1:72 AGM-62 Walleye I ER missiles (2 pcs) with AN/AWG-16 data link pod (1 pcs)

A glide weapon with extended range

The version marked ER was given larger lifting surfaces and with them a considerably longer gliding path. The crew could therefore begin the attack farther from the target and did not have to fly into the area covered by the anti-aircraft defense. The weapon has no propulsion at all; all its energy comes from the altitude and speed of the parent aircraft at the moment of release.

Data link pod

Besides the pair of bombs the package also holds one underwing pod, which carried the link between the weapon and the cockpit. The picture from the seeker head thus stayed available to the operator after release and it was possible to correct exactly where it would aim. It is precisely this combination that appears in period photographs: two weapons under the wings and the pod on a further station.

Working with the parts

In 1:72 scale the surfaces of the fins are very thin, so separate the casting blocks with a razor saw and hold the part by the body while sanding, never by the fin. It is a good idea to dry-fit the assembly, check that it lines up and only then fix it with slow-setting super glue.

Painting

White or light gray bodies with a dark nose are part of the typical appearance; it pays to pick out the outline of the seeker head with a thin line, otherwise it disappears at this size.

Who the set suits

The target group is builders of US Navy carrier-based attack aircraft of the 1970s and 1980s. The load can be combined with tanks and with a jamming pod, so a configuration appears under the wings that the kit alone would not offer. The aircraft itself is a separate item and is chosen according to the unit you want to build.