Exhibit: October 2023
Name of Model: IRN Varyag
Modeler’s Name: Jay McKeown
Period Ship Sailed: 1898 to 1901
Type of Model: Zvesda kit
Build Time: 3 months
Scale: 1:350

Description of build: White Ensign Photo Etch, Model Master Barrels, Tamiya paint. Details enhanced with a set of 1/200 plans.

Ship’s History: Varyag’s keel was laid down at the William Cramp Shipyards in Philadelphia, PA in October 1898 and launched on April 11, 1899. She was fitted out and commissioned into the Imperial Russian Navy on January 2, 1901, as part of the Far East Fleet. She was 425 feet long with a displacement of 7,000 tons and was considered a “Protected Cruiser”. Main armament was twelve 6” guns, and twelve 3” quick-fire Cannet guns. She was involved in the Battle of Incheon. Her crew acquitted themselves well by attempting to fight its way out of Incheon Bay but was scuttled after sustaining too much damage. She was part of the surrender that brought about the end of the Russo-Japanese War in February 1905.

Modeler’s Biography: Building quality ships since 2008.