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BM-21 "Grad" Soviet truck-mounted 122 mm multiple rocket launcher. Pictures taken at National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, Kiev by Dave Haskell.

Russian BM-21 Grad MLRS detail updates 1:35 ET Models [E35-191] The Trumpeter 1:35 BM-21 Grad mobile rocket launcher is a great kit out of the box, but as is the want of many modellers there’s always room for extra detail. ET Models have released this set of etched brass just for such a requirement. The three sheets of brass, one large, one medium and one small are all taped to black card and contained in the standard poly packaging with card header. The instructions, on the now standard green paper, cover five sides of A4. They are very clear and concise, well laid out and easy to read giving good directions on where the individual parts go, some other manufacturers could take a leaf out of ET’s book and see how instructions should be laid out. The construction starts in the cabin with the addition of four air vents on the facia and the drivers three pedals. On the in front of the driver, on the headlining, a sun visor is added. Externally the footsteps and fuel tanks are fitted out with new brackets, supports and straps, whilst the large storage locker has new support brackets and a new handle attached. ET Models have also provided a completely new storage/ammunition box for the port side truck bed. One of the more complex assemblies of this set is for the spare wheel housing, with plenty of benign into the correct curve of the wheel, hinges, brackets and footplates which all go together to make a very accurate and realistic structure. Another large assembly is the tool locker on the right hand side of the truck bed which also incorporates the front of the rear wheel arch. This box includes internal shelving, clamps and straps on the fold down door for various tools and equipment which will have to be provided by the modeller. The rest of the parts comprise the usual small items, such as brackets and clamps for the pioneer tools, also including a new blade for the shovel. There are small mudflaps for the front wheel arches and large ones for the rears which also included their supporting structures. Also included are replacement windscreen wipers, number plates, numerous brackets and locking pins complete with chains, aerial support bracket and some unusual mountings fitted to either side of the cab, which look like light fittings but more research will be needed to decipher exactly what they are. Finally the rear bumpers, large footplate and rocket tube rear structure and forward strapping are added. [E35-053] For even more detail and also helping get rid of those vinyl tyres that many modellers don’t seem to like, ET Models have released this set of resin wheels and tyres to completely replace the kit items. All seven wheels are included in the set so even the spare gets replaced. The detail is excellent and really shows off the heavy tread these tyres have. The hub detail is well executed on both inner and outer faces. Only a small amount of clean up will be required on removing the small moulding blocks, which are also well placed on the bottom of the tyre where there is a slight bulging in contact with the ground. Other than painting these wheels are designed to fit directly into position with nothing else for the modeller to fiddle around with, making them very useful for the more novice modeller. Conclusion Two more great and very useful sets for the modeller to really go to town on this interesting and quite impressive vehicle. The etched parts shouldn’t cause any intermediate modeller, or above any headaches. Although patience and care will still be needed on some for the folding and bending, particularly the spare wheel rack and its curves. The wheel set is just so easy to add, giving excellent detail to the model and will ensure it doesn’t start collapsing as may happen with the vinyl tyres. Highly recommended Review Sample courtesy of

Russian BM-21 Grad Trumpeter 1:35 History The M-21 Field Rocket Systems with a BM-21 launch vehicle (122 mm multiple rocket launcher (MRL) system entered service with the Soviet Army in 1963 to replace the aging 140 mm BM-14 system. The launch vehicle consists of a Ural-375D six-by-six truck chassis fitted with a bank of 40 launch tubes arranged in a rectangular shape that can be turned away from the unprotected cab. The vehicle is powered by a water-cooled V-8 180 hp gasoline engine, has a maximum road speed of 75 km/h (47 mph), road range of up to 750 kilometres (470 mi), and can cross fords up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) deep. The original vehicle together with supporting equipment (including the re-supply truck 9T254 with 60 rockets) is referred to by the GRAU index 9K51; the launcher itself has the industrial index of 2B5. In 1976, the BM-21 was mounted on the newer Ural-4320 six-by-six army truck. The crew of five men can emplace the system and have it ready to fire in three minutes. The crew can fire the rockets from the cab or from a trigger at the end of a 64-metre (210 ft) cable. All 40 rockets can be away in as little as 20 seconds, but can also be fired individually or in small groups in several-second intervals. A PG-1M panoramic telescope with K-1 collimator can be used for sighting. The BM-21 can be packed up and ready to move in two minutes, which can be necessary when engaged by counter-battery fire. Reloading is done manually and takes about 10 minutes. Each 2.87-metre (9 ft 5 in) rocket is slowly spun by rifling in its tube as it launches, which along with its primary fin stabilization keeps it on course. Rockets armed with high explosive/fragmentation, incendiary, or chemical warheads can be fired 20 kilometres (12 mi). Newer high explosive and cargo (used to deliver anti-personnel or antitank mines) rockets have a range of 30 kilometres (19 mi) and more. Warheads weigh around 20 kilograms (44 lb), depending on the type. The relative accuracy of this system and the number of rockets each vehicle is able to quickly bring to bear on an enemy target make it effective, especially at shorter ranges. One battalion of eighteen launchers is able to deliver 720 rockets in a single volley. However, the system cannot be used in situations that call for