AIM 54 - 4 Missiles
North Star Models, 1/48 scale
S u m m a r y : |
Catalogue Number |
North Star Models Item No. NS48041-b - AIM 54 - 4 Missiles |
Contents and media |
20 gray resin parts, Decals, +A5 instructions. |
Scale |
1/48 |
Price: |
$12.75 + postage from North Star Models |
Review Type |
First Look |
Advantages: |
All the detail of resin, without the need to clean up the seam lines of the plastic kit parts. |
Disadvantages: |
Minor only - see review text. |
Recommendation: |
Very Highly recommended to all Tomcat fans. |
Reviewed by
Phil Parsons
Eduard's 1/48 scale MiG-23 Wheels are available online from Squadron.com
The AIM-54 Phoenix is a radar-guided, long-range air-to-air missile, carried in clusters of up to six missiles on F-14 Tomcats, its only launch platform.
The Phoenix was the United States' only long-range air-to-air missile. The weapons system based on Phoenix was the world's first to allow simultaneous guidance of missiles against multiple targets.
This is another very well presented set from North Star Models.
The resin comes in zip lock bags, within a sturdy box. All the resin is well cast with fine detail and mounting points provided for all the fins. I have seen AIM-54 produced in several ways to achieve the detail, this one has the body as a complete unit so you will have to drill out the rocket motor (use the diameter of the attachment lug) not a major issue. The instructions are very easy to follow and while a painting guide is always nice, the Phoenix missiles did not have many colour variations throughout their life.
The last parts are the decals, and there are lots of these.
Begemot produces the decal sheet, and the writing is legible, with decals to cover both an inert and live missile. A word of advice, I feel that decals #3 are the wrong colour, they appear to be red. These markings are used to denote live rocket motors, which are marked in a dark brown colour. Not an issue for me, as I would paint these markings on before assembling the fins.
The other point to note is the decals only cover the early block missiles, you could with the decals provided do a AIM-54C by using some of the inert round decals. All minor points.
All told, this is another lovely release from North Star Models; there are many resin options for Phoenix missiles, all with different advantages. I can highly recommend these to someone looking to give resin a go for the first time due to the simplicity of construction.
My thanks to North Star Models for the review sample
Engine reference courtesy of Wikipedia
Review Text Copyright © 2013 by Phil Parsons
Page Created 2 September, 2013
Last updated
3 September, 2013
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