Hasegawa 1/72 Aircraft Weapons: Set VII - US Bombs and LANTIRN pods

HASEGAWA 1:72 Aircraft Weapons: set VII
(US Special Bombs & LANTIRN pods)
'In The Box Review'

Reviewer: John Lacey (elric@johnsmail.com)

Hasegawa's Aircraft Weapons VII includes some of the latest precision guided weapons, avionics pods and their associated racks currently fielded or in development for the US Military.

Stores included in this kit are 3 of each:

AN/AAQ-13 LANTIRN Navigation Pod
AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN Targeting Pod
AN/ALQ-184 ECM Pod
GBU-31 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition - GPS Guided Mk 84 Bomb)
AGM-145 JSOW (Joint Stand Off Weapon - Stand Off Cluster Bomb)
F-15E AAQ-13 Rack
F-15E AAQ-14 Rack
F-14 AAQ-13 Rack
F-16 AAQ-13 Rack
and 6 of F-14 LAU-138 Combined AAM Rail and Chaff Pod.

The instruction sheet gives a short history on each of the stores including the LAU-138, in addition to their standard table of applicable aircraft and a stores layout for the F-15E. Interestingly, the B-2 is not mentioned as a JDAM carrier, although this omission could be because of the series somewhat tactical nature. Gunze Sangyo and Mr Colour paint callouts are used, although they also supply FS numbers and English names in case either of these paint ranges are not available to the modeller.

The stores themselves are Hasegawa's usual multi part affairs (when they attempt to produce quality stores), split vertically in most cases, although most of the Racks are single piece mouldings. Engraved panels and detail abound with the AAQ-14 having a moving sensor ball. The JSOW is supplied with wings folded as befits their carriage, however, I think many of us will use the third weapon as a separate display item with extended wings, modifying the kit parts accordingly.

Three identical decal sheets are supplied, primarily being stencil data although sensor windows for both LANTIRN pods and nose striping for the JDAM & JSOW are supplied.

In conclusion, a superb set of new US Stores applicable to many recent US interventions and a must for any of us who like our birds 'loaded for bear'.

web hosting • domain names • video sharing
free online games • photo sharing
free blog • short URLs