1:35 GPU-2/A 20mm gun pod (1 pcs)

The GPU-2/A gun pod in 1:35 scale

This item extends the armament of a model under construction with a hung gun pod. It is neither a kit of a machine nor a part of one, but a separate object that is fitted onto a pylon and markedly changes the silhouette of the external store on a finished model. The scale given in the name is 1:35.

What the real subject serves for

Gun pods arose so that machines without a permanently built-in gun weapon could gain firepower against ground targets. Inside the housing is a rapid-fire three-barrel cannon of 20 mm caliber with a supply of ammunition and a drive for the breech, so the whole assembly only has to be hung on a standard pylon and connected to the controls. Light attack machines and helicopters, on which the make-up of the armament changes according to the task, appreciated the solution most. The pod is therefore to be seen on only a part of the surviving photographs, and its presence says a great deal about a particular use.

Advice on building and painting

The housing has smooth sides, so every irregularity left after sanding will show once sprayed. Work from coarser paper toward fine, therefore, and polish the surface over at the end. Reinforce the attachment to the pylon with a short wire pin; the joint will then stand up to repeated handling. Choose the shade according to the machine the pod belongs to, and do not forget the traces of firing: a darkening at the muzzles of the barrels and fine streaks drawn back by the airflow will make a part of a living whole out of a static one.

Who the accessory suits

• for modelers who put the armament together according to a particular use
• for building attack machines in a large scale
• for enriching a pylon that would otherwise stay empty
• for advanced builders who will manage precise seating

The pod is an accessory to another model. The package does not contain paints or glue.