Kuang Hua VI Fast Attack Craft

The Kuang Hua VI Fast Attack Craft - Guided Missile (FACG) class ship is a (relatively) new missile boat for the Taiwanese Navy. The original prototype was delivered in late 2003, but various issue delayed the final production version until 2009 with the last ships being delivered in 2011. Currently the Taiwanese Navy operates 30 ships of this type, armed with a single 20mm gun and four Hsiung Feng II anti-ship missiles.

A few years ago I purchased four Kuang Hua VI FACG from PT Dockyard with plans to create a small Taiwanese missile boat force. However, these went into the ships box until I could come up with an opposing force from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). After building the PLAN force for my Enfilade 2014 game, I decided to pull out the Kuang Hua VI boats to include in the game. After starting some internet research, I figured out that a slight redesign had happened to the Kuang Hua VI FACG between the prototype and final production versions, as can be seen in the following photos.

Kuang Hua VI class prototype FACG 60

Kuang Hua VI class production version (FACG 64)

The PT Dockyard boats were based on the prototype version, FACg 60, which has a rounded superstructure and a civilian style bridge. The final version has a flat superstructure and bridge, presumably for better ‘stealth’ capabilities for the FACGs. The only other major visible change I could see is that the forward 20mm mount was removed (although it does look like the area to mount the gun was retained, but it is hard to tell from some of the photos).

Looking at the new pictures, I decided I wanted to modify the PT Dockyard ships to look like the current ships. But I also decided to keep one in the original FACG 60 layout. I originally thought I might need to pull out some sheet styrene to flatten out the ship. I studied the photos and model, then decided to try just cutting and sanding the superstructure of the ship. Once I started down this path, it turned out to be a pretty easy modification. I thought about removing the forward 20mm mounting ring, but decided to leave it in place.

My modified ships with the production version on the left and the original on the right

Initially the modification looked a little rough, but once the paint was applied everything looked pretty good.

Final versions with the prototype on the left and final version on right

Hopefully Dave G at PT Dockyard will look at redoing the Kuang Hua VI boats, but even if he doesn’t it should be easy for anyone to fix them up.

My Kuang Hua VI squadron

Update on the Type 056 Work

While I originally planned to have all the work on my Chinese Navy Type 056 corvette completed by now - illness, work, and weather have conspired against me to delay my progress.

That said, I have completed my modifications to the Shapeways model to add some details and give it a better look. Here is a photo of my modified model followed by photos of the real ship and the unmodified model.

Modified Model

Real Type 056 

Unmodified Model

While the changes are fairly small, hopefully you can pick them out. But if not I've marked them in this next photo.

In Area 1 (at the bow) I added the 76mm gun and raised the forward bulwark so the deck isn't just flat. In Area 2 I added a block for the fire control radar (along with the FC radar), added some details around the mast (including a search radar), and the 30mm guns outboard of the mast. In Area 3 I extended the aft deck to meet the funnel and added some SatCom antennas.

Overall, I'm pretty please with how the modifications came out. I figured out early on that you can't really sand the Shapeways material, at least not with the sanding equipment I have, so I would be able to smooth out the forward deck, but I decided to not worry about it too much and press on. Zap-A-Gap glue worked well for adding the details to the model (I wasn't sure how the glue would stick, since I've never worked with this type of material). The mast modifications and scratch-building of the 76mm gun turned out pretty good and I was able to scavenge some other kits for the fire control radar, search radar, 30mm guns, and Sat Com antennas.

It should look pretty good when I get it painted up. Here are a couple more photos so you can see the modified areas from different angles.

This angle shows off the 76mm gun and mast changes 

This view shows off the deck extension, 30mm gun, and forward deck work

Missile Boats and LST updates

I finally finished painting the two Osa II and converted Matka missile boats. They still need to be mounted on bases. But since I'm trying to put up a new post each week, I thought I'd show off the painted ships.

Project 206MR Matka (top) and two Project 205 Osa II (bottom) missile boats

The deck color should probably be a little lighter and redish, but I think it will pass. It also give a little variation from some other ships I've done.

Overall, I think the Matka conversion turned out pretty well. When I base it I'll need to figure out a way to show the extra spray when it is foil-borne. I'm not exactly sure what I will do, since I would like to show when it is going slower too.

Project 206 MR Matka profile

A little higher view of the ship

I went for a pretty standard Soviet era paint scheme for the Osa II boats. The boats paint up well, although there really aren't too many details to pick out on the Skytrex models. That said, the boats are pretty sturdy and I expect they will see a lot of service in various games.

I finally finished up the basic work on the LST. I spent about a half-hour with an electric hand-sander getting the hull down to the right size and then began working on the superstructure. I used the styrene strips to create the superstructure, bridge (including the wings), exhaust stacks, and mast. I then added some light guns, a crane, and a ships boat to add some character to the LST.

Profile view of completed LST

3/4 view with a better look at the superstructure

The right side of the LST got scuffed when I was sanding, but a little putty will fill it right in. I think it will give the ship a used look.

Completed LST showing a little scuffing

Here is a low-level profile picture so you can see how big the LST is compared to an Osa II.

Overall I'm pretty happy with the scratch-building job I did. It would have been nice to make it a little bigger, but the size should work with most of the games I'll be playing.

I'll post more photos when I'm done painting the ship.

Hydrofoil Conversion Update

My real job has been keeping me busy lately, but I wanted to post an update on my building efforts for my planned Enfilade games.

 

I'm cutting and shaping the hull for the Iranian Hengam class LST for the Operation Morvarid scenario. I'm using 1/4" thick basswood as the basis for the hull. I'm going to apply some thin sheets of hobby styrene to the hull to smooth it out (so that I don't have to worry about the wood grain). The final version won't quite be 1/700 scale and I'm sure I will miss some of the details, since there aren't a lot of great pictures/drawings of the ship, but will be pretty representative of the class. There isn't much to see right now, so there aren't any pictures.

 

I've just about completed the conversion of the Project 206 hydrofoil from a torpedo boat to a missile boat. While I talked through the conversion in my last post, I decided to cobble together a couple side view drawings so you could really see differences between the 206M and 206MR

And here is how my version looks.

Modified Project 206  Turya profile view

All things considered, it is turning out pretty well. I might add a few more details and shape some parts a little more, but basically the conversion is complete. The major changes from the base PT Dockyard Turya kit were:

• The bridge structure was reworked slightly.
• The forward 76mm gun is scratch-built from some styrene and wire.
• The superstructure was lengthened with styrene and filled in with putty.
• I modified the mast and added the rear gun and missile tubes (which were left over from another kit).

It was a fun little project and it should look better once I get some paint on it. Here a picture of the Project 206MR with a Skytrex Osa II for some size perspective (each square on the mat is 2 inches).

Osa II and Matka size comparision