KAB-500Kr Corrected Air Bomb

Advanced Modeling, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

Eduard's BRASSIN 1/72 Bullpup B is available online from Squadron.com

The KAB-500KR is an electro-optical TV-guided fire and forget bomb developed by the Soviet Air Force in the 1980s. It remains in service with the CIS and various export customers.

The KAB-500KR is analogous to the American GBU-15 weapon. It uses a standard Soviet/Russian FAB-500 general-purpose bomb, with a nominal weight of 500 kg (1,102 lb), as a warhead, adding a low-light television seeker and guidance fins to turn it into a guided, unpowered glide bomb.

The bomb is 3.05 m (10 ft) long and weighs 560 kg (1,234 lb), of which 380 kg (837 lb) is a hardened, armour-piercing warhead capable of penetrating up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) of reinforced concrete. The weapon's seeker can lock onto a target at ranges of up to 15 to 17 km (9.4 to 10.6 miles), depending on visibility. The technology of KAB-500KR is also used for larger bombs, such as KAB-1500KR based on the 1500 kg class FAB-1500 iron bomb.

Source: Wikipedia

Before proceeding, I should just mention that I assume the term “corrected air bomb” means a guided air-droppable bomb. It made me pause when I first read it, so I assume that the same may apply to some readers of this first look.

• 
• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

The resin bomb parts come loose packaged in a resealable cellophane bag, whilst the PE parts are further enclosed in their own small bag. Inserted into the main bag is a card stiffener, and attached to this are fold-out instructions with English and Russian text. The instructions use clearly dawn assembly diagrams. The instructions include paint colour and an FS-595 reference, and illustrate locations for the stencilling provided on the decal sheet.

The instructions advise that the bombs are suitable for use with Su-24M, Su-25TM, Su-25SM, Su-30MKI, Su-30MKK, Su-32, Su-34, Mig-27K, and MiG-29SMT aircraft.

Each bomb is made of four parts; the main body and tailfins, nose, clear TV camera lens, and PE base-plate. The detail is excellent for the scale, and very delicate. The casting appears flawless, and the casting blocks should be easy to remove.

I have included four images provided by Advanced Modeling that illustrate the real weapon (two have red ground handling protective covers fitted).

These are superbly detailed bombs that will enhance any suitable aircraft model. I am very impressed with what Advanced Modeling has to offer, and happily recommend their KAB-500Kr guided bombs.

Thanks to Advanced Modeling for the review sample

Review Text Copyright © 2015 by Mark Davies
Page Created 27 May, 2015
Last updated 4 June, 2015

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page