1:72 MJ-4 'Jammer' (MHU-83 B/E) Early lift truck LOWER loading position

The real subject

A munitions loader is an inconspicuous but indispensable vehicle on every air base. The low chassis with its lifting mechanism drives under an aircraft rack and carries a bomb or a rocket up to the height where it is hung; otherwise a load of that weight would never get under the wing. American equipment of this kind is listed under the designation MJ-4 or MHU-83 B/E, and among personnel it picked up the nickname Jammer. The model captures the early form of the vehicle.

The version with the lower position

This item renders the lifting mechanism in the lower position, that is as the vehicle looks while driving and while munitions are being loaded. The manufacturer also offers a counterpart with the mechanism in the upper position, so two pieces can be combined into a scene in two states: one truck waits with its load at the edge of the apron, the other is hanging a bomb under a wing. The 1:72 scale matches ordinary aircraft models.

Building and painting tips

The parts are not polystyrene and cement for plastic does not hold on them; they are fitted with super glue in minute amounts. Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little clear of the part and sand the remainder. Wash and degrease before painting. Ground support equipment tends to look markedly worn in photographs, so this model takes more than the aircraft beside it: a dark wash into the edges, wear on the platforms where people step, and traces of oil around the lifting mechanism.

• Airfield munitions loader in 1:72 scale
• Early form of the vehicle
• Lifting mechanism in the lower position
• An accessory for a scene with an apron and an aircraft
• Bonded with super glue, not with cement for plastic

Who it is for

For modelers who are building an airfield scene and want the work of the ground crew shown beside the aircraft. The aircraft model, munitions, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.