1:48 B8M-1 80mm Rocket Launcher Set (2 launchers)

B-8M1 rocket pods of 80 mm caliber in 1:48 scale (Advanced Modeling)

This is not an aircraft model but an accessory set of armament. The box contains two resin B-8M1 rocket pods in 1:48 scale, each made up of the main body, the front cover and the rear part. The castings replace or supplement the stores from the box and suit models that lack credible armament under the wings. Assembly is quick; the main work lies in cleaning the parts and in painting.

The real subject

The B-8M1 is an underwing pod for unguided S-8 aircraft rockets of 80 mm caliber. The rockets are fired from a bundle of tubular guide chambers enclosed in an aerodynamic casing that is hung on an underwing rack. Armament of this type was and is carried by a wide range of Soviet and Russian combat aircraft, among them the Su-17, the Su-24M, the Su-25, the machines of the Su-27 family and their derivatives, and also the MiG-21, the MiG-27 and later versions of the MiG-29. It is used to act against area targets on the ground.

Building and painting tips

First wash the parts in lukewarm soapy water, so that no mold release stays on the surface. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw, not with nippers, and glue with cyanoacrylate. The casing of a pod is usually painted differently from the airframe, so it helps to spray them separately and fit them last. Bring out the front covers and the mouths of the chambers with a dark wash; small wear and traces of exhaust gases only need to be suggested very sparingly.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building Soviet and Russian combat aircraft in 1:48 scale
• Builders who want more faithful underwing armament than the box offers
• Anyone interested in completing a machine in a particular combat configuration
• More experienced modelers used to resin accessories

This is an accessory set, not an aircraft model. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.