Storm Shadow

Eduard BRASSIN, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Mark Davies

Eduard Brassin’s 1/72 scale Storm Shadow missiles are available online from Squadron.com

Storm Shadow is a British, French and Italian air-launched cruise missile, manufactured by MBDA. Storm Shadow is the British name for the weapon; in French service it is called SCALP EG (Systeme de Croisiere Autonome a Longue Portee – Emploi General, meaning General Purpose Long Range Standoff Cruise Missile (somehow the British name seems a bit catchier!). The missile is based on the earlier MBDA Apache anti-runway missile, and differs in that it carries a warhead, rather than sub-munitions.

It is a fire and forget missile, programmed before launch. Once launched, the missile cannot be controlled; its target information changed or commanded to be self-destruct. Mission planners programme the missile with the target air defences and target. The missile follows a path semi-autonomously, on a low flight path guided by GPS and terrain matching to the area of the target. Close to the target, the missile climbs and then bunts into a dive. Climbing to altitude is intended to achieve the best probability of target identification and penetration. During the bunt, the nose cone is jettisoned to allow a high resolution thermographic camera (Infrared homing) to observe the target area. The missile then tries to locate its target based upon its targeting information (DSMAC). If it cannot, and there is a high risk of collateral damage, it will fly to a crash point instead of risking inaccuracy.

Recent enhancements of the Storm Shadow/SCALP EG include the capability to relay target information just before impact, utilization of one-way (link-back) data-link, to relay battle damage assessment information back to the host aircraft. This upgrade is already under development under a French DGA contract. Another feature planned for insertion into the weapon is in-flight retargeting capability, utilizing a two-way data-link

Source: Wikipedia

Eduard Brassin offers a growing range of aftermarket airborne weapons; the Storm Shadow reviewed here is the first cruise missile in the range as far as I am aware.

The two cruise missiles come attractively packaged in a blister pack with sponge cushioning.

Clear instructions are included, with colour call-outs cross-referenced to the Gunze Aqueous and Mr Color paint ranges. The instructions detail the finish applied to the missle, and a small sheet of decals provides for the markings. A PDF copy of the instructions is downloadable from Eduard’s website.

The quality of casting is excellent, with parts easily removed from their casting-blocks. The missiles can be either constructed with closed wings and air intake for carriage; or in-flight with wings deployed with air intake open. There is a choice of mounting plates; resin for the Tornado and PE for the Mirage 2000, Rafale or Typhoon. PE fret also provides two pieces that need to be folded and fit at the folded wing hinge, and a small ring that fits the missile’s exhaust nozzle.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

Painted and decaled, Brassins’s Storm Shadows should be excellent additions to suitable Tornado, Mirage 2000, Rafale or Typhoon models. As far as I am aware, this cruise missile has not been included with kits of these subjects, and Brassin’s is the first aftermarket examples I have seen.

This pair of Storm Shadows by Brassin is very nicely rendered. They offer a real opportunity to add interest to models of the Tornado, Mirage 2000, Rafale or Typhoon. I definitely recommended them.

Thanks to Eduard for the samples and images.

Review Text & Black Background Images Copyright © 2015 by Mark Davies
Page Created 6 November, 2015
Last updated 6 November, 2015

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page