Nanuchka Class Missile Corvette
Dragon - 1/700
By: Mike Dunn
Recently,
I was having a browse around my local model store, and saw, tucked away in a corner,
a Dragon box with an interesting picture on it. On having a closer look, my curiosity
became "must have!", and another Soviet class of ship was added to my
collection. The Nanuchka class was intended as a coastal vessel, with the Nanuchka
I being seen in the Mediterranean and North Sea from 1969, and the Nanuchka III
in the Pacific from 1978. The Nanuchka II is a modified Nanuchka I for export,
the difference being in the armament only; additionally, there were far fewer
of these than of the I's or III's. Nanuchka I's and III's are fitted with SSM,
SAM, SS-N-9 and SA-N-4, the II's have SS-N-2B's instead of the SS-N-9. The I's
(and presumably the II's) have a twin 57mm gun, with the III's having a single
76mm gun, and a 30mm Gatling.
The
box-art is a nicely-done picture of both a Nanuchka I and III, together with
a pair of Soviet A-6E's circling overhead. Turning this over shows the instructions
for making both a Nanuchka I and a III, as you get two ships in this kit. Also
here are instructions on assembling two pieces of carrier deck to fit an A-6E
onto - so the box art shows you exactly what you will get. As usual, the instructions
are quite clear on what part goes onto what version of the ships. Painting information
is on here as well, and is adequate. I would suggest looking for actual photos
of both types of the Nanuchka, however.
Opening
the box, you are presented with two sprues, and a decal sheet. Both sprues are
identical, so what do you get? The corvette is nicely moulded, waterline of course,
with a reasonable level of detail. There are parts for both vessels here, so your
spares box will get a boost. Each of the superstructures are nicely done, as are
the two masts (those after a bit more detail will be interested to hear that the
masts can be drilled out at a number of points). The missiles are good, as are
their end-caps; the various guns are crisply moulded (the twin cannon IS twin,
not just a thicker piece with a groove); the smaller weapons are fine as well.
Moving to the A-6E, the aircraft has nice detailing, the detailing parts are good,
as are the weapons fits, and the section of flight-deck is OK. While some parts
do have an additional sprue point to them, there is very little flashing overall.
The
decal sheet is quite extensive for a little model. It ranges from a red waterline
to bridge windows, from pennant numbers to a stern flag, and also has items
for the two styles of A-6E aircraft. Overall, it's an impressive sheet - I've
had a lot smaller from models a lot larger.
So - let's roll it all up. You can do either of the main versions of the Nanuchka
class. While small, it is a nicely made kit. It has enough detailing to be worthwhile
on it's own, and can be super-detailed by the inclusion of the GMM Soviet Navy
photo-etch for selected areas; or you can use generic rails, etc. It will make
a nice little model, and will be a great addition into a diorama of other, larger,
Soviet Navy craft. I like it.
The
box-art is a nicely-done picture of both a Nanuchka I and III, together with
a pair of Soviet A-6E's circling overhead. Turning this over shows the instructions
for making both a Nanuchka I and a III, as you get two ships in this kit. Also
here are instructions on assembling two pieces of carrier deck to fit an A-6E
onto - so the box art shows you exactly what you will get. As usual, the instructions
are quite clear on what part goes onto what version of the ships. Painting information
is on here as well, and is adequate. I would suggest looking for actual photos
of both types of the Nanuchka, however.
