1:32 AIM-120A/B AMRAAM

Eduard 1:32 AIM-120A/B AMRAAM — resin weapons set

This is an add-on resin set from the Brassin line, not an aircraft model. The package contains parts for two AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air guided missiles in the A and B versions, cast in resin in 1:32 scale. Decals are included, and the set offers optional versions of the seeker heads and the motor sections, so both a combat and a training configuration can be built. The plastic aircraft kit is not included in the package.

The real subject

The AIM-120 AMRAAM is an American medium-range air-to-air guided missile with active radar homing. It replaced the earlier semi-active missiles and from the late 1980s became standard armament for Western jet fighters. The A and B versions differ mainly in their electronics; outwardly they are very similar missiles, which the set handles with optional parts.

Building and painting tips

First wash the resin parts in lukewarm water with a little dish soap — mold release agent clings to the surface and paint would not hold on it. Cut the casting blocks off with a fine-toothed saw, do not snap them; resin is brittle. Sand wet and with respiratory protection, as resin dust should not be breathed in. It is glued with super glue or epoxy only; plastic cement does not work on resin. Apply a primer before painting. Decals settle better on a gloss surface; once dry, even them out with a matte or semi-matte varnish to match the rest of the model. Glue the missiles to the pylons at the very end.

Who the set is for

• Modelers building modern jet fighters in 1:32 scale
• Builders for whom the armament supplied in the kit is not enough
• Anyone wanting both a combat and a training missile configuration
• More experienced modelers who have worked with resin

The set is an accessory to a kit, which it does not include. Glue, paints and tools are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.