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TIALD Pod

Eduard BRASSIN, 1/48 scale


S u m m a r y :

Catalogue Number

Eduard BRASSIN Item No. 648547 - TIALD Pod

Contents and media

Three resin parts; one photo-etched part; waterslide decals; instructions.

Scale

1/48

Price:

USD$10.95 plus postage, available online from Eduard

GBP£7.20 EU Price (£6.00 Export Price) plus postage available online from Hannants

Review Type

First Look

Advantages:

Flawless resin casting; simple assembly; choice of two front bodies; clear instructions and colour guide; decals including Gulf War "nose art".

Disadvantages:

None noted.

Recommendation:

This crisply detailed TIALD pod will be a useful accessory for your 1/48 scale Tornados, Jaguars and Harriers from the Gulf War until 2007.


Reviewed by Brett Green

 

Background

 

TIALD, the Thermal Imaging Airborne Laser Designator targeting pod, was manufactured by Ferranti/GEC Marconi in the late 1980s and 1990s, and was the UK's primary laser designator for laser-guided bombs for its Paveway series of laser-guided bombs (LGBs).

The 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait saw the TIALD pod rushed into service on Tornado GR1s in just 46 days.

In the resultant Gulf War, two pre-production TIALD pods were used to guide 229 LGBs to their targets.

The TIALD pod was used extensively following the Gulf War including during the Iraqi no-fly zone patrols (1991-2003), the related Operation Desert Fox (1998), Operation Deliberate Force, Bosnia (1995), the Kosovo War (1999) and the 2003 Iraq Conflict.

In March 1995 the RAF received the first upgraded SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft capable of operating the TIALD pod. The upgrade required both hardware and software updates of the type. Integration on the Harrier GR7 commenced in 1996.

The TIALD pod was replaced by the LITENING targeting pod on Tornados. The Sniper pod replaced TIALD on Harriers following an urgent operational requirement in 2007

* Background adapted from wikipedia article

 

 

FirstLook

 

Eduard has released a TIALD pod in 1/48 scale.

The BRASSIN pod is made up from four pieces in grey resin and one in photo-etch. Two small decal sheet are also included.

The resin is crisply detailed and perfectly cast. Alternative front sections of the pod are supplied to pose in different positions.

 

 

Cleanup will be fast and simple with narrow casting attachments.

The photo-etched part is the cover for the rear of the pod.

 

 

The decals provide placards, stencil markings and also three different pieces of "nose art" that are in the style of those seen on Gulf War Tornados and Jaguars - nice touch.

 

 

My set included two identical decal sheets. I'm not sure if this is a packaging error.

This crisply detailed TIALD pod will be a useful accessory for your 1/48 scale Tornados, Jaguars and Harriers from the Gulf War until 2007.

Thanks to Eduard for the samples and images.

Review Text Copyright © 2020 by Brett Green
Page Created 7 September, 2020
Last updated 7 September, 2020

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