The vessel

This model is a 1/350 scale model depiction of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 052, Class destroyer, Pennant number 113, Qingdao. I have wanted to build one of the Type 52 destroyers for quite some time, particularly to take into account their 2011 upgrade. So this is the chance. I got the model for about $6.00 on ebay with $3.00 shipping so it was very affordable.

The Type 052, also known as the Luhu class, was the Chinese Navy's 1st truly modern destroyer. Two were built at Jiagnan Shipyard for the Chinese Navy (Peoples Liberation Army Navy, or PLAN). It is a class of two vessels that were built while the PLAN was also building the Type 052C destroyers. The Type 052C had new gas turbine engines installed and these two vessels, with a very similar role, were built with indigenous steam turbine engines. Most analysts believe that this was done as a fall back in case the new gas turbine engines were not successful.

Designed in the late 1980s when relations between China and the west had opened up somewhat, these destroyers implemented significant western technology, particularly from the French for weapons and sensors, but also from the US with modern GE LM2500 gas turbine engines. Two vessels were built, launched in 1991 and 1993, and then commissioned in 1994 and 1996. They are in service to this day.

However, after the Tiananmen Square massacre, the Western Nations implemented technology restrictions on the Chinese so the two destroyers were left with little support for their new equipment and no more could be built, and the Chinese had to use what they had and determine how to make them work, build replacement parts, and ultimately, in 2011, a significant refit was done replacing these western systems with newer, modern Chinese ones.

Nevertheless, the these two destroyers were China’s first modern multi-role designs which had anti-air (though not over the horizon), anti-submarine including a two helicopter hanger, and anti-surface capabilities with a dual 100mm main gun, several secondary guns, and 16 anti-shipping missiles..

The Qingdao was the second in class, launched in 1993 and commissioned in 1996. In 2011 she was upgraded with newer indigenous Chinese anti-air missiles effective against sea skimming missiles, two Type 730 30mm Close in Weapon Systems (CIWS), a newer Chinese integrated combat system, new sensors, new, longer range and more capable anti-shipping missiles, and better overall performance. This is meant to extend the life of the vessel into the late 2020s.

Now, although the vessel does not have area coverage for anti-air, it is capable of defending itself and can serve in groups or alone in anti-submarine or anti-surface warfare duties.

Both the Qingdao and her sister ship, the Harbin have been extensively use for show the flag missions around the world, and have taken part in the Chinese anti-piracy missions in the middle east in the last several years.

Specifications:

Displacement: 4,800 tons tons
Length: 144 m
Beam: 16 m
5.1 m
Propulsion: 2 GE LM2500 gas turbines
Speed: 31 knots
Armament:
- 8 x fm-90 surface-to-air missiles (24 auto-reloads)
- 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

The Kit: What's in the Box

This Trumpeter kit, #4508 , is an older kit, before Trumpeter had achieved the world class status it currently enjoys,

Some parts (particularly the anti-air missiles, are oversized for the scale. Quite a bit of flash, and the sprues are thick. The detail parts are not that well done.

However, it builds into a good kit, particularly of you use some of the newer spare parts from other more modern Trumpeter or other 1/350 scale kits.

There are no photo etch parts, but I have plenty of railing and other parts for this kit which I added.

In addition, the newer parts after the upgrade, like the CIWS, the decoy launchers, etc. do not come with the kit, but I have such parts and was able to add them.

No hanger doors are included for the hanger...it's just a blank wall. I custom made a couple of doors from other parts and glued them in place.

All in all, the kit is sub-par...but as I say, it built out fairly decently.

The instructions are two pages and very simplistic. There was no paint guide. I added the proper decals myself.

The kit has well over 160 plastic part. The hull is in one piece. No waterline option for this ship...but that is okay because I build mine full hull anyway.

The kit is made to have a small motor and to be watertight and motorized. I did not use this as I wanted a static display.

The helo (Z-9) that came with the kit is very bad in terms of detail and scale. I did not use it, but do have a modern set of Z-9s in 1/350 scale from Trumpeter and so just used one of those which I will place on the helo pad aft.

Here's how things looked out of the box:

It was a fun build, particularly trying to account for the changes since this kit was made, and some of the difficiencies of the kit itself.

I did not track the entire build, so I will go directly to the final pictures after I had completed the vessel:

Here are the completed pictures:

And here are some close ups.

Now, to move on. I also want to do the Type 051B vessel which was recently upgraded, adding VLS, new CIWS, better sensors, etc. making her much more capable and relevant. The Type 051 was built after the two Type 052 destroyers and was another step along China's path to much more modern vessels she is producing today. She too was one of the few PLAN vessels that included a dual helo hanger.

Some of my other 1/350 scale activities over the last few years:

The completion of the PLAN Carrier group was centered on the already completed Trumpeter's 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-115, 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), Trumpeter's 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. 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 JMSDF 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 JMSDF, DDG-174, Kongo class (which I own), Trumpeters's 1/350 scale DDG-114 Susunami and DDG-111 (both of which are Takinami Class DDGs which I own), and by the 1/350 scale SS-503 Hakuryu (which I own), one of Japans new, very modern and capable AIP Diesel Electric submarines. As soon as a DDG-115 Akizuki 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 JMSDF ARG.

Then, finally it will be a complete Russian CSG (centered on 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 Trumpeter 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.

Recently I purchased Heller's 1/400 scale Foch, 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.

Years more worth of work!

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