¹⁄700

Chen Yuen

Chen Yuen...

The Imperial Chinese Navy Chen Yuen built in Stettiner Vulcan AG, Germany, was the sister of Ting Yuen. She was completed and enrolled Peiyang Fleet service in 1885. She took part in the Battle of the Yalu on September 17 1894 in the First Sino-Japanese War. During the batlle, she hit the Japanese flag ship Matsushima with her 12-inch main guns and heavily damaged it. When Peiyang Fleet surrendered to the Imperial Japanese Navy in Wei-Hai-Wei, Chen Yuen, which had already hurt by striking a rock early, was also captured by the Japanese on Febraury 17 as a prize of war. She joined Japanese Navy on March 16 and kept her original Chinese name. She participated in the Batte of the Yellow Sea and the Battle of Tsushima in the Russo-Japanese War. She decommissioned on April 1 1911 and became a target shio, finally was scrapped in Yokohama on April 6 1912.

Chen Yuen displaced 7,670 tons loaded and had a speed of 15.4 knots (29 km/h). At 10 knots (19 km/h), she had a range of around 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km). Her armament consisted of four 12 inch (305 mm) Krupp 25 calibre breech-loading guns in two barbettes one either side with a secondary armament of two 5.9 inch (150 mm) 35 calibre Krupp breech-loaders placed fore and aft. To this were added six 37 mm guns and three above the waterline torpedo tubes. Total crew was around 363 officers and men.

The Kit is S-Model in 1/700 which is really well made and complete with all the photo etched needed and also brass barrels for the canons. I've decided to do a little diorama in order to make it look more interesting. The base was made with Styrofoam wrapped in Watercolour paper and painted with Gunze acrylycs and the amazing Vallejo's "Still Water" which gives a glossy and reflecting surface. The hill and rocks were made with DAS modelling paste and painted and weathered with Gunze, AK Interactive, and Woodland Scenics products.