by Tom Dougherty |
This is the Yankee ModelWorks (YKM) resin 1/350 USS Tullibee kit. It was on the market briefly in the early 2000’s and has been in my model stash for years.USS Tullibee SSN 597 was built in the late 1950’s-early 1960’s as a prototype nuclear SSKN. This small submarine at 272.75 ft long, 23.4 ft. beam, and displaced 2607 tons submerged, with 56 crew onboard. Earlier diesel ASW SSK designs featured small, hunter submarines (e.g., Barracuda K-1 class) that were to be produced in large numbers to make an effective “barrier” to Soviet submarines. To improve over the small diesel SSKs, a small nuclear powered SSKN was designed, USS Tullibee. Among the innovations on Tullibee were the first bow sonar sphere (BQQ-1) with the torpedo tubes positioned back from the bow. Tullibee also initially had three BQG-2A PUFFS fins, two visible fore and aft and one in the sail, later replaced with the larger BQG-4 PUFFS. PUFFS (Passive Underwater Fire Control Feasibility System) employed arrival time of the sound at the three receivers along the length of the submarine to determine bearings to the sound origin. Tullibee also featured the small S2C reactor which delivered propulsion via powering turbine electric generators that drove a DC electric motor that was directly coupled to the main shaft and propeller. With this turboelectric drive, no main steam propulsion turbines or reduction gear were installed. The concept proved to be extremely quiet albeit slow, with the submerged top speed of only 16 kts. The decision was made not to build further SSKNs, but several features (bow sonar, amidships torpedo tubes) were incorporated into the Thresher/Permit and subsequent classes of submarines. Although an excellent ASW platform, Tullibee spent considerable time in overhaul, in part due to the innovative systems onboard.
The YKM resin Tullibee model has the correct hemispherical bow shape seen in pre-launch photos on Navsource. Later SSNs have a more elliptical shape bow cap. As well, the stern taper is more abrupt than later designs. I decided to build this kit in the early 1960’s configuration with the smaller PUFFS, the color scheme, and a five blade screw. Although the kit came with photoetch propellers, I substituted the superb, 3D printed version available from Mike Fuller. As with many YKM kits, there were no ballast tank flood vents along the bottom of the hull. As an experiment, I bought some photoetch vents used for detailing Japanese robot warrior models. I had to guestimate where the vents would be, and initially positioned them with white glue followed by cyanoacrylate. I include one photo of the vents. Model assembly was with cyanoacrylate glue. Paints were Badger Modelflex, applied with a Paasche VL airbrush. Decals came with the kit but suffered from age; decal softening solution was essential, as was dull coat spray to keep them from lifting. I make my own wood mounts from oak pieces.
