Phil2012

Thank you very much for this information, TacHel ! This could explain the low number of badges! But on the other hand, this badge mainly is "For Long Range Campaign" because it's so similar to the offical one. So, maybe the recipients were people who were awarded with "For Long Range Campaign" in 1996 only?.. Did you find information about the origin of this commemorative badge? I mean, as it was issued by a manufacture in Saint Petersburg, and as the number of badges is small, could it be possible that unit commanders of this area were behind this specific award?..

Thank you very much for this information, TacHel ! This could explain the low number of badges! But on the other hand, this badge mainly is "For Long Range Campaign" because it's so similar to the offical one. So, maybe the recipients were people who were awarded with "For Long Range Campaign" in 1996 only?.. Did you find information about the origin of this commemorative badge? I mean, as it was issued by a manufacture in Saint Petersburg, and as the number of badges is small, could it be possible that unit commanders of this area were behind this specific award?..

Hello, gents! I'm still looking for additional information about this badge. Please post if you know something!.. Thanks in advance! ;)

Thank you for your comment, Belaruski! Let's try these materials, you'll see it's a very convenient and good-looking way to display your collection! Please post pics once it will be done! ;)

Hello, gents! In 2006 was celebrated the 100th anniversary of the russian Submarine Fleet. Quite a lot of badges and medals were issued. As my own collection is devoted to the "Project 941 Akula" (NATO "Typhoon") submarines only (presently 50 badges and medals), I only have commemorative badges and medals featuring a Typhoon sub. Here are they: "100th Anniversary of the Submarine Fleet of Russia". A very large and beautiful badge, 5-part construction! Gilted brass and hot enamel. Screwback. Issued by "Feodorovski Zavod, Saint Petersburg". A badge designed from the pattern of the first russian submariners badge. Screwback. "Submarine Fleet of Russia". Brass and hot enamel. Screwback. "Submarine Fleet". Brass and hot enamel. Screwback. "100th Anniversary of the Submarine Force of Russia". Issued by the Ministry of Defense. Pinback. "100th Anniversary of the Submarine Force of Russia". Issued by the Ministry of Defense. Pinback.

Hello! My Navy dagger was made by Bulat in 1992, and its number is 257652. I wish this will be useful to you!

Hello, at the end of a stay in Russia, if customs find items prohibited for export in your luggage these items will be confiscated, you'll be fined, and you will be banned lifelong from any further stay in Russia...

Nothing to complain about, here! There are light differences with the real sub, but nothing serious! Well, I could summerize by telling that Alanger kit is the most accurate kit you could find about Typhoon submarine! The lack of details is secondary to my point of view. I used pictures of Typhoons I found on the net to paint more details.

Hello! Here is my russian Typhoon submarine model, on scale 1:350 "Typhoon" is the usual name of Projekt 941 "Akula" ("Shark" in russian). The Typhoons are the largest submarines ever built: 574 ft long (174m), 75 ft wide (23m), 48.000 tons displacement when submerged. Six vessels were launched from 1982 to 1989 for the Northern Fleet. Today, three still are in service: "Severstahl", "Dmitri Donskoi", and "Arkhangelsk". Crew is 160, armament includes 20 intercontinental missiles, 533mm and 650mm torpedoes, anti-aircraft weapons system, and the "Typhoons" also can lay up to 40 mines. Some pictures: Several brands issued "Typhoon" scale models: Heller, Hobby Boss, Alanger, Revell, DML,.. Mine is from russian brand "Alanger", on scale 1:350. It's 20 2/8 inch long (51,5cm). Here are some pictures: There are some differences with the real sub, but light ones. I saw the models of the other brands, and the kit from Alanger certainly is the best one. I can say this because I have more than 200 pics of these submarines. On the other kits, there are a lot of wrong things! Most oftenly, the rear part is totally wrong!.. On the other hand, the lack of details on Alanger kit is a pity! On such a large kit, more details would have been welcome! No details at all on the castle, except the ones I painted!.. There are no more details on the masts than on Hobby Boss 1:700 kit ! The hatches of the diving fins are not engraved, so I painted them. The hatches of the torpedoes tubes also are absent. But the design of the missiles silos hatches is right, contrary to the kits of other brands. The rear deck is correct. To be continued... ;)

