1:72 AN/ALQ-131 (deep) ECM pod (Used on A-7, A-10, F-4, F-16, F-111, C-130 aircraft.)

AN/ALQ-131 ECM pod in the deep version, 1:72

MH models offers the AN/ALQ-131 external jamming pod in 1:72 scale in the variant designated as deep, that is the taller one. The name states that the pod was carried by the A-7, A-10, F-4, F-16, F-111 and C-130. The accessory is hung under a model of an aircraft that is already built and therefore does not replace a kit.

What the pod does

The ALQ-131 is a device for electronic warfare: it picks up the emissions of hostile radars and sends out a jamming signal meant to make the guidance of surface-to-air missiles impossible. The lower variant covers a narrower range of frequencies; the taller version carries more equipment and handles a wider range. The pod was most often hung under the fuselage or on an inner wing pylon so that room was left for armament.

Building recommendation

First check which pylon the pod hung on for the machine you are building, because the placement differs from type to type. The surface tends to be smooth and deviations stand out on it, so level the surfaces carefully before painting. A light gray shade with a discreet accent on the panel lines matches the look in service considerably better than a uniform coat without shading.

Who it is for

• Builders of modern American combat aircraft
• Anyone interested in electronic warfare equipment
• Modelers who tune the external stores and the armament down to the detail
• Those who build machines from the Cold War period and later