This model is an excellent two-pack model of the USS Dallas Los Angeles class nuclear attack submarine (SSN) vs. a Svoiet Alfa class nuclear attack submarine. The model was made to punctuate the Tom Clancy book and then movie of the time (mid-late 1980s) called, "The Hunt for Red October." In that movie there is a stand-off and combat scene between the USS Dallas and this Soviet Alfa Class. This is really quite a nice boat, with very little flash and lots of extra parts and decals to build any of the LA Class boats. For the LA Class boat, there are two sprues with 35 parts. A relatively easy build, but well molded and detailed.

The instructions are straignt forward, as are the painting guide and decals. I chose to paint the anti-skid surface along the top of the boat an off color black, actually weathered black, in order to match actual pictures of the boat.

For the Los Angeles Class Submarine, as stated, the kit comes with enough parts to build any of all three flights of the vessel, Flight I, II, or III. I chose Flight III because it was the latest and included a strengthened sail with the dive planes moved to the bow and retractable. This allowed for more effective under the ice operations. This Flight II and III boatds also had 12 VLS tubes for vertical launched Tomohawk missiles which I also built. I thus modeled the boat for the USS Boise, SSN-764, a Flight III Los Angles class attack submarine, which is still active today (April 2012) after commissioning in 1992, twenty years ago.

The parts went together well enough, but rubber bands and some sanding and grinding were requitred to get the best fit for the upper and lower halves, and trimming was required for the same for some of the smaller pieces.

I also added the lateral, angled fins at the back of the boat which the model did not include, but were from a later modernization of the flight III class boats allowing better towed array sonar. I fabricated these pieces from pictures of the boat I found, and using planes from other class boats which I then molded and cut to match.

1. By Jan 15, 2012: Complete the USS Lassen, DDG-82.
2. By Feb 15, 2013: Complete PLAN Xuzhao (FFG-53) and Huangshan(FFG-570).
3. By Mar 15, 2013: Complete Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2
4. By May 01, 2013: Complete entire PLAN Carrier Group.
5. By Jun 15, 2013: Complete Entire US Carrier Group (Just the CSG).
6. By Jul 01, 2013: Start the UK Carrier Group Centered on Airfix's HMS Illustrious.
7. By Aug 15, 2013: Start the JMSDF Carrier Group Centered on Fujimi's JMSDF Hyuga.
8. By Oct 01, 2013: Start the French Carrier group centered on Heller's Charles de Gaulle.
9. By Nov 15, 2013, Start the US ARG centered on the USS Iwo Jima and USS Sommerset.

The completion of the US Carrier Strike group, centered on the completed Tamyia's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65, (in addition ot the other escorts already completed) will include Trumpeter's USS Bunker Hill, CG-52 and USS Freedom, LCS-1 and Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. (All of which I already own). When a 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-80 (or any Gerald R. Ford Class) comes out from Trumpeter, Airfix, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser. Whatever Ford Class coms out, I will build her as the USS Enterprise, CVN-80.

The UK Group will indlude the Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Illustrious (which I already own), two Airfix 1/350 scale Daring Class DDGs (which I own and should arrive in January 2013), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Type 23 HMS Duke class Frigates (which I already own), and the Hobby Boss 1/350 scale HMS Astute SSN and Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Tragalgar SSN, both of which which I already own. One day, when a 1/350 scale HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier and a 1/350 HMS Ocean LPD come out, I will add both to this group.

The French CSG will be centered on Heller's 1/400 scale Charles De Gualle (which I already own). I have purchased 1/400 scale Heller French De Grasse, D612 DDG, which is an ASW DDG, the French Duquesne, D603 DDG which is an anti-air multi-purpose DDG, and the French Aconit F713 FFG and Gueprattet F714 FFGs, both of which are Lafayette class frigates. These five vessels will round out my French CSG. As soon as a French Robin class nuclear sub, like the French Perale S606 SSN comes out, I will add that to the group. Also as soon as the Forbin D620, Horizon class anti-air DDG is available, I will purchase it and add it to the group as well.

The Japanese JMSDF group will be centered on Fujimi's very finely detailed, 1/350 scale Hyuga, DDH-181, which I own. It will be escorted by Trumpeter's 1/350 scale DDG-177, Atago, an AEGIS class DDG (which I have purchased), Trumpeters's 1/350 scale DDG-114 Susunami (A Tachanami Class DDG which I own), and by the 1/350 scale SS-503 Hakuryu (which I own), one of Japans new, very modern and capable AIP Diesel Electric submarines. As soo as a DDG-115 Akizuki in 1/350 scale becomes available, I will add it to this group.

The completion of the US ARG will include Tamiya's 1/350 scale, USS Iowa, BB-62 (which I have already completed), Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Gallery's 1/350 scale USS Sommerset, LPD-25, and Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS The Sullivans DDG-68,

Then, finally it will be a complete Russian CSG (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov which is available but I have not purchased yet) the Russian Slava Class cruiser, Varyag by Trumperter (which I own), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Udalaoy DDGs (which I own), Hobby Boss's Akula II class SSN (which I own), and the Russian Alfa Class SSN, which I have already completed.

Recently I purchased Heller's 1/400 scale Foch, the Clemceau Class carrier that was sold to the Brazilians in 2000 and in 2002 was refitted and bacame the Brazilian CV, Sao Paulo, using steam catapaults. I will build the model as the Sao Paulo and thus start a Brazilian group, though the Type 22 DDGs and the FFGs the Brazilians use are not available at present.

Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build an Italian Group centered on the Cavour and their Horizon DDGs, a Spanish Group centered on the Juan Carlos and their F-100 AEGIS FFGs, and ultimatly an Australian Group centered on the new Canberra Class LPD and the Hobart class AEGIS DDGs. If they ever build the models, an Indian group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier the Vikrant and their Kolkata class DDGs and Shivlak class FFGs would also be nice.

You can see all of these actual carriers, read their histories and specifictions at my site:

WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

...and most of their surface escorts at:

AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD