Minsk
Aoshima - 1/700

By: Mike Dunn

While I was wandering around Comet Miniatures, the science fiction part of TJ Models, my wife was deep in The Dungeon - the old kit area of TJ Models. In here can be found old aircraft kits, ship kits, space fact kits, and a lot more besides! Indeed, a lot of the items on sale here have been discontinued for many years - a veritable Dungeon indeed!

At first look, the difference between the Minsk and the Kiev seems to be just the name and hull number. On closer inspection, this is the only difference in the kit! So, all comments made about the quality of the Kiev apply here as well, seeing as the same tooling has been used.

The box art is quite well done - like the Kiev box art, it grabs your attention. Here, we have the Minsk moving from right to left, and the view is a three-quarter look from the forward port bow, at a good height. Unlike the box art on her sister, the Minsk's deck is well-viewed, with the island to the starboard. Thus, all the flight deck is visible, as well as the deck side of the island. Having "complained" in my in-the-box review of Kiev about her heading on the box art, I'm happy now!

Again, the instructions sheet is almost identical to Kiev. The only differences I have seen are on the full-hull profile (Minsk is very bulbous under the bow), and a couple of small omissions on the profile pointing out some details (eg armaments). Once more, the first page is a reproduction of the box art, together with what I would guess to be some history on the vessel. The second page has three graphics - the first is a basic side view, and seems to be identifying the main areas of equipment on the carrier (eg, the 76mm guns, the SSN-12 missiles, etc). The second is a top view, and seems to be giving painting guides. The last is a detailed side view of the finished vessel. The last two areas on this page are, I guess, hints and tips on building and painting the ship. The third page consists of the first seven stages of assembly, and is quite clear. The last page is of the final two stages, and again is quite clear.

Overall, I must say that, at first look, this seems to be another good kit. As with the Kiev, I dislike the raised detailing (there is no scribed detailing as far as I can see) and lack of decals. I would have preferred it if the subtle differences between the Kiev and Minsk had been incorporated - but these differences are far fewer and far more subtle between these ships and the other two in this class, the Novorossiysk and Baku (later renamed the Admiral Gorshkov). However, it would seem that the attraction of releasing a "new" kit for the price of a new piece of box art and minor changes to the instructions were too tempting. Is it worth getting both kits? Well, it's up to you. Lynn thought so, but there again she always liked aircraft carriers!