USS Skipjack
by Ken Hart

1/228 USS Skipjack SSN-585 (Aurora)

A corrected rendition of the old 1962 Aurora kit no. 711 SSN Skipjack in 1/228 scale, along with a few variations built from the later Monogram kit no. 3101 re-issue, all built during 1989.

About this project: As a kid back in the 1960's, I was enthused after seeing USS Skipjack SSN-585 alongside at the submarine base in Groton, New London, Connecticut. In 1962, Aurora released their plastic assembly model kit, no. 711 (retailing for $.98 back then!), which was a popular favorite among model builders. The boxcover art was intriguing, and the model kit wasn't too bad. Not a lot of parts, as it was a sleek modern atomic submarine. Studious research, however, proved the kit had plenty of inaccuracies. With tools, supplies, photos, plans, and information, I set about building an accurately corrected rendition of this popular old kit during 1989. Actual ship details were accounted for to the best of my abilities.

  1. An accurately corrected rendition of the old Aurora kit no.711 SSN Skipjack (1/228 scale) displays the completed model as the newly commissioned USS Skipjack SSN-585, placed on a wood base with keel blocks. The kit featured an erroneous 3-bladed propeller, but the 585s were launched with 5-bladed screws, which were later replaced with scythe-shaped 7-bladed screws. The kit decal sheet offered no draft mark numbers. All decals on my model are after-market products.
  2. A starboard side view of the corrected model displayed on the original Aurora kit stand. The kit featured a "viewable" reacter from a removeable "hatch." Skipjack's reactor was actually just aft of her sail. The "turtleback" fairing facilitated streamlining and protection to the auxiliary diesel air induction and exhaust piping mast, because these pipes would not have been accessible passing through the reactor compartment.
  3. A close-up of the bow and fore deck shows some of the model's corrected details. The orange/red oval is the cover over the fore emergency messenger bouy. These bouys are removed, and the covers welded onto the decking after sea trials have been completed and the ship is commissioned into active fleet service.
  4. A comparison of box covers of the original Aurora kit no.711 from 1962 (bottom), and the Monogram kit no.3101 re-issue from the 1970s. The artwork is wrong in that the ships are facing the wrong way at their piers. There was a U.S. Navy photo of Skipjack taken just after she slid down the ways at her launching, with a yard tug assisting, which this painting was obviously based on. The ship hasn't yet been fitted out, and thus she sits so high in the water.
  5. A comparison of the plastic parts from the original Aurora kit (at bottom in black), and the Monogram re-issue kit in gray plastic. The Monogram re-issue actually featured a couple of accuracy improvements.
  6. The instructions sheets and decal sheets from both the Aurora and Mongram kits.
  7. Another Aurora kit, this one built to an active service rendition of USS Skipjack, displayed on the Aurora kit stand. Once a ship is in service, hull number are worn only while alongside in port. This one sports an additional Battle Efficiency white "E" above the hull number. The ship's name is not worn, except for launching and commissioning ceremonies. This model features a small AN/WLR9 sonar pod forward, and a tonal frequency jammer near the rudder, items installed onto ships as they were developed. The glass-reinforced plastic sonar windows on the upper and lower bow were painted over with the hull paint, until seawater would eventually wear the paint off and expose the dull gray primer coatings. Soviet subs never painted over their sonar windows in hopes of better performance.
  8. A rather poorly focused view of the model's keel, showing the ship's mushroom anchor under the bow, the sets of fore and aft main ballast tank flood ports, and seawater intake and discharge ports.
  9. A Monogram kit built to an in-service rendition of a deployed Skipjack, displayed on wooden base and keel blocks. Once on active service deployment, hull numbers are never sported. Only draft mark numbers remain.

Ken Hart


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