Eduard SUU-7 Dispenser with & without Extension Tubes (648477 & 648478) 1:48

[Mike]

SUU-7 Dispenser with & without Extension Tubes (648477 & 648478)

1:48 Eduard Brassin

 

 

The SUU-7 munitions dispenser was used extensively in Vietnam against the Viet-min, and were often seen under the wings of F4 Phantoms.  They look like a rocket pod, but are fitted with the exit tubes to the rear and the pods remain on the pylons during and after the mission, to be refilled with various types of bomblets to go out again.  They're a simple type of cluster bomb, and had 19 tubes containing the bomblets, which could be phosphorus, smoke, or explosive fragmentation grenades of various styles.

 

As is now usual with Eduard's smaller resin sets, one arrive in the new shallow Brassin cardboard box while the other retains the older plastic version, with the resin parts safely cocooned in bags and the instructions sandwiched between the two halves, doubling as padding.

 

 

SUU-7 (648477)

The set includes four pods with almost flush munition chutes at the rear, and a single plug fitted to the front where the unit was removed from its pouring stub.  A sheet of decals is included for stencils in yellow and black and yellow "live" designation bands, including some of the smallest decals I've ever seen that are applied to the tubes themselves as a guide to the crews loading the bomblets.  These are shown in detail by a separate diagram with the other painting and decaling directions on the front of the instructions.

 

 

 

SUU-7 w/extended tubes (648478)

Differing from the set above only by having the uppermost tubes extended, presumably to cope with airflow from the trailing edges of the carrying aircraft's wings, you get four pods with the little end-caps, and a different decal sheet with revised scrap diagram for the exit tubes.

 

 

 

Review sample courtesy of