AGM-78 Standard ARM

(CAD illustration courtesy of Eduard)

Eduard BRASSIN, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

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

Originally developed for the US Navy during the late 1960s, the AGM-78 was created in large part because of the limitations of the AGM-45 Shrike, which suffered from a small warhead, limited range and a poor guidance system. General Dynamics was asked to create an air-launched ARM by modifying the RIM-66 SM-1 surface-to-air missile. This use of an "off the shelf" design greatly reduced development costs, and trials of the new weapon begun in 1967 after only a year of development. The first operational missiles were issued in early 1968.

The AGM-78 was nicknamed the "starm", an abbreviation of Standard ARM. The first version of the missile, the A1 Mod 0, was little more than an air-launched RIM-66 with the Shrike's anti radar seeker head attached to the front. An Aerojet Mark 27 MOD 4 dual-thrust solid-rocket-powered the missile, which was fitted with a blast-fragmentation warhead. Although more capable, the AGM-78 was much more expensive than the AGM-45 and the Shrike continued in service for some time. The new missile was carried by the F-105F/G and the A-6B/E.

Source: Wikepedia

Eduard Brassin offers a growing range of aftermarket missiles, amongst the latest of which is the pair of AGM-78’s reviewed here.

The two missiles 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. A small sheet of decals provides for the missile markings. A PDF copy of the instructions is downloadable from Eduard’s website.

The quality of casting is excellent, with the pour sub attached to the tail of the missile fuselage and by thin wafers to the fins. A PE disk provides exhaust plug detail, and fits to the tail once the pour stub is removed and cleaned up

Painted and decaled, these Standard ARMs should be an excellent addition to any suitable model, and are sure to be a vast improvement over any injected kit items. Eduard offers a 1/48 scale pair AGM-78’s for a couple of Euros more than their smaller scale equivalent (see Brassin 648167). 

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Eduard Brassin’s AGM-78 Standard ARMs are very nicely rendered. They offer a real opportunity to improve and refine the appearance of Wild Weasel and other anti-radar subjects. I definitely recommended them.

Thanks to Eduard for the samples and images.

Review Text Copyright © 2015 by Mark Davies
Page Created 20 May, 2015
Last updated 20 May, 2015

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