Type 052 Qingdao, 113, in 1/350 Scale

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 tpo 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, 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 2030s.

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 hjer 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
Length: 144 m
Beam: 16 mt5.1 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 i 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 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 deficiencies 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.