#581 PLA Navy Type 054A

Building the Trumpeter 1:700 PLAN 054A Frigate (no electronics - yet).

Build

Notes

My first ship model in many decades. I wasn’t sure I had much of an attraction for modern warships until I actually started the build. I was quite intrigued by the modern PLA Navy, and once I started working on the model, I must admit the sleek lines had me suckered completely.

The Type 054A is a multi-role frigate with impressive air-defence and anti-submarine capabilities, and the class first entered service in 2005. The 黄山/Huangshan (570) I’ve modelled here is still in active service.

In retrospect, I think I chose the wrong scale. At 1:700, the Trumpeter kit has noticeable structural differences from photos I’ve seen of the ships, and there’s not much scope for even photo-etch to make up for missing detail.

It also turned out to be a bit too small to do anything particularly interesting with custom electronics. I’ve set my eye on some 1:350 subjects for Trumpeter to have another go.

Nevertheless, I’m now quite enamoured with this ship, and look forward to adding a few more PLA Navy subjects to the stash/display shelf.

The Kit

I got my kit from the Colorfulday Store on Aliexpress. All arrived in good order..

kit_box

Paint

PLAN 054A	Humbrol	Tamiya	Vallejo Model Color	Paint Used
Tire Black - Z-9, KZ-27 helicopter tires		XF85	70.862 Black Grey
Light Grey - Z-9, KZ-27 helicopter body	147	XF14	70.907 Pale Grey Blue
Flat Black - funnel, chains, anchor	33	XF1	70.950 Black	70.950 Black
Medium Gunship Grey - deck	128	XF58	70.868 Dark Sea Green	70.868 Dark Sea Green
Grey - upper hull, superstructure	127	XF19	70.990 light grey	70.990 Light Grey
Hull Red - lower hull	177	XF9	70.985 Hull Red	70.985 Hull Red
Gold - propellors	16	X12	70.878 Old Gold	70.878 Old Gold

Construction

So it’s been a while. And I think my first mistake was assembling the desk and hull before painting the desk (I turned out to be a helluva challenge).

Primed and partially assembled:

build_01_primed

build_02_getting_there

build_03_done_for_now

Credits and References