The Nebulon B frigate is first seen at the end of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. We specifically see the Medical Frigate, aboard which Luke Skywalker has just undergone surgery to fit him with a mechanical right hand to replace the one he lost during his battle with Lord Vader at Cloud City. The ship slowly passes by, the camera pans into the post-op suite with a large viewport, and later we see the ship turn to starboard, exposing the engine section as the end credits suddenly start scrolling.

This kit is the larger of two that are offered by Arvey Model Products. A smaller version that is in scale with the AMT/Ertl Imperial Star Destroyer is also available, but I wanted the bigger version. I’ve been wanting a model of this ship for years, and when Arvey released the kit in 2008, I was already standing in line, with my PayPal account fully ready to hand over the cash.

The model is cast in beige resin and has beautiful detailing, including engraved hull panels. The kit has a total of 10 parts (forward main hull, combination main spar and engineering hull, 2 forward armor plating sections, 2 static discharge vanes, and four 6-inch sections of brass rod for the antennas).

I can see a few spots where flash will need to be cleaned up, but overall the casting is very, very nice. There are a few bubbles on the bottom of the engine section, but I’m probably going to mount this model on a stand with two brass rods (one forward and one aft), so that’s the location of the second aft mount anyway.

The kit includes a four-page instruction manual with color photos and call-outs for the locations and lengths of the antennas.

The completed kit is about 10 inches long. Modelers wishing to add extra details can surely do so. I’m thinking of scratchbuilding a docking tube and including a small Millennium Falcon docked, waiting to launch with Lando and Chewie aboard, going to search for Han.

According to Rob from Arvey, the “official” length of the ship is about 300 meters, or 984.25 feet, so the 10-inch model is about 1:1181 scale.

Overall view
Forward section
Engine section - aft view
Engine section - forward view

Review by: Rich “Lonewolf” Dula

Entry created: 06/06/09