Eduard/Brassin AIM-9B Sidewinder. 1:32

[Shar2]

AIM-9B Sidewinder
1:32 Brassin

(632-083) Contained within the standard cardboard box Brassin use for their more fragile items, are a set of four AIM-9B Sidewinders. The body and rear fins are moulded in one piece, whilst the front fins are separate, as are the seeker heads and protective “Noddy” caps. There is also a small etched brass fret that contains the rear nozzle ring and a pretty comprehensive decal sheet. Although still attached to their moulding blocks, they are only held to the block by thin webs, therefore easily removed and cleaned up with just a swipe or two of a sanding stick. With the front fins, and etched rocket ring fitted it’s just a matter of painting, adding the supplied decals, and weathering, (although from my experience, they were kept pretty clean, but there are photographs on the internet that show this wasn’t also the case. The “Noddy” caps should then be painted and fitted to the nose of each missile, covering the seeker head, although this is entirely up to the modeller how they should be used. The only fly in the ointment is the lack of Remove Before Flight flags for the caps, which is a shame, but they are readily available elsewhere.

Conclusion
Although this is an early version of the missile, it was extensively, everywhere from Taiwan Strait Crisis on F-86 Sabres through to the Vietnam war fitted to F-4C/D Phantom II’s, certainly a welcome addition to the 1:32 modellers armory.

Review sample courtesy of