I use to meet the same problem, Peter! Some years ago, on a french forum about horse riding, I managed a topic about horse equipment and leather care. Some people sometimes said that my pieces of advice for leather care were wrong because their riding instructor said something different. So, I replied "Everyone his own work! The instructor's domain is riding, the saddler's one is horse garment and leather care. I do not ever doubt my monitor because he is the professional. But about saddles and leather, I do manage!" It's not easy because in my area most riding clubs have very bad habits about leather care: for example they apply grease monthly, on both sides of leather, etc... and of course after some time the leather is too much soft and even sticky! That's why, after some time explaining this and that, I finally let people think what they want!.. :whistle:

Thanks a lot for your comments! Well, I tried to summarize the most important points and not to overload my post with details. Of course anyone can post questions about problems they happen to meet, I'll try to answer! ;)

Hello, there! Searching badges for my collection of "Typhoon" submarines badges and medals, I found this one some months ago: It's 1 5/8 high and 1 2/8 wide (4cm X 3,2cm). This badge "For long range campaign" is accompanied by an additional "ribbon" for the 300th anniversary of the Fleet. I found this hot-enamelled badge on a wellknown auction site, and the seller didn't know anything about it. He wrote that submariners were awarded with this badge after 300 days immersed. The photo of his ad was of low quality (fuzzy, to much yellow tainted...) so I couldn't see any important detail. But as this badge features a "Typhoon" submarine, I bought it! By examining the badge as soon as I received it, I immediately noticed the metal, which was not the usual brass: it was silver! Here are the hallmarks on the back: ...and on the disc: Caption on the disc: "S. Peterburg / Russkie Samotsvieti". I've searched information about this company and I sent a mail. Unfortunately, Russkie Samotsvieti doesn't want to unveil business confidential information as the number of badges they issued or who ordered the manufacture of these badges... Well, from other russian sources I just found out that 200 or 300 badges were issued. The same badge also exists for surface ships, and both badge were issued both in silver or brass: As you can see, the brass badges are a bit larger. For each of the two brass variants, 1.000 pieces were issued. This is all I know about this very special submarine badge. Please post if you know more! Thanks in advance! ;)

Hello! Here is my collection of soviet/russian "Typhoon" submarines badges and medals: I started it 20 years ago and I'm still looking for new items!.. The green board is 40cm X 50cm (15 3/4" X 19 3/4"). Most of these badges and medals have screwback. It's very convenient to attach them to a support! As for me, I use what we call in french "carton-plume" ("feather-cardboard", word by word): It's 5mm thick (2/8"). It's a kind of sandwich made of dense foam between two layers of thin cardboard. This material is at the same time stiff and very light. It's very easy to cut and to pierce. I cover a side with adhesive coating which looks like velvet: It's easy to apply. When I add new badges, I remove all the badges and medals and I take off the green coating, I put a new one, then I redo the positioning of the badges and medals. This can be quite a long task (around two hours)!.. Here is the back side of the frame: The change in position of badges every time I find new badges is a long work. But the materials I use help a lot because they're cheap and very easy to use!

Hello! Some years ago, after I left the french Navy, I learned the job of saddler as I'm fond of horses, horse riding, and leathercraft. Here are some tips I learned by the craftsman who teached me the job. I apologize in advance for english mistakes, it's not my first language! Cleaning: Never soak leather! To clean it, use a clean and damp cotton rag that you gently rubbed on ordinary soap. Let the leather dry at room temperature. Never make it dry in direct sunlight or on a heater. Once it's dry, nourish the leather with a colorless cream containing beeswax, avocado oil, or lanolin. Apply the cream and rub with a clean and dry cotton rag, only on the smooth side of leather. For leather goods you regularly use, this cleaning have to done monthly. Grease: Only use grease for leather care made of natural substances (ask retailer), never use synthetic grease! Once a year only, apply the grease on rough side of leather only. That's enough. Otherwise, as grease doesn't dry nor evaporates, there will be too much grease in the leather and it will turn fat and slack!.. Old and dry leather: When an old leather is cracked, there is nothing to do to restore. It's too late. When an old leather is simply stiff, and not cracked, it's possible to soften. Never use grease or oil to soften leather! To soften a small piece of leather (belt, chin strap, etc...), you can use steam: put the leather above the valve of a cooker, then apply grease as described above. Shoe polish: Shoe polish is designed to shine shoes. It doesn't mean that it's good for leather care!!! Shoe polish most oftenly is made of synthetic substances or petroleum, so it doesn't nourish the leather. On the contrary, it often dehydrates leather and make it stiff!.. Banish shoe polish from you leather care equipment! Leather care products: Don't forget that leather is an animal product. So, only use soap, cream, and grease (or oil) made of natural substances because only these products provide useful substances to leather. That's why you mustn't use synthetic care products, even if some of them are popular in riding clubs!.. ;)

Thank you TacHel !

