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LUN-Class Ekranoplan

By: Takom

Type: Scale Model

Product Line: Series 3 (1/144 Scale) (Takom)

Last Stocked on 12/31/2024

Product Info

Title
LUN-Class Ekranoplan
Publisher
Publish Year
2021
Dimensions
15x10x3.5"
NKG Part #
2147980973
MFG. Part #
TAO-3002
Type
Scale Model
Material
Plastic

Description

Based on the experimental KM “Caspian Sea Monster, the Lun-class ekranoplan is a ground effect vehicle designed in 1975 by Rostislav Alexeyev. The unique design of the boat-shaped hull/fuselage combined with the large area wing allowed the ship to fly using the lift generated by the ground effect within 16 feet/4 meters of the water surface.

The 380-ton Lun (Harrier) was powered by 8 Kuznetsov NK-97 turbofan engines mounted up on the front canards, providing a combined thrust of some 224,000 lbs through vectored nozzles which brought it up to a maximum speed of 340 mph/547 kph. The vehicle was crewed by 7 officers and 4 midshipmen who could be sustained for 5 days without resupply.

Primarily equipped for anti-surface warfare, the Lun carried six lethal P-270 Moskit (Mosquito) guided anti-ship missiles mounted in 3 pairs down the dorsal spine, with each Mach 3 missile capable of precision strikes up to 75 miles/120 km away. The ship was defended by four 23mm Pl-23 cannons mounted in twin turrets at the tail and under the forward missile tubes.

Only a single example was produced, and it never went into combat after entering service as the MD-160 with the Soviet Navy Caspian Flotilla in 1987. It was retired from the Russian Navy in the late 1990s and was abandoned at a Caspian Sea naval base in Kaspiysk until 2020. The Lun is currently on its final journey to preservation at Patriot Park near Moscow.

Models & Model Kits are supplied unpainted and unassembled unless otherwise noted.