Decades ago the now defunct Aurora model company produced a pretty fair kit of the Navy’s newest nuclear powered attack submarine, the USS SKIPJACK. The SKIPJACK class submarines represented the cutting edge of nautical and nuclear engineering. It was said of these fast, and maneuverable submarines that they were, “The Mazerati’s of the fleet: Fast, Loud, … and Sexy!” And the Aurora kit did a pretty good job of capturing the grace and lethality of the sleek SKIPJACK design. Over the years the Aurora tooling has passed through the hands of Monogram and today is in the custody of the Revell Company, whose version of the kit is currently available. Do keep in mind that when the tooling was produced the Navy offered little assistance to the Aurora design staff. Such things were of a sensitive nature back in the days of the ‘cold war’.
Radio Control (R/C) technology has finally advanced to the point where it is possible to cram in all the devices needed to make this little thirteen-inch long model kit work as an r/c model submarine. And that’s what this fittings kit will do for you: it will make the Revell SKIPJACK kit suitable for r/c operation. Not only that but this fittings kit has the stuff to help you to improve the look of the finished SKIPJACK model, to make it better reflect the look of the actual submarine.
Included in this fittings kit is a set of SKIPJACK drawings which will be a great aid as you modify and complete the SKIPJACK kit. Authored by model submarine expert Greg Sharpe, of Deep Sea Designs, the drawings are based on the official SKIPJACK class Booklet of General Plans. Greg’s drawings are the most authoritative of the class available to the general public today. We wish to thank Mr. Sharpe for his permission to use those drawings in this product. Mr. Sharpe offers other drawings of interest to both static and r/c model submarine enthusiasts, and we highly recommend his work.
To complete the conversion to r/c you will also need to buy and outfit the 1.25” Sub-driver, the devices contained within the Sub-driver, and a 4-channel r/c system.
Model details
Original details
Scale
1:232
No. of parts
21
Length
335 mm
Skill Level
2
Type description
Nuclear Submarine
Year/Period
1958
Origin
USA
Speed
30 knots
For a many years the Skipjack was the fastest and most maneuverable nuclear submarine class in the US navy. Launched in 1958, the Skipjack was in active service for almost 20 years and matched the Soviet Victor Class in power. Its slender rounded shape and powerful engine gave it a submerged speed of 30 knots.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
COLLECTORS ITEM!
THIS MODEL HAS NOW BEEN DISCONTINUED BY REVELL
LIMITED QUANTITY ONLY AVAILABLE.
The Revell Skipjack Sub-driver Prod # SD125SK $59.95
Aft Motor Bulkhead with motor
Motor Drive Shaft Connector tube
Aft Dry Space Cylinder
Servo Room with top & bottom plate
Forward Dry Space Cylinder
Forward End-cap
The Revell Skipjack Fittings Kit Prod # RVSKF $59.95
The D&E Fittings Kit contains all new dive planes and rudders. There is a new aft section which is completely replaces the aft section of the model. It has the prop shaft bearing surface pre-molded in. For the purists, there is a special tool (bottom left) which reshapes the contour of the nose as the original model is slightly incorrect. Push-rods and metal cast propeller are included. Magnets are included for the servo push-rods.
The Revel Skipjack Electronics Kit order separately BT50 2 x Micro Servos @ $8 each ESCMN 1 x Nano Speed Controller $29.00 AK1 1 x ADF Pitch Controller and Failsafe $79.00 SL675 1 x Nano Radio Receiver 75mhz with crystal $38.00 KSE002-LPG 1 x LiPo Guard Battery Saver $49.95 V800 1 x 800 Mah LiPo Battery $18.00 VC1 1 x Battery Charger For 7.2V Batteries $23.00
The Revell Skipjack Sub-driver Prod # SD125SK $59.95 The Revell Skipjack Fittings Kit Prod # RVSKF $59.95 The Revell Skipjack Model Prod # RV05065 $25.00
