VideoAviation USAF M-117 GP Bombs 1:32

[Mike]

USAF M-117 GP Bombs

1:32 VideoAviation

 

 

The M-117 was the standard bomb of the USAF from the 1950s through the 1970s and beyond, and was able to be fitted with differing tail assemblies depending on the job with which they were tasked.  These sets arrive in clear clamshell boxes with a card insert and instructions at the front, and the resin parts behind them cocooned in bubble-wrap for their own protection.

 

 

USAF M-117 750lb Bombs w/MAU-91 Retarded Tail (208532)

This set includes resin parts sufficient to build six M117 bombs with the MAU-91 Snake-eye fin assembly, and a set of lugs and fuses.  Each bomb is made from the bomb body, the fin assembly in retracted state for carrying, plus two lugs and a fuse for each. Simply cut off the moulding blocks, dish the mating surfaces in the centre and glue them together, taking care with the alignment so your bomb doesn't end up looking like a banana. A scrap diagram shows the correct alignment of the fins to the support lugs, which should be 45^o offset from them.

 

 

 

 

 

USAF M-117 750lb Bombs w/MAU-103 ‘Strakes’ Tail (208632)

This set also includes resin parts sufficient to build six M117 bombs with the MAU-103 low-drag conical fin assembly, and a set of lugs and fuses.  Each bomb is made from the bomb body, the fin assembly in retracted state for carrying, plus two lugs and a fuse for each.   As before you cut off the moulding blocks, dish the mating surfaces in the centre and glue them together, and check alignment to avoid a banana bomb. Another scrap diagram shows the correct alignment of the fins to the support lugs, which should be 45^o offset from them.

 

 

 

 

Markings

The bombs are all painted olive green and the bodies probably got beaten up in storage before they were attached to the fins, so there’s room for a little juxtaposition of fresh and fatigued finishes there if you wish.  The decals are simple stencils for the body, and you’ll need to put appropriate coloured rings around the nose yourself to denote what happens when the fuse hits the ground.  Yellow for bang, blue for thud.

 

Conclusion

Well detailed and large in this scale, these simple bombs will look great hung under your latest Vietnam era project, and with 6 in each box they’re good value.

 

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