1:48 AIM-4C Falcon missiles (4 pcs)

The C version from the improved branch of the Falcon

This item covers exclusively the version marked with the letter C, that is a later step in the development of the heat-seeking branch of the family. Compared with the earliest rounds it received a more sensitive seeker head, which shows only faintly in the shape of the nose, yet for a collector of variants it is an important difference.

Where the missile was used

Its employment was aimed at interceptor defense of airspace: the fighter was to catch the target on its onboard radar, bring itself into a favorable position and launch the missile before entering the reach of defensive fire. Heat seeking allowed an attack from the rear hemisphere without keeping the target illuminated. The weapon belonged to the equipment of American aircraft in the period when interceptor aviation was only learning to rely on electronics instead of guns.

How to work with the parts

The front part of the seeker head deserves particular attention, because that is what tells the versions apart; do not sand it away. Degrease the surface before painting and lay down thin coats only. Complete the metallic and light shades with the narrow colored bands that were standard on both practice and live ordnance. Hang the missiles in place at the very end.

Who it is for

• for builders of interceptor fighters in 1:48
• for collectors of variants within one family of armament
• for completing a display case with a period-accurate external store
• for modelers who tell the individual versions apart

The set extends a model that is already under way; it does not replace the base kit.