“Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine swiftly developed a potent uncrewed naval force. Utilizing explosive-equipped uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), Ukraine has successfully inflicted significant damage on the Russian Navy. These pose such a formidable threat that the Russian fleet into a state of inactivity at port. This grants Ukraine a level of sea denial that was scarcely conceivable just a few years ago.” – http://www.hisutton.com/Russia-Ukraine-USVs-2024.html

This kit – from a Ukrainian company called MikroMir – has been in an unfinished state with me for a while, so I decided to complete it. Construction is not complex, except for some small photo etch pieces. There were ridiculous attachments for the cameras or sensors which pop up on the bow and I replaced then with plastic or brass rod instead. Not accurate I suppose but one must be practical too. Painting was simple too, namely being shades of black! I mounted it on a base with a map of its operational area – the Black Sea.

It is interesting to compare this model – at scale of 1/35 – with the previously completed X-craft submarine, of the same scale. Essentially they have the same task, but the passage of years between the two shows the progress made.