GBU-24 Bombs

Eduard BRASSIN, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brad Fallen

Eduard's 1/72 scale Lancaster Wheels is available online from Squadron.com

The GBU-24 Paveway III family of laser-guided bombs has been in US, NATO and other Western service since the early 1980s.  The GBU-24 package can be adapted to several different bomb types – usually Mark 84 general purpose or BLU-109 penetrators – and can be carried by most Western fighter aircraft currently or recently in service. 

This GBU-24 bomb set is therefore a welcome addition to Eduard’s 1/48 Brassin range.  (A near-identical set is also available in 1/32 scale.)  Each set contains two GBU-24s that in this scale are quite large at just under 10 cm (4 inches) in length.  To my eye it looks like Eduard is depicting BLU-109-based GBU-24s, but please look at the accompanying photos and draw your own conclusions.

Each weapon is made up from two main parts – a bomb body and a wing assembly.  Both are impressive pieces of casting.  The body includes a built-in guidance and control unit and saddle hardback adaptor, while the wings are folded but so delicately cast that the different layers of the retracted wings can be clearly seen.  These larger parts have substantial casting blocks that will need to be carefully removed with a razor saw, but once this is done they can be glued together with a simple butt joint.

Further details are then built up around these main assemblies.  The four control fins can be attached to the guidance and control unit; you’ll need to do this slowly to ensure correct spacing between the fins, even though Eduard has helped considerably by providing alignment grooves and keys.  Optional clear and opaque seeker domes are supplied for attaching to the front of the control unit.

The only additional details needed for the wing assembly are two pre-painted photo-etched ‘remove before flight’ tags; a flag is also attached to the control unit.

Assembly is called out on one page of clearly illustrated black and white instructions.  The flip side of this page includes a detailed painting and marking guide that will help provide the finishing touches to your GBU-24s.  The small but comprehensive decal sheet appears to be an Eduard production and includes yellow bomb rings and black and white stencils.

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Eduard’s 1/48 GBU-24 bomb set delivers two easy-to-assemble and well-detailed models of these common laser-guided weapons.  The Brassin weapons will undoubtedly be better detailed than any kit-supplied GBU-24s, and can be highly recommended to modellers of modern Western military aircraft.

Recommended.

Thanks to Eduard for the samples and images.

Review Text Copyright © 2014 by Brad Fallen
Page Created 23 April, 2014
Last updated 23 April, 2014

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