This diorama started as my entry for the 2009 IPMS UK/Scale Model World entry in the new created class of Submarines.  After a search on the stash, the Akula was the choice, because it is such a nice looking sub! Searching for references in the bookshelf, the Wayne Frey's book cover "torpedoed" my idea for the built, and what was supposed to be  a simple sea base, with a submarine surfaced ended up on this diorama! Perhaps I should refrain a little bit...
A lot of scratch building was involved, mainly on the floating dry dock and crane, since there isn't any available in model form, at least modern and Soviet/Russian. The Akula also suffered some surgery (a new scratchbuilt aft sonar array dome), a new windshield and I modified the aft hydroplanes to the position they are shown when on dry dock. Also for the first time on this scale I tried weathering bellow the waterline - I have never made a 1/700 full hull before - and I think I got a relatively close effect, at least to what I remember seeing in the Lisbon Navy Arsenal (where they make the Portuguese Navy submarine (also) middle and main maintenance), and I think I also managed to replicate the effects on the Dry Docks, cranes and all the material like those of the (now closed) Lisnave Shipyards, in my hometown Almada.

Boxed Items:
- 1/700 Hobby Boss Akula Submarine
- 1/700 Tug from Aoshima Tugger Set (modernized)
- 1/700 HP-Models Soviet Navy Schwimmkran (house and arm used)
- 1/700 BJ-Modellbau PE set for HP-Models Crane
- 1/700 Lionroar Russian/Soviet Navy Raillings
- 1/700 Lionroar Figurines
- Wooden Base was a gift made by MSW member Jacob Walker [Redneck]

Scratchbuilt Items:
- Crane legs
- Floating Dry Dock
- Pier and Mooring Block;
- Scaffolding on Akula and on Floating Dry Dock using PE grid 0.3 and 0.5 mm, Evergreen and Brass rods;
- On the Akula: Windshield and Towed Array Dome (to the correct shape of a Akula I);
- Home made decals (for the writing on the Floating Dry Dock);
- Generators, cables, etc mainly using Evergreen Sheet, Brass rods and some wire;
- Flag hand painted on tape, and rigging is Caennis Line;
- Seascape is watercolour paper.

Painting and Weathering:
- Painted with White Ensign Models Colourcoats Soviet Navy Colors;
- Weathered with Artists Oils.

References:
Russian Submarines - Guardians of the Motherland
by Wayne Frey
Published by Infinity
ISBN 0741434474

Ships of The World Magazine, Nº675
Published by Kaijincha