Luhai Class Destroyer

This model is a 1/350 scale model depiction of the Chiense Navy (PLAN) Luhai class destroyer, ot Type 051B class. There was only one in this class, the DDG-167 Shenzhen. At the time of its launch and commissioning in 1999, it was the largest and most modern Chinese destroyer to date...even though at the time most of its armament and sensors were well over 15 years behind the west.

Just the same, at the time, the vessel represented a significant increase for the PLAN, coming right on the heels of the two Type 052 class destroyers, DDG-112 nd DDG-113, which themselves were significant improvements over Chinese vessels to that date.

I built this detroyer particularly because the Chinese just finished a significant mid-life refit to the vessel. This refit has made the vessel much more relevant, even by today's standards in that they have added completely new main weapons systems with a 32 cell VLS (before she only had an 8-cell French Crotale anti-air type missile launcher, upgraded the 16 surface to surface missiles to their modern missiles, and added two new 11 barrell Type 1130 30mm CIWS to replace the older, much less accurate and less modern 40mm cannons.

The Shenzhen refit is now complete and although this model did not come with the refit, I added and scratch built patrs to depict accordingly. As you can see above in the differences between the first picture, and the following three pictures. The first is how the vessel was originally outfitted, the following three show how she looks now.

This vessle has seen a lot of sea duty, showing off the Chinese newest vessel at firt, and then making many good will vsisits.

Now she is much more relevant in terms of exercises and potetnial combat with her new sensors and weapons.

Here are her current specifications:

Here are the specifications for the Shen Zhen class:

Displacement: 6100 tonnes standard
6800 tonnes full load
Length: 153 m
Beam: 16.5 m
Draft: 6 m
Propulsion: Two steam turbines, two shafts, 94,000 shp
Speed: 31 kn
Complement: 180br> Sensors and processing systems:
Data link: HN-900
Communication: SNTI-240 SATCOM
Rice Shield 3-D air search radar
Type 360S air/surface search radar
Type 344 fire-control radar
OPS-20C surface search radar
Armament: Guns
1 × Dual 100mm DPgun
Missiles
16 × 16 C-803/YJ-83 SSM
32 × HG-16 SAM VLS (32cells)
VL-ASROC
2 x Typw 1130 CIWS
2 x 3 324 mm (12.8 in) torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried: 2 × Z-9C helicopter
48 x S-300FM (SA-N-20) surface-to-air VLS missiles
- 16 x YJ-83 (C-803) anti-ship missiles
- 1 x 100 mm dual purpose gun
- 2 x Type 730 30 mm Gatling CIWS
- 2 x 3 324mm YU-7 torpedo launchers
- 2 x 6 tube Type 87 ASW Rocket launchers - 2 x 24 tube Type 726-4 decoy launchers
Aircraft carried:
- Landing pad and Dual hanger for 2 x Z-9 ASW helicopters

This Trumpeter is an early Trumpeter kit (actually a second or third derivitive of the earliest model). It is well detailed with very little flash.

One piece hull, so no waterline option. Also, no metal parts for sensors or hand rails. I had numerous left over parts for the metal and did outfit the vessel with handrails. I also had spare parts from other kits for the VLS and the CIWS.

There are close to 200 total parts, and using care, the model goes together very well.

The instructions are well done and easy to follow...though to get the upgrade/refit, you have to do your own thing.

My VLS is on a deck that is too high because the hull of the ship came that way and I did not want to risk that type of a cut out, and the VLS I had only gave it 24 cells. When I find a full 32 cell fitting (which I hope to find in some old Type 054A kit), I wil add it in and replace what I put n.

Here's how things looked out of the box:

It was a fun build.

This build goes fairly straight forwardly and I am going to describe it that way. You just have to make sure you are careful.

I then added the weaponry...Main Gun, VLS, the 16 Anti-surface missiles, CIWS, and the torpedoe and anti-torpedoe rocets, and details for the ship.

She's looking very good at this point.

So, I added the railing from the various pieces I had left over from other builds, then added the finish coats and the stand.

Here's how she looks:

She turned out very well for what I had to work with (the kit is almost ten years old) and the refit was just completed in the last 3-4 weeks over in China.

But this vessel represents what the Chinese are doing in terms of continuing the unprcedented build up of their navy.

Not only are the building in large numbers the brand new Type 054A/B FFGs, the Type 056 FFGs, and the very modern Type 052D DDGs and Type 055 DDGs, they are going back to these other classes and completely refitting them at their mid-life cycle have the same modern weaponry and sensors as their newest vessels.

The did this to the Type 052 vessels, now this Type 051B ship, and they are in the process of doing to the four Russian Sovremenny DDGs they bought...taking out the single arm missile launchers and adding VLS of the same type as this vessel and basically what all of their Type 054A/B ships have, and the sensors as well. Those refts right there are adding another 7 or 8 modern destroyers to their fleet at a very cost effective manner...at a time when they are literally building scores more.

So there you have it, the Shen Zhen DDG refit completed.

