1:35 Bazooka M9

The rocket launcher that separated into two halves

The 1943 design solved a difficulty the earlier examples could not cope with: a long tube was awkward to carry and could not be jumped with by parachute. The new weapon therefore split in the middle into two parts that could be clipped to the equipment and joined again before firing. The dry-cell batteries also disappeared; ignition was taken over by a hand generator in the grip, and a body of light alloy reduced the weight. The result accompanied American infantry from Normandy to the Rhineland and, as a further modification, served in Korea as well.

Contents

The set holds eleven cast parts, a fret of photo-etched parts and decals. The printing matters on this weapon, because the casing carried instructional lettering and lot markings, and without them the tube looks empty.

Advice on building and painting

The characteristic features are the shield protecting the gunner's face and the joint in the middle of the tube, which is worth not sanding away. The surface was matte olive, at the front scorched by the flame of the departing round and worn from carrying down to bright metal on the edges and where the weapon rested on the shoulder.

Everything is prepared for figures and hardware in 1:35 scale.

Where to place it in a scene

The most faithful moments are those when the weapon is not ready for action: leaning against a wall, laid across a crate or carried in two parts during a move. At the moment of firing, by contrast, the tube throws a cone of gases backward, so clear space has to be left behind the gunner. Anyone who keeps to that in a diorama shows a knowledgeable viewer that he understands the real thing.