1:32 M18 gun pod with M134 Minigun

The M18 gun pod with the M134 machine gun in 1:32 scale

This resin set from Metallic Details presents the M18 gun pod fitted with the M134 Minigun rotary machine gun, in 1:32 scale. The casting makes it possible to bring out the thin barrels and the broken-up surface of the pod more sharply than injection-molded plastic can manage. It is not a model of a helicopter but an armament accessory to a model you already own.

The real subject

The M134 Minigun is an American six-barrel rotary machine gun of 7.62 mm caliber with electric drive, which thanks to its high rate of fire served to suppress targets on the ground. In the M18 pod it was mounted on the external pylons of helicopters and of light observation aircraft and supplemented their fixed and traversing armament. The pod holds the weapon, the drive and a supply of ammunition in a single unit, so it could be hung on as the particular mission required.

Building and painting tips

Wash the resin parts in lukewarm water with detergent, so that the mold release agent disappears. Cut the casting blocks off with a fine saw or a cutter and sand the faces wet, with breathing protection. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue, because cement for plastic does not hold on resin. Apply a primer before painting. The pod is usually painted in the shade of the airframe, but leave the barrels and the muzzles darker and add a faint hint of burnt residue; a weapon sprayed in a single even shade looks unconvincing.

Who the set is for

• Builders of attack and multi-purpose helicopters in 1:32 scale.
• Modelers who want to add faithful external armament to a model.
• More experienced builders used to working with resin.

This is an accessory set, not a stand-alone model. It is supplied unassembled and unpainted; glue, paints and the base kit are not included in the package.