1:48 Japanese 250kg bomb with rack

A Japanese 250 kilogram bomb with a rack in 1:48 scale (Brengun)

This is a supplementary armament set, not an aircraft model. It contains a resin casting of a Japanese aerial bomb of the 250 kilogram weight class in 1:48 scale together with the rack by which the bomb was attached to an aircraft. The rack is usually the weakest point of plastic kits, because it cannot be molded at a realistic thickness. Resin here makes it possible to keep the subtle profile of the arms and the shape of the lock, so the stores on a model come across far more convincingly.

The real subject

During the Second World War Japanese aviation used bombs graded by weight in kilograms, and the 250 kilogram class was among the most common weapons for attacks on ground as well as naval targets. It was carried both by single-engined machines and by twin-engined bombers. The bomb was hung under the fuselage or under the wing on a carrier supplemented with braces that kept it from swinging in flight. Underwing armament is the detail by which you can tell from a model what task the aircraft was meant to carry out.

Usage tips

Wash the castings in lukewarm soapy water, so that no mold release from the mold stays on the surface. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw, and proceed carefully on the thin arms of the rack; resin is brittle in a small cross-section. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue). Use a primer before painting. Try the fit dry; it is advisable to glue the rack to the aircraft first and only then to seat the bomb on it, which makes it easier to line up the longitudinal axis.

Who the set is for

• Builders of Japanese aircraft of the Second World War in 1:48 scale
• Modelers whose base kit lacks stores or renders them coarsely
• Those who want a realistic rack with thin arms
• Makers of dioramas with armament made ready beside an aircraft

This is a supplementary set, not a complete kit. The base model, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.