HMAS Collins is the leader of six of its class in an Australian initiative to create its own submarine-building capability. Modified from the Swedish Västergötland-class design, Collins was partially built in Kockum’s shipyard in Malmo, Sweden (hence the Swedish crown as part of its crest). The boat was commissioned into the Royal Australian Navy in 1996, but various technical difficulties kept it from being deployed until 2000.

The kit is quite simple with just 23 parts and a brass nameplate. Five of the styrene parts are clear, comprising the display stand and a single-piece conning tower; the rest are molded in gray plastic. The back of the box has a two-step construction sequence and a third step for decal placement. The Cartograf decals provided for each of the six boats are excellent. The box top and side panel are your color guides.

Approximate model Length 22cm