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Does anyone know of a review of the Trumpeter 1/350 Luda class destroyer "Chinese 166 Zhu Hai" ? Many sources seem to suggest it was derived from the Russian Cold War Kotlin class, and if that is the case I am considering converting and back dating it to a 60's era Soviet Kotlin. Any views or references? Thanks Terry

The Chinese love an odd theme park, see Oriental Land near Shanghai. This one, located on the shore of the Bohai Sea a quick bullet train ride from Beijing (50 minutes at 300 kph) is perhaps the bizarrest, celebrating Russian culture with a former Soviet Navy aircraft carrier as its centrepiece. Binhai 11 Shenyang J-6s in various states of decay are dotted about the place, decorated in faux Soviet markings. Binhai 13 Shenyang JJ-6s are not common display aircraft, so it was good to see this one. Based on the MiG-19, the original manufacturer did not build a two-seat variant; the JJ-6 is indigenous to China. Kiev 2 Entry to the ship is through the torpedo tube bay. Kiev 15 The magazine for storage of the P-500 cruise missiles that serve as the ship's main armament. Kiev 17 The hangar deck is occupied by models of aircraft that never served with the Soviet Navy, including this J-10 full scale mock-up sitting below the deck level lift. Kiev 76 The air movements controller's cupola. Kiev 77 Five Nanchang Q-5s and a Yak-38 mock up on the flight deck. Hangar deck lift at bottom right. Kiev 38 The Yak-38 mock-up. Despite being nowhere near as capable as a Harrier, the Yak-38/Kiev Class combination gave the Soviet Navy a blue water fixed wing air element for the first time. Around 12 to 13 Yaks were operated from each ship, being originally intended for vertical take off operations, but rolling take offs became standard to increase the aircrafts' load carrying capability. Kiev 53 Helicopter landing points on the after flight deck and a Mil-8 stand-in for the Ka-25s. Classified as aircraft carrying heavy cruisers, the Project 1143 ships were primarily anti-submarine/anti-shipping strike warfare vessels, equipped with guided missiles as their main armament and impressive active/passive sonar equipment fit. Horse Jaw I had no idea what this was until I got home; the text board in Chinese giving the only clue; "Horse Jaw". This is the sonar unit fitted into the ship's bulbous bow. Kiev 87 The Kiev and her sisters were formidably armed; cruise missile launch tubes, SAM and ASM launchers visible. Kiev 101 Retired from service in 1993, the Kiev was bought by a Chinese entertainment consortium with the intent of creating a floating hotel, but with only a few rooms converted, it has yet to officially open to paying guests. The 'theme park' was opened in 2004 and despite much of the interior being gutted to facilitate the 'hotel', the ship still looks impressive from the outside. Link to photographs: https://www.flickr.com/photos/147661871@N04/albums/72157695139636851/with/40333574150/