Difficult to say... After the collapse of the soviet regime, many things changed in the orders and medals! Have a look there for information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_orders,_decorations,_and_medals_of_the_Russian_Federation ;)

Hi, there! Here is the Russian Federation Order of Courage: The youngest recipient was a 7yo boy named Evguenyi Tabakov: I wrote "was" because the kid was awarded posthumously. Here is his story: In july, 2009, in Noginsk (118.000 inhabitants, around 35km east from Moscow), Evguenyi and his sister Yana, 12yo, are at home. Their mom is at work. Someone knocks at the door. As their mother always told not to open the door to strangers, Yana asks who is there. A male voice answers: "It's the postman. I have a telegram to give but I need a signature". The girl opens the door. Instantly the man rushes into the house, he seizes the girl and leans a knife to her throat! Then he orders the boy to bring him money. Terrified, the boy obeys and when he returns the man is about to finish to snatch the clothes of his sister, who still have the knife on her throat! Evguennyi runs to the kitchen and returns with a knife and drives it into the agressor's back! Under the influence of pain and surprise, the man lets go of the girl who rushes into the street to call for help. But the wound is not deep and the man pulled himself together. He catches the little boy and stabbs him eight times. Little Evguennyi died. The agressor, Sergei Kyiashko, 35yo, was arrested and sentenced for murder. The Russian government decided to honour Evguennyi's exemplary courage by awarding him posthumously with the Order of Courage, as he saved his sister from rape. The medal was presented to his mother during an official ceremony.

Another "Kursk" badge you could meet: This is not a commemorative badge of the wreck: it's from a set about "Antei" class submarines (NATO "Oscar II") including more or less than 10 badges (I don't know exactly). In this set, as you guess, there is a specific black enamelled ribbon for each ship: "K-266 Oriol", "K-119 Voronezh", "K-132 Irkutsk", etc...

I got an answer from Saint Petersburg Submariners Club: Captain Kurdin (chairman odf the Club) is on vacation, I'll receive answers about the "Kursk" commemorative badges once he'll be back.

Paul R, I don't know if I understand you question well, but if you ask about posthumous awards the answer is yes. All the crewmembers were awarded with the Order of Courage, and Captain 1st rank Lyachin also was awarded with the Order of Hero of the Russian Federation. The Order of Courage: You can see this medal on the tomb of all crewmembers:

Here is another badge which was issued on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of shipwreck: Some other badges exist, but I don't have pics.

Thank you all for your comments about my frame! Well, probably one of the most simple reasons to explain why so many badges are manufactured is that Russians like badges and lapel pins a lot! It's in their culture. There are thousands items about any subject you can think of, it's really unbelievable! So, for my part I wouldn't say there is a specific commercial aspect in producing such commemorative badges. Such badges about the "Kursk" simply are a component of the attraction of the Russians for badges in general. Even if in this precise case the drama of the shipwreck makes a difference in the motivation to buy the badges...

No, Paul, it wasn't. Club Faleristika is a russian website forum, and sometimes they order the manufacture of badges on many occasions and topics. The project for a new badge is presented on a topic, and the members can order how many badges they want to buy. You easily understand that under such conditions, not a lot of badges are manufactured! Here is the back of my badge: You can see the "Faleristika" logo and the number of the badge: 134 (150 issued). I'm not sure any commemorative item was issued for the next of kin. But maybe someone here knows?..

No, Mervyn, sorry! This dagger is the only edged weapon I own!.. But I'm still looking for a Navy dagger with double-headed eagle !..

Yes, there are several other commemorative badges, but I didn't buy. For simple aesthetic reasons, because I didn't like their design a lot. When I made this frame, my idea wasn't to make an exhaustive collection but to make a kind of memorial. Beside of this, I bought this badge two years ago: As you see, it was issued on the occasion of 10th anniversary of shipwreck, with caption "10th anniversary of tragic loss of K-141 nuclear submarine KURSK". This badge was issued by Faleristika Club. 150 pieces only were manufactured.