The completion of the PLAN Carrier group was centered on the already completed Trumpeter 1/350 scale PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier CV-16, Liaoning, (in addition to the other escorts already completed) included Mini Hobby's's PLAN Guangzhou, DDG-168. I recently pre-ordered a 1/350 scale model of the PLAN Type 071 LPD, Yuzhao Class, announced by Trumpeter and due out in October, 2013. I will end up adding two of those, propbably LPD-998 Yuzhao and LPD-999, Jinggangshan, add the PLAN- DDG-139, Ningbo, and the PLAN DDG-167, Shenyang, along with the PLAN Weifang, FFG-550 and thus build a PLAN ARG.

The completion of the US Carrier Strike group was centered on the completed Tamyia's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65, (in addition ot the other escorts already completed) included Trumpeter's, USS Freedom, LCS-1, Dragon's USS Preble, DDG-88 and Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. When a 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-80 (or any Gerald R. Ford Class) is released from Trumpeter, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser. Whichever Ford Class coms out in 1/350 scale, I will build it as the USS Enterprise, CVN-80.

The US ARG will include Tamiya's 1/350 scale, USS Iowa, BB-62 (which I have already completed), Gallery 1/350 scale USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Gallery's 1/350 scale USS Sommerset, LPD-25, Bronco Models 1/350 Scale USS New York, LPD-21, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Acadamy's 1/350 scale USS Rueben James, FFG-57, and another Flight IIA US AEGIS class detroyer based on Trumpeter's 1/350 scale USS Lassen, DDG-82...all of these models which I already own.

The completion of the UK Group featured the Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Illustrious, R06 as its centerp[iece until a 1/350 scale Queen Elizabeth carrier is released. When that happens, I will add that carrier to the group as its centerpiece. The Royal Navy CSG will also include two Airfix 1/350 scale Daring Class DDGs (one of which is already completed), two Trumpeter 1/350 scale Type 23 HMS Duke class Frigates (one of which is already completed), and the Hobby Boss 1/350 scale HMS Astute SSN (which is also already completed) and Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Tragalgar SSN. One day, when a 1/350 scale HMS Ocean LPD come out, I will use tt to start building a Royal Navy ARG.

The French CSG is centered on Heller's 1/400 scale Charles De Gualle, R91 by Heller. I have purchased the 1/400 scale Heller French De Grasse, D612 DDG, which is an ASW DDG, the French Duquesne, D603 DDG which is an anti-air multi-purpose DDG, and the French Aconit D612 FFG and Gueprattet F714 FFGs, both of which are Lafayette class frigates. These five vessels will round out my French CSG. As soon as a French Robin class nuclear sub, like the French Perale S606 SSN is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will add that to the group. Also as soon as the Forbin D620, Horizon class anti-air DDG is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will purchase two of them and replace the De Grrasse and Duquesne with them, and then save those two for when a Mistral Class LPD is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale so I can create a French ARG with those vessels.

The completion of the Japanese PLAN group was centered on Fujimi's very finely detailed, 1/350 scale Hyuga, DDH-181. It will be escorted by Trumpeter's 1/350 scale DDG-177, Atago, an AEGIS class DDG and the PLAN, DDG-174, Kongo class (which I own), Trumpeter's 1/350 scale DDG-114 Susunami and Art Technic DDG-116 Teruzuki (this model), and by the 1/350 scale SS-503 Hakuryu (which I own), one of Japans new, very modern and capable submarines. As soon as a DDG-167 Shen Zhen in 1/350 scale is released, I will add it to this group. Should a 1/350 scale Osumi Class LPD be relased, I will buy two of those vessels and create a PLAN ARG.

The completion ofthe Russian CSG (centered on b>Trumpeter's Kuznetsov which I own) the Russian Kirov Class nuclear battle cruiser (CGN), the Peter the Great, by Trumpeter (which I own), the Russian Slava Class cruiser, Varyag by Trumperter (which I own), two Trumperterc 1/350 scale Udaloy DDGs (which I own), Hobby Boss's Akula II class SSN (which I own), and the new Yasen class Russian SSN (which I own), all in 1/350 scale. Some time in the more distant future when a 1/350 scale Russian version of the French Mistral class comes out (which is building in real life right now), I will add two of those and build a Russian ARG.

I also purchased ansd completted Heller's 1/400 scale Foch which became the Brazil Sao Paulo Carrier. The Clemceau Class carrier that was sold to the Brazilians in 2000 and in 2002 was refitted and became the Brazilian CV, Sao Paulo, using steam catapaults. I will build the model as the Sao Paulo and thus start a Brazilian group, though the Type 22 DDGs and the FFGs the Brazilians use are not available at present. I have however purchased a set of 1/400 scale A-4 Skyhawks and S-3 Trackers to build a suitable airwing for the Sao Paulo.

Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build an Italian Carrier Strike Group centered on the Cavour and their Horizon DDGs, a Spanish Carrier Strike Group centered on the Juan Carlos and their F-100 AEGIS FFGs, and ultimatly an Australian Strike Group centered on the new Canberra Class LPD and the Hobart class AEGIS DDGs. If they ever build the models, an Indian Carrier Strike Group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier, the Vikrant, and their Kolkata class DDGs and Shivlak class FFGs would also be nice.

You can see all of these actual carriers, read their histories and specifictions at my site:

WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

...and most of their surface escorts at:

AEGIS AND AEGIS-LIKE VESSELS OF THE WORLD