CBU-87
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Eduard BRASSIN, 1/72 scale
S u m m a r y : |
Catalogue Number: |
Eduard BRASSIN Item No. 672 127 – CBU-87 |
Scale: |
1/72 |
Contents & Media |
12 resin parts and decals. |
Price: |
Available on-line from these stockists:
Click for currency conversion. |
Review Type: |
First Look. |
Advantages: |
Scale refinement and superb quality. |
Disadvantages: |
None noted. |
Conclusions: |
This set of four CBU-87s by Brassin is very nicely rendered. It offers a real opportunity to improve and refine on kit-supplied items and add to the appearance of numerous subjects. I definitely recommended it. |
Reviewed by Mark Davies
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Eduard Brassin’s 1/72 CBU-87s are available online from Squadron.com
The CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition is a cluster bomb used by the United States Air Force, developed by Aerojet General/Honeywell and introduced in 1986 to replace the earlier cluster bombs used in the Vietnam War. CBU stands for Cluster Bomb Unit. When the CBU-87 is used in conjunction with the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser guidance tail kit, it becomes a precision-guided weapon, and is designated CBU-103.
The basic CBU-87 is designed to be dropped from an aircraft at any altitude and any air speed. It is a free-falling bomb and relies on the aircraft to aim it before it drops; once dropped it needs no further instruction, as opposed to guided munitions or smart bombs. The bomb can be dropped by a variety of modern-day aircraft. It is 7 feet 7 inches (2.31 meters) long, has a diameter of 16 inches (41 centimetres), and weighs roughly 950 pounds (430 kg). The price is US$14,000 per bomb.
Each CBU-87 consists of an SUU-65B canister; a fuse with 12 time delay options and 202 sub-munitions (or bomblets) designated BLU-97/B Combined Effects Bomb. Each bomblet is a yellow cylinder with a length of 20 centimetres and a diameter of 6 centimetres. The BLU-97/B bomblets are designed to be used against armour, personnel and soft-skin targets and consist of a shaped-charge, a scored steel fragmentation case and a zirconium ring for incendiary effects. The CBU-87 can also be equipped with an optional FZU-39/B proximity sensor with 10 altitude selections.
When dropped from an aircraft, the bomb starts spinning. There are 6 speeds that can adjust the bomb's rate of spin. After it drops to a certain altitude, the canister breaks open and the sub-munitions are released. Each bomblet has a ring of tabs at the tail end; these orient the bomblet and deploy an inflatable decelerator to decrease the falling speed of the bomblet. When the sub-munitions hit the ground, they will cover a large area and the CBU-87 can be adjusted so it can cover a smaller or wider area. Depending on the rate of spin and the altitude at which the canister opens, it can cover an area between 20x20 meters (low release altitude and a slow rate of spin) to 120x240 meters (high release altitude and a high rate of spin).
Source: Wikepedia
Eduard Brassin offers a growing range of aftermarket bombs, amongst the latest of which is the set of four CBU-87s reviewed here.
The bombs come attractively packaged in a blister pack with sponge cushioning. Very clear instructions are included, with colour call-outs cross-referenced to the Gunze Aqueous and Mr Color paint ranges. The instructions detail the paint finish applied to this weapons and a small sheet of decals provides for the bomb markings. A PDF copy of the instructions is downloadable from Eduard’s website.
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The quality of casting is excellent, with the pour stub attached to the base of each bomb and another to the tailfin section.
Painted and decaled, these CBU-87s should be an excellent addition to any suitable model, and are sure to be a vast improvement over any injected kit items.
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This set of four CBU-87s by Brassin is very nicely rendered. It offers a real opportunity to improve and refine on kit-supplied items and add to the appearance of numerous subjects. I definitely recommended it.
Thanks to Eduard for the samples and images.
Review Text & Images Copyright © 2017 by Mark Davies
Page Created 25 April, 2017
Last updated
25 April, 2017
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