Yacare Scale Models Scorpène Class Submarine

Reviewed October 2025
by Felix Bustelo

HISTORY

The Scorpène submarines are a class of diesel-electric attack submarines jointly developed by the French Naval Group (formerly DCNS) and the Spanish company Navantia.The program began more than 25 years ago as a collaboration between the French and Spanish shipbuilders. The standard Scorpène class features diesel propulsion. There are a few derivatives boats that are either longer hulled, to accommodate an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system or more battery storage, or a shorter version better suited for coastal operations. The Scorpène class variants are currently in several countries in Asia and South America

Chile became the inaugural customer for the Scorpène class, ordering two submarines in the late 1990s to replace to aging Oberon class submarine being retired. The two submarines are named O’Higgins and Carrera. Their bows were constructed in France while the sterns were built in Spain. O’Higgins and Carrera entered service in 2005 and 2006, respectively. They measure 217 ft 10 in (66.4 m) long, with a beam of 20 ft 4 in (6.2 m) and draft of 19 ft (5.8 m). They have diesel-electric propulsion and displace around 1,700 tons submerged. They have six 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes and carry 18 torpedo and four Exocet anti-ship missiles. They can also carry 30 mines in place of the torpedoes.

Yacare Scale Models Scorpène Class Submarine

Yacare Scale Models is a 3D kit producer based in Chile, which focuses naturally on ships that have served or are currently serving in the Chilean navy, which a few serving in other navies. They offer kits in various scales. The Scorpène class submarine kit is comprised of a 3D printed full hull, smaller parts, crew figures and a base. The contents come in a sturdy flip-top box, with the contents cushioned inside bubble wrap. Assembly instructions are also provided in the box. The label on the box states that the hull is in two pieces, but actually it is a one-piece hull.

HULL

The 3D printed full hull is very nicely done and sits on a printing raft with numerous thin attachment points at the end of the supports holding it to the raft. The hull incorporates the sail and the aft rudders and stabilizers. There are openings in the sail to accommodate the various antennas and periscopes included with the kit. There is a lot of detail in the form of recessed lines that represent the torpedo tube doors, hatches and various panels all over the hull. You will see a series of four small holes along the keel. These are escape holes are used to drain out excess resin and level out the pressure inside and outside during the 3D printing process. The hull is not fully hollow as there is some weight to the kit part. Plugging the holes may provide a bit of challenge, but if you use the provided base to display the model, the two center openings will not be visible and not require to be filled in. Some clean up where the attachment points meet the hull will undoubtedly be needed. In 1/350 scale, the hull for the Chilean navy boats would be approximately 6.47 inches and the kit hull measures exactly that.

SMALL 3D PRINTED PARTS

Two print rafts with smaller parts are provided with the kit. Both rafts have cages printed around the parts within. All of the rafts have thin attachment points that should make removing the parts fairly easy but care must be taken with the more delicate items. The larger raft has the propeller, the hydrofoils to be attached to the sail, antennas, periscopes and radar mast. Also included on this raft are six crew figures in manning the rail poses. The smaller print raft has six additional crew figures in the same pose. One crew figure broke off the raft which is pretty good for a kit being shipped from Chile to Long Island, New York.

A separate display base is included with the words Scorpene-Class Submarine in raised letters on one side.

DECALS

No decals are provided with the kit, which is the only negative point of this kit. It would have been nice to have a sheet with at least the metric draft markings that you see in photos on these submarines online. I have also seen name plaques and unique emblems placed on the sail while in port which would have been also nice to have on a decal sheet along with the Chilean flag to help add some color to an otherwise totally black hull.

INSTRUCTIONS

The assembly instructions come of a single double-sided sheet of paper folded over into a pamphlet. The cover page contains a profile image of the submarine with a list of parts and guidance on how to remove the parts from the print rafts. One minor typo on this page is that there is reference to a Saar 4 class fast attack craft, which is another kit in Yacare’s catalog. The pamphlet opens up into a foldout sheet with images of the submarine in different perspectives. The back page has images of the kit parts with a guide for placement of the parts into the openings along the top of the sail. While they do not specifically show how to attach the propeller and hydrofoils but it is rather obvious where they are to go.

While there are no specific painting instructions, again it is very clear that the submarines were overall black. However, some guidance for painting the camouflage on the scopes, snorkel, etc. would have been useful.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, this is a very good kit from another exciting producer of 3D printed models. The hull and smaller parts are well done. The lack of decals is a minor con to an otherwise top-notch kit which will be an easy project to complete. This kit is available directly from Yacare Scale Models (https://www.yacarescalemodels.com), and this subject is also available in 1:144 and 1:72 scale. I purchased the kit for $32.00 US along with another kit (look for a review in the near future) plus shipping to the US via Fed Ex.