1:1000 PLA Navy Aircraft Carrier LiaoNing CV-16

Liaoning CV-16 in 1:1000 scale, a Trumpeter kit

This is a plastic kit of the aircraft carrier Liaoning, released by the Chinese brand Trumpeter in 1:1000 scale. The small naval scale means a compact model that fits even a full display case, and at the same time a build in which you work with fine parts and clean shapes more than with interior fittings.

The real subject

Liaoning, with the hull number CV-16, is the first aircraft carrier of the PLA Navy. It came about by completing and rebuilding an unfinished hull of Soviet origin and it entered service in 2012. Structurally it belongs to the group of ships with a raised bow, the so-called ski-jump flight deck, that is without catapults: aircraft take off under their own thrust up the inclined ramp and land conventionally on the angled flight deck with arresting wires. The ship serves first and foremost as a vessel for training and for developing carrier aviation.

Building and painting tips

With naval models in a small scale a flat deck and clean edges decide the result. Glue the hull and let it cure on a flat surface, fill the seams and sand them with fine paper, because at this scale they stand out. Apply the paint thinly, ideally with an airbrush, so that the engraved detail of the deck does not get clogged. The deck markings and lines call for a steady hand and masking tape, and glue the decals onto a smooth glossy surface and fix them with a varnish compatible with the paint you used. The model looks good on a simple base or on a sea surface made from modeling compound.

Who the model is for

• Collectors of modern warships who want a large type in a small scale
• Modelers interested in carrier aviation and in the carriers themselves
• Builders of display arrangements where space is short
• More experienced beginners who want to try a naval model without hundreds of parts

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.