1:48 BQM-34? (Q-2C) Firebee US Drone

The real subject

The Firebee is an American unmanned training target, that is a machine without a crew that is sent up so that other aircraft or ground defenses can shoot at it. It was driven by a single jet engine, so unlike towed targets it flew under its own power and could be controlled from the ground. It got into the air either on a booster rocket from the ground or under the wing of a carrier aircraft, and after the flight it came back on a parachute, so that it could be used again. The machine carried the designation Q-2C in the older system of designations; later BQM-34 came into use for the same type.

What the kit offers

It is a kit of a plastic model in 1:48 scale. Beside a fighter of the same scale the finished model is markedly smaller, which makes it a rewarding item for a display case of American subjects as well as a companion to a model of the carrier aircraft. The list of parts and the choice of color schemes are given by the manufacturer in the instructions.

• a plastic kit in 1:48 scale
• the subject is the Firebee unmanned training target
• the earlier designation of the machine was Q-2C, later BQM-34
• the finished model is not large and suits a place beside the carrier aircraft
• supplied unassembled and unpainted

Building and painting tips

The fuselage is slender and smooth, so every joint will show once it has been filled and sanded; after sanding, spray the area with primer and check it against the light. It pays to restore the sanded-away panel lines before you start painting. Before the decals go on, give the surface a gloss coat, so that no air is caught under them. Leave the small parts on the sprue until you really need them and cut them off with a sharp blade a little way from the part.

Terms of supply

The kit is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.