Eduard SUU-23 Gun Pod (648612) 1:48

[Mike]

SUU-23 Gun Pod (648612)

1:48 Eduard Brassin

 

 

The SUU-23 was a further development of the SUU-16 gun pod, and has a GAU-4/A Vulcan gatling gun at its heart.  It was a development in the 1960s to give the F-4 Phantom back its gun, having been left out of the design thanks to the power of the “missile mafia”, who convinced everyone that guns and dogfights were a thing of the past.  Inside the aerodynamic fairing is the self-powered gun and an ammo tank to feed the gun up to 1,200 rounds, which sounds a lot, but given the rate of fire doesn’t last long.  It wasn’t all that accurate due to the aerodynamic buffeting and vibration caused by use, but it was still a lot better than nothing.

 

 

 

This set contains resin and Photo-Etch (PE) parts for two pods, which are made up from two body parts, with a choice of blunt of taper rear, with a fairing at the front that protects the skin of the aircraft against damage from any stray rounds, cartridge fragments and combustion residue.  The gun barrels have a PE end-cap with 6 perforations depicting the muzzles.  There is a choice of three types of pylon, with a helpful list of kits that each pylon is intended for, either Academy, Hasegawa or Zoukei-Mura kits, and the moulded-in anti-sway braces need 1mm lengths of 0.6mm wire or rod for their tensioners.

 

 

Painting instructions are given using Gunze codes, with Olive Drab being the main colour.  The decals are included for the stencils, of which there are many, so ensure there’s a nice glossy surface to apply them onto.

 

Conclusion

Detail is excellent, and you have enough for two projects as they usually fit on the centreline of whatever's carrying it.

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of