INS Vikramaditya Aircraft Carrier Model

2026 Project | Workshop 514, TCET | Naval Wing Project

Basic Information

Project Title INS Vikramaditya Aircraft Carrier Model
Duration 10 Dec 2025 – 24 Jan 2026
Venue Workshop 514, TCET
Unit Naval Wing
Mentor Cdr. Vijay Pratap Singh
ANO Lt. Dr. Nivant Kambale
Leader Cdt Capt Premraj Dhondphode
Participants 11 Cadets

Event Context

Naval wing initiative showcasing India's premier aircraft carrier capabilities.

Back to D&D Division

Introduction

To strengthen practical learning and enhance awareness about Indian Navy's defence capabilities, TCET NCC Naval Wing initiated the process of design & development of scaled model project of Aircraft Carrier, INS Vikramaditya under Indian Navy Warship category. The project was conceptualized and guided by Cdr. Vijay Pratap Singh (OIC TCET NCC), with the objective of enhancing technical skill development with national pride.

Primary objective of such initiative was to provide cadets with hands-on experience in understanding warship blueprints and constructing a scaled model that accurately represents Indian Navy's most prestigious Aircraft Carrier, INS Vikramaditya. The project displayed immaculate craftsmanship and research ability, structural understanding, discipline, and teamwork among the cadets.

The primary objective of this initiative was to provide cadets with hands-on experience in understanding warship blueprints, structural design, and construction techniques, while enabling them to develop a deeper insight into naval architecture. The project focused on constructing a scaled model that accurately represents the Indian Navy's most prestigious Aircraft Carrier, INS Vikramaditya, highlighting its structural complexity and operational significance.

Technical Specifications

Built by Sevmash Shipyard, Russia (Originally Admiral Gorshkov)
Length 284 m
Beam 60 m
Draught 10.2 m
Displacement ~45,400 tonnes
Designed by Nevskoye Design Bureau, Russia
Class Modified Kiev-class Aircraft Carrier
Aircraft (Air Wing) MiG-29K/KUB Fighter Aircraft (approx. 26), Kamov Ka-31 (AEW Helicopter), Kamov Ka-28 (ASW Helicopter), HAL Chetak Helicopters
Sensors & EW 3D Air Search Radar, EL/M-2238 STAR Radar, Surface Surveillance Radar, Electronic Warfare Suite, Decoy Launching Systems
Propulsion 8 Boilers, 4 Steam Turbines, 4 Shafts
Speed ~30 knots
Range ~13,500 km
Special Features Ski-jump for aircraft takeoff, Arrestor wires for landing, Large flight deck, Hangar for aircraft storage, Acts as a floating airbase

Raw Materials

  • Balsa wood
  • Sandpaper
  • Polish paper (350 grain)
  • Primer
  • Acrylic paints
  • Wood fillers
  • Varnish

Tools

  • Hacksaw (small)
  • Chisel (small, medium)
  • Cutting Pliers
  • Hammer
  • Brushes
  • Nails

Adhesives

  • NC Dope (nitrocellulose)
  • Hardener
  • Thinner
  • White putty
  • Grey putty
  • Birla putty
  • Wood fillers
  • Vetra

Challenges & Solutions

Problems Faced:
  • Hull curvature: Getting the correct curvature of the hull was quite tricky at first, as maintaining symmetry required a lot of precision and patience.
  • Material breakage: Sometimes, it was observed that lightweight balsa wood cracked during cutting and shaping.
  • Alignment issues: While fixing the superstructure with main structure including hull, we also noticed alignment issues.
  • Drying delays: Another challenge was the drying time for putty and paint, which slowed down the whole progress.
  • Academic balance: In such scenario, handling academic requirement of engineering studies is not easy and at times becomes quite challenging.
Solutions Implemented:
  • Hull curvature: We have overcome the problem by repeatedly filing and sanding the surface, and by using a mixture of wood dust and adhesive to fill the gaps.
  • Material breakage: We had to rebuild certain sections and reinforce them to ensure strength.
  • Alignment issues: Using blueprint, defect was corrected by rechecking our measurements and carefully adjusting the positioning of superstructure of ship.
  • Drying delays: We exposed the models to sunlight during the day to speed up the drying process.
  • Academic balance: The project was timely completed by implementing workable plans and execution without disturbing the studies much. It was primarily possible with workload sharing and remarkable teamwork.

Skills Practiced (Career-Relevant)

This project enabled cadets to gain hands-on exposure to naval engineering and career-relevant skills:

Technical Skills
  • Blueprint interpretation
  • Hull construction
  • Deck detailing
  • Scale modelling
  • Precision fabrication
Engineering Skills
  • Surface finishing
  • Naval painting techniques
  • Structural stability
  • Waterline design
  • Deck equipment layout
Management Skills
  • Large-scale planning
  • Subsystem integration
  • Project management
  • Team coordination
  • Time-bound execution

INS Vikramaditya Aircraft Carrier Model Team Members

Sr. No. Rank & Name Assigned Responsibility
1 Cdr Vijay Pratap Singh Conceptualized, Initiated and Guided
2 Lt. Dr. Nivant Kambale Guidance
3 Cadet Captain Premraj Dhondphode Project Leader
4 Leading Cadet Priti Yadav Project Leader
5 Leading Cadet Ritu Dubey Detailing and Finishing
6 Leading Cadet Nimesh Kanojiya Logistics
7 Leading Cadet Omkar Auti Support
8 Cadet Jaya Shukla Detailing and Finishing
9 Cadet Sudhir Bind Support
10 Cadet Ankit Sharma Support
11 Cadet Rahul Patel Support
12 Cadet Viraj Jadhav Support
13 Cadet Prakash Shukla Finishing