Preview: A Chinese SSN & an MBT from Hobbyboss in April...

A PLAN SSN & a PLA ZTZ-99B are coming from HobbyBoss in April. We look at the colours, decals & built-up kit in our preview...

Preview: A Chinese SSN & an MBT from Hobbyboss in April...

PLA ZTZ-99B MBT 

by Hobbyboss

Model: 84589

1/35th scale

Product Link

The PLA ZTZ-99B (also known as the Type 99B) is the latest evolution of China’s premier main battle tank, specifically engineered to dominate high-altitude and digital battlefields. Unveiled during the 2025 China Victory Day Parade, this variant features a significant upgrade in survivability through the integration of the GL-6 hard-kill Active Protection System (APS), which uses radar to intercept incoming anti-tank missiles. Its design is uniquely optimised for the extreme conditions of the Tibetan Plateau, boasting an upgraded 1,500 hp engine and environmental systems that allow for sustained high-speed operations in oxygen-thin, freezing environments where many other heavy tanks struggle.

The colour scheme presented in this kit

The decals in the box

Beyond raw power, the ZTZ-99B serves as a sophisticated node in China's information-centric warfare strategy. It is equipped with an advanced 360-degree situational awareness suite, next-generation thermal optics, and a remote-controlled weapon station that keeps the crew protected inside the hull. The tank's 125mm smoothbore gun remains its primary punch, but it is now supported by a modernised fire-control system and new APFSDS rounds capable of penetrating the world’s most advanced composite armours. This combination of "hard-kill" defence, mountain mobility, and networked intelligence cements the ZTZ-99B as one of the most capable armoured platforms currently in service.

-Model Length: 328.9mm  / Width: 102.6mm  

-A total of 13 sprues, upper hull, lower hull and turret

-The kit consists of over 450 parts

-multi-slide moulded turret and lower hull

-Photo-etched parts included

The kit made up by hobbyboss modellers

PLAN Type 093 Shang Class SSN

by Hobbyboss

Model: 87023

1/700th scale

Product Link

The Type 093 Shang-class serves as the backbone of China’s nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) fleet, representing a major leap in silencing and endurance over the older Han-class. Designed to hunt enemy carrier groups and protect Chinese ballistic missile submarines, the Shang-class features a teardrop-shaped hull and an advanced pressurised water reactor that supports high-speed underwater transit. Its primary punch comes from a versatile array of 533mm torpedo tubes capable of launching heavyweight torpedoes and YJ-82 anti-ship cruise missiles, making it a credible threat to surface vessels and submarines alike across the "First Island Chain".

The colour schemes presented in this kit

The decals in the box

The evolution of the class, particularly the Shang-II (Type 093A) and Shang-III (Type 093B) variants, highlights the PLA Navy's focus on precision strikes and acoustic stealth. These later versions are easily identified by a prominent "hump" behind the sail, which houses a Vertical Launch System (VLS) for long-range YJ-18 supersonic anti-ship missiles and CJ-10 land-attack cruise missiles. By incorporating tilted sonar arrays and improved quieting technologies, the Type 093B has narrowed the technological gap with Western counterparts, transforming from a defensive coastal patroller into a potent tool for long-range power projection in the deep waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Model Length: 146mm / Beam: 17.3mm  

A total of 1 sprue, upper hull, lower hull and stand

The kit consists of 18 plastic parts. 

The kit made up by hobbyboss modellers

These new kits are (or should soon be) available from HobbyBoss distributors worldwide...