1:350 "Arktika" Russian Nuclear Icebreaker

The icebreaker Arktika 1:350 — a Zvezda plastic kit

A kit of the nuclear icebreaker Arktika in 1:350 scale from the Zvezda brand. It is an injection-molded plastic model of a large civilian ship, which is supplied unassembled and unpainted. The combination of a long hull and a broken-up superstructure makes the model a project for a longer time; thanks to the 1:350 scale the finished ship is a striking piece for a display case.

The real subject

Arktika was a Soviet ship with nuclear propulsion, built for keeping the shipping lanes open in the freezing waters of the Northern Sea Route. Icebreakers of this class are distinguished by an exceptionally strong reinforced hull with a special shape of the bow, which breaks the ice by the weight of the ship itself, and by great power on the shafts. In 1977 Arktika became the first surface ship to reach the North Pole. The equipment of the ship also included a deck for a helicopter.

Building and painting tips

First decide whether you are building the ship with the full hull or want to set it into the water line — the preparation of the base follows from that. Glue the hull in longer stretches and draw the joints together with rubber bands or clips, so that no step arises anywhere; fill and sand any seam on the hull smooth, because on a large area it will show the most. Try the deck and the superstructures dry before gluing. It pays to paint by subassemblies: the hull and the deck separately, the superstructure separately — once glued you will no longer get at the lower surfaces. After the base color, unify the areas with a fine wash into the shadows and mark the scuffing from the ice on the hull at the level of the waterline. Fine railings from photo-etched parts will lift the model markedly, but they are not included in the package.

Who the model is for

• For collectors of civilian and polar ships.
• For modelers with experience of larger ship models in 1:350.
• For someone looking for an unusual ship outside wartime themes.
• As the basis for a diorama with an icy surface.

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.