Polaris submarine

[Kit Basher]

I picked this up at a local auction. I remember building something like this when I was a kid, and I thought it would be fun to give it another go. It was fun, especially if you enjoy painting lots of tiny details, which I sometimes do. I left off the clear hull for these photos, I will put that on and put the model on the shelf.

 

Edited September 7, 2018 by Kit Basher

[Dave Ambrose]

Nice. I built one of those too. Nowhere near as well as you did. 

[Kit Basher]

Thanks Dave! If you enjoyed building it, that's all that matters.

[Jim B]

Nice looking sub.  I remember building one like that a long time ago, but I don't remember it having a clear hull.  I think it was gray.  Maybe it was a different issue.  Did the cut-away U-boat, too.

[Kit Basher]

Thanks Jim!  The one I had as a kid had a gray side that folded down to expose the interior. It might have been a Revell. I have also seen a Revell kit of this sub that has a cut-away hull. I think it is a bit smaller.

[unclescott58]

Wow! Stunning job. I love these odd cutaway kits. I'm impressed Hugh. 

[Nacho Z]

Now that is pretty cool!  Looks like you did a nice job on it!

[Snake45]

VERY cool! You have WAY more patience than I do. 

[Mike999]

Good work!  Here's a short, fun article about the fuss over Revell's Polaris submarine kit in 1961. Adm. Hyman Rickover himself griped that the kit was too accurate and might give away secrets to the Russians.  Includes a great photo of Revell founder Lew Glaser holding up a built model of the sub:

http://belatednerd.com/revell-sells-secrets-to-soviets-for-2-98/

[Kit Basher]

Thanks Scott!

Thanks John!

Thanks Snake!

Thanks Michael! That is a fun article.

[Foxer]

I too build the one with the grey, fold-down side, the USS George Washington, when I was 15 in 1961. I loved all the detail painting and the fol-down to reveal all! Why did I ever trash it?

[cobraman]

Looks good !  I also had the George Washington many years ago.

[Jim B]

I don't know how accurate these are (nuclear submarines being classified, and all), but aren't the USS Thomas Jefferson (SSBN-618) and the USS George Washington (SSBN-598) different classes of submarines?  Isn't the USS Thomas Jefferson an Ethan Allen class submarine?  Not that something like that would stop a model company! 

[Kit Basher]

Thanks Mike!

Thanks Ray!

[1930fordpickup]

I like this Hugh.  Nice job on the paint work. 

[GLMFAA1]

The Renwal was the Jefferson, Ethan Allen, and Washington. Revell made the Washington, Jackson, Lincoln which also had a firing Polaris missile, I believe they were both classed as Polaris subs before they had the Trident class. Smaller scale than Renwal and no clear side

greg

[peteski]

Nice job!  An interesting and unusual subject. Not something you see modeled everyday.

[Kit Basher]

Thanks Andy!

Thanks Greg!

Thanks Peter!

[David G.]

I remember seeing one of these kits as a child but couldn't afford to buy it.

I've always wanted to build one, thank you for sharing yours with us. Excellent work!

David G.

[Kit Basher]

Thanks David!

[Jim N]

Great job!  Really superb work and detail.

The comments from Rickover gave me a good chuckle.  I remember in the 1980's Testor's came up with what they thought a stealth fighter should look like.  Oh my gosh, there were congressional hearings over this on how a model company could get the plans for this plane and all sorts of drivel.  Then the real stealth fighter is seen and the two looked nothing alike.

[Kit Basher]

Thanks Jim!