PLAN DDG-139 Ningbo in 1/350 scale, Trumpeter Kit 4542 OOB Build and Review

Sovremenny Class Destroyer

This model is a 1/350 scale model depiction of the Chiense Navy (PLAN) Sovremenny class destroyer, the Type 956EM class they bopught from the Russians in the early 2000s. They bought two of those, and two of the earlier Sovremenny class, making four altogether.

These were a stop gap for the Chinese who at the time were building up their own capabilities to build such modern warships.

They went on to build their own new version of the ships, the Type 052B vessels, of which two were built.

Since that time, the Chinese have developed much more capable and modern warships of their own in the Type 052C, Type 052D (which those two are similar to the US Navy Burke class DDGs) and now the Type 055, a large crusier sized destroyer which is very capable and rivals the USS Ticonderoga class AEGIS cruisers.

Now the Chinese are refitting and modernizing their Sovreenny class ships. They are relatively young yet, and they have a lot of capability. BAsically the chinese are taking out the single arm missile launchers and replacing them with 32 VLS cells, 16 fore and 16 aft.

They also added eight VLS cells for surface to surface missiles, and replaced the eight Russian srface to surface missiles with eight more of their own...so 16 ASMs all together.

They also are replacing the Russian CIWS with teir own Type 1130 CIWS, which they use on many of their surface warships.

So, the refit Sovremenny vessels will be much more like Chinese ships to maintain, and will have a more rapid air defense launch capability and heavier anti-surface warfare fit.

The class displaces close to 9,000 tons.

Here are the specifications for the Ningbo witht the new refit: class:

Displacement: 8,600 tons full load Length: 156 m (511 ft 10 in) Beam: 17.3 m (56 ft 9 in) Draught: 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) Propulsion: 2 shaft steam turbines, 4 boilers, 75,000 kW (100,000 hp), 2 fixed propellers, 2 turbo generators,and 2 diesel generators Speed: 32.7 knots (60.6 km/h; 37.6 mph) Range: 14,000 nmi (26,000 km; 16,000 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) Complement: 350 Armament: Guns and Missiles 16 × 4Chinese Anti-ship missiles 32 x Shtil SAM or Chinese SAM 2 × Type 1130 30mm CIWS 1 x 130mm dual gun Anti-submarine: 4× (2×2) 533 mm Torpedo tubes 2× RBU-1000 300 mm anti-submarine rocket launcher Aircraft carried: 1× Ka-27 or Chinese medium helicopter

This Trumpeter kit, like most of its newer models is well detailed with very little flash.

Two piece hull so you can build full hull or waterline versions. I build the full hull. Includes complete photo etch metal parts for all railing and sensors.

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.

I had additional VLS from earlier buids of Type 052D vessels and CIWS from other earlier Chinese builds that I am using. As you will see, I started out with MK-41 VLS and ROyal Navy SDIWS, but then found and added the proper Chinese VLS and CIWS in the completion pictures.

Here's how things looked out of the box:

It will be 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.

You might have noticed that with the Mk-41 cells that I put on here to hold place until I got the actual PLAN VLS and CIWS cells in, that I had the fore and aft VLS Cells lined up wrong. The cells of eight should be side by side fore and aft instead of lined up in line.

I fixed all of that with the proper cells.

Here's how she looks:

...and some close ups:

So there you have it, the Ningbo DDG with the new refit.

See all the images in higher resolution at my

Flicker Album for the DDG-139 Ningbo in 1/350 Scale

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-139, 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-139 Ningbo 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

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