Blackdog 1/72 AGM-34 Firebee RPV

[RAGATIGER]

Hi there

 

Well the other day I found this at Hannants and was included on my latest order to them 

 

https://blackdog-model.com/a72058-1-72-aqm-34-frebeb-1/

 

To be honest I can't find too much about their operations over Vietnam or SEA

 

Some years ago I saw this kit with a fellow modeller and the art its very interesting

 

https://www.scalemates.com/es/kits/dragon-2513-jian-ji5--123712

 

There were also some kits that included this early RPV Ryan AGM Firebee

 

https://www.scalemates.com/es/kits/italeri-148-lockheed-hercules-with-4-drones-dc-130-director--122566

 

From Italeri in wonderful 1/72 scale. I remmember got one of those RPV but sadly was lost during the Big Models Burnout of 2012 (Yeahhhh you got it right, that was the year of my divorce)

 

Later a brief search at Google show this wonderful webpage

 https://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/aqm34/models.htm

 

Anyway other than some annotations from Osprey Combat MiG-17/MiG-19 and MiG-21 in Vietnam Units

 

Any comment well appreciated

 

Regards 

 

Armando

Edited August 14, 2021 by RAGATIGER
mispell

[Rob de Bie]

I'm happy to see interest in one of my favorite subjects! First of all the designation: all models currently available are BQM-34A, not AQM-34 or AGM-34. This is the regular target drone version.

 

I'm working on a review of the PlusModel BQM-34, and included the Black Dog kit too. The latter is quite horrible, wrong dimensions everywhere, and the shape is off too, badly. The PlusModel is a lot better, but so far (watch this space) it is not a real improvement over the old Italeri BQM-34, that came with the DC-130 kit.

 

If you want an AQM-34, the Vietnam war recce drone, you will need to do a conversion. My 20 years of fiddling with it are documented here:

 

https://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/models/aqm34.htm

 

I consider the models that I built so far as test models, to check design changes, new details and decal designs. They are not finished yet: they still don't have an engine exhaust, and more importantly, camera windows!

 

 

 

My moulds are worn out, so I can't build more, or sell them. 

 

Rob

 

 

 

[darthspud]

Looks like what my Battery used to try and shoot down @Manorbier Weapons Camp.

[Bill S]

Armando

 

Here are a couple of links that might add to your historical interest

First is an Air Force report on Buffalo Hunter drone operations in Vietnam, it is unclassified.

https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA486697.pdf

 

Second is a link to the Aviation Unmanned Vehicle Museum who's