1:72 Kh-58U missile with AKU 58 (2 pcs)

Kh-58U with the AKU-58 launcher, 1:72, two pieces (Reskit)

This item is not an aircraft model but a resin detail accessory. According to the name the package holds two Kh-58U anti-radiation guided missiles together with the AKU-58 launcher in 1:72 scale. Resin castings hold the shape of thin stabilizing surfaces and fine surface detail better than injection-molded plastic, where forming such slender bodies is limited by the parting line of the mold.

The real subject

The Kh-58 is a Soviet guided missile intended to destroy ground-based radars, that is for what is called the suppression of air defenses. The seeker head passively follows the emissions of the target radar. The Kh-58U version is a modernized variant with increased range. The missile is hung under the aircraft on the AKU-58 ejector launcher, which pushes it clear of the airframe before the motor fires. Typical carriers were specialized versions of Soviet combat aircraft, including the MiG-25BM variant.

Building and painting tips

First wash the parts in lukewarm water with detergent and clear them of mold release agent. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw or a cutting disc, and go carefully on the slender bodies of the missiles so that they do not crack. Do the sanding wet and with respiratory protection. It is glued with cyanoacrylate glue. Apply a primer before painting; external stores look better if a fine filter or a dusting of pigment takes some of the saturation out of them once painted, so that they do not look freshly made.

Who the set is for

• builders of models of Soviet and Russian aircraft in 1:72 scale
• modelers who want more accurate stores than those in the kit
• more experienced builders used to working with resin
• makers of dioramas with an aircraft ready for take-off

This is not an aircraft model but an accessory for one. The parts are supplied unpainted; the base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.