels has completed first stage of the long-range cruise in eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea and finished preparations for the anti-piracy mission off Somalia. The task force will be reinforced by Pacific Fleet (PF) task force in early Dec 2012. The ships finished preparations for the cruise to the Indian Ocean on Nov 24; passage of the Suez Canal is scheduled on Nov 27.
I suppose zer0 will make our navy tuck tail and run. We have a pacifist gay navy now...just like the whitehouse.
Apologies to my Navy friends still in uniform who are neither gay nor pacifist. I feel sorry that you are stuck under this particular commander and chief for the next 4 years.
From the Morse Code international weather
8345 Kilohertz
RCV DE RMYZ 04181 99406 10257 22200 @1808Z
40.6N 25.7E Hove to
Map Link for Russian Navy Tug MB-304 position
12464 Kilohertz RCV DE RCJG 03121 99402 10256 22212 @1204Z
40.2N 25.6E Heading North East at 6-10 Knots
This following position is from the International weather Morse Code transmission, 6 December during 12 UTC.
Russian Navy Tanker Ivan Bubnov
12464 RCV DE RCJG 06121 99385 10253 22232 @1215 UTC
38.5N 25.3E Heading South East at 6-10 Knots