Celebrating China’s 75 national day, Sembo Block has boldly released a 1:350 scale brick-built model of China’s latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian Aircraft Carrier designated with the hull number “18”. Despite it packing a whopping 6,022 pieces, the set is considered an entry-level skill set. Believe it or not, according to Sembo Block, even 14-year-olds would be too old for it; it recommends ages 6 and up. Now, my interest is piqued!
This particular 1:350 model is the Fujian aircraft carrier commissioning memorial edition. It is a piece of military hardware to watch out for because this warship with hull number 18 is designed and built from the ground up by China, featuring a flat deck with a state-of-the-art electromagnetic catapult system.
The set, when completed, offers 22 unique playability and scenarios, recreating China’s national glory. The model further boasts UV prints on the deck and a modular design that allows you to explore the entire ship. Speaking of which, it can be displayed in its modular form. It comes with three stands to let you display the bow, the midship, and the stern separately.
The detail is absolutely bonkers. The designer(s) even go as far as recreating the watertight compartment under the flight deck. Not only that. A three-level build reproduces the FJJ details interior setup. There’s the flight deck with the superstructure aka the island and below it, it is where you find a hanger, logistic support, living quarters, canteen, et cetera. The third and lowest deck is the core power compartment that propels the ship. Obviously, it has more decks on the actual ship but I think it is a good enough representation of this majestic floating military airbase.
Other “amenities” and features include an ammunition store, a detailed command center, a basic equipment storage area, a maintenance support center, sailors’ quarters, sailors’ mess, two moveable aircraft elevators, flip-up jet blaster reflectors, rotatable propellers—complete with gears and linkages, and finally, functional catapult system that mimics the real carrier’s electromagnetic catapults.
We are not done yet. The set further touts light-up functions. There are light-up features just under the deck, affording a clear view of the hanger and other below-deck facilities, including the quarters and the equipment area. The island is also surrounded by a band of light.
The model is supplied with 3 “mystery edition” J-35 stealth fighter jets which are presented in gold, and 24 units of the regular J-35 stealth fighter jet. Also included are 4 multipurpose helicopters, 3 anti-submarine helicopters, 3 early warning helicopters, and 8 units of the J-15T fighter jet. All the jets have fold-up wings. Rounding up the outfit are 6 towing vehicles, 8 flight deck fire engines, and 24 figures, plus 12 collectible figures presented in gold finish.
When completed, the Sembo Block 1:350 Fujian Aircraft Carrier Building Set is a monstrosity stretching 95 cm long (3.12 feet or 37.4 inches). This big guy requires a whole lot of shelf space.
The Sembo Block 1:350 Fujian Aircraft Carrier Building Set is available in China for 799 yuan [CH] (about 114 USD).
Images: Wenxin (森宝积木) [CH].