pinpoint precision. Th Model This is really a great age in which to be a modeller of Russian vehicles as there seems to be a shed load of new releases recently and more in the pipeline. Seemingly at the forefront of this resurgence is Trumpeter with some superb and interesting kits. The latest from them is the BM-21 Grad 122mm Multiple Rocket Launcher. Contained in the now standard Trumpeter sturdy top opening box, there are twelve sprues of grey styrene and one of clear, there is also a small sheet of etched brass. The quality of Trumpeters kits seems to be getting better and better with each release and this is shown with the BM-21. The parts are very well moulded with no sign of flash with the only exception being the moulding pips on quite a few parts, particularly most of the smaller parts which can be a bind to clean up without breaking them. Construction begins with the assembly of the chassis with the main chassis rails, crossbeams, radiator, oil cooler and fan guard. The engine assembly is a complex affair, with the block being made up of four parts to which the cylinder head, crankcase, cam cases, water pump, oil pump, fan belt and fan are attached. The separate gearbox is slightly simpler being in two halves to which a short drive shaft is fitted. The completed engine and gearbox are then attached to the chassis along with two more crossbeams. The rear suspension mounts and leaf spring units are fitted to the cross-shaft fitted earlier. In the centre of the chassis a transfer box, made up of four parts is fitted with another short driveshaft which is attached to the main gearbox. Two differentials with axles are assembled and fitted to the chassis along with their respective driveshafts followed by the assembly of the fuel tank, fuel tank supports, am equipment box with supports and footstep which are then also fitted to the chassis rails. Construction of the front suspension is then carried out with the leaf springs, front differential and shock absorbers. The wheels are each made up of internal and external hub halves, with the internal halves fitted with the brake discs. The completed wheels are then shod with the chunky rubber tyres which look just right for a large truck. These are then attached to the axles, the front wheels also having the steering rack and pistons. The build up of the cab starts with the construction of the drivers seat which is made up of squab, two part frame, backrest and separate cushion, plus the two armrests which can be pose either up or down. The seat assembly is then attached to the cab floor along with the fixed passenger seat squab, handbrake leaver, throttle, clutch and brake pedals. The rear of the cab comes in inner and outer skins with a clear rear window. This is attached to the rear of the cab floor with the passenger back cushion fitted to the rear cab wall. The dashboard is a complex affair with etched brass air vents on the top, several switches and knobs to the instrument panel, decals for the instruments and what looks like a sighting/training unit for the passenger side, made up of 10 parts. The completed dashboard is then glued to the windscreen moulding and the windscreens are attached. The steering wheel/column, gears stick and transfer stick are fitted to the cab floor before the front of the cab is attached to the rear. To this assembly the two door steps are added as are the doors, made up of outer skin, door card, window, window winder and rope handle. Externally the door handles are attached and a three part air filter is fitted to the passenger side just forward of the door. To complete the cab, the roof is added, s are the windscreen wipers engine bay wings, and the wheel arch wings with added light clusters. The completed cab assembly is then fitted to the chassis along with the radiator and bumper two hooks, followed by the fitting of the seven part exhaust system to the right hand side chassis rail just behind the cab. Aft of the cab there is a spare wheel rack made up of seven parts into which the spare wheel, of inner and outer hubs between the rubber tyre, slots into. Two straps and three PE parts hold the wheel in place. To the rear of the spare tyre holder there is a large deck area, consisting of upper, side and rear parts which go to make up a box section. Onto this there are two large storage boxes attached followed by the bottom support rails which attach the assembly to the chassis rails. The next stage is the construction of the rocket launcher turntable which consists of a single piece top and four piece bottom parts. To this assembly the tilting mechanism floor, ratchet and elevation arms are attached. The rocket tubes are made up of four eight tube assemblies, as each eight tube section is made up of two halves, which, once joined together are finished off with the firing caps at the closed end. To each side of the main block are two four tube assemblies, constructed in the same way as the larger units. With all the tubes joined together, forming a forty tube block, the bottom and side plates are added to the open end of the tubes whilst a strap is added to the middle. The completed assembly is then attached to the elevation table. To this several control manual control wheels and sub assemblies are attached. Finally the rear decking in constructed. This consists of the main decking, under decking turntable mount, forward footplate and the rear mudguards. Final assembly is the attachment of the rear decking to the chassis rails, the rocket launcher assembly, engine air filter, bonnet , headlights and wing mirrors. Etch The small etch fret provides the air vents for the cab, straps for the spare wheel, parts for the launcher manual controls, rear chassis plate, support webs for the platform just aft of the spare wheel, and several handles for around the truck. Decals There is a small decal sheet with only the instrument cluster, and a pair of Russian shield emblems and two unidentifiable decals for which I can find no mention on the instructions. Conclusion This is another superb kit from Trumpeter who are really upping their game when it comes to this genre of models. The kit looks like it will build into a quite imposing model and would look great in a diorama, particularly with two or more together in a firing position. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of