1:48 AN/ALE-41 Chaff dispenser

AN/ALE-41 chaff dispenser 1:48 - Eduard set

This is an aftermarket accessory, not an airplane model. The resin casting captures the pod used for dispensing radar decoys, that is a device carried on a hardpoint on a number of machines. The set is made by the Czech brand Eduard from Obrnice near Most, whose resin castings have sharp edges and a clean surface with no sink marks. Check the contents of the package and the list of aircraft the pod belongs on against the manufacturer's catalog and against the subject you are building.

The real subject

Chaff dispensers are an element of an aircraft's passive defense. They release strips of metal foil that create a false reflecting surface and draw a guidance radar away from the real target. Devices of this kind appeared as early as the Cold War and come in many forms, from dispensers integrated into the fuselage to separate carried pods. It is the carried version that tends to be clearly visible on a model and that is either absent from base kits or simplified into a crude plastic shape.

Building and painting tips

First wash the parts in warm water with dish soap to rid them of mold release agent. Cut the casting block off with a saw, level the surface on abrasive paper laid on a board and try the fit dry before gluing. Use super glue; plastic cement will not bond resin. Apply a primer before painting, which will also show up any bubbles to be filled. Leave the small servicing stencils and color markings until the end, over a gloss surface, so that the decals do not go matte.

Who the set is for

• Builders of aircraft in 1:48 scale working out a faithful stores configuration
• Modelers focused on Cold War equipment and on electronic warfare features
• Those for whom the simplified plastic part from the base box is not enough
• More experienced builders working with resin

This is an accessory, not a model in its own right. The base kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.