Looking for an unusual aircraft to build? Or maybe you’ve built so many aircraft you need a break from the ordinary…. a ship, perhaps, might fit the bill.
Then you can split the difference with this ship that flies, and this plane that don’t. The Alexeiev Lun Ekranoplan was a sea skimming craft, designed to deliver anti-ship attacks at high speeds. Basically a great big boat with jet engines and wings, it certainly classifies as the kind of weird and wonderful aircraft you expect from Anigrand.
Anigrand’s Arnold Chiu describes it this way:
The Lun Ekranoplan Wing-in-ground-effect vehicle was an unusual aircraft that designed by Alexeiev’s Central Hydrofoil Bureau and was used by ex-Soviet and Russian navies from 1987 to late 1990’s. This aircraft is one of the largest ever built, with a length of 73m, rivaling that of the Hughes H-4 Hercules and Boeing 747 jumbo jet. It was equipped with six missile launchers and advanced tracking systems mounted in the nose and tail for anti-submarine warfare.
Anigrand Craftswork’s 1/144 Lun Ekranoplan is the first detailed scale model kit in the market. It comes with many high detailed precisely resin parts and decals, as well as the clear resin casting canopy and windows. It also includes three 1/144 Soviet naval airplane kits as bonus.
The unit price of this huge aircraft is only US$118 plus US$22 shipping charge.
That’s quite a price, but then again, this isn’t your ordinary aircraft. It’s certainly one that would get attention anywhere, whether it’s on your display shelf or on the judging table at a contest. As with so many of Anigrand’s recent releases, it also comes with three “secret” kits, also 1/144th scale.
Even if this kit doesn’t tickle your fancy, check out Anigrand’s other offerings in their catalog if you’re looking to try a resin build. They are fairly simple, go together well, and are certainly conversation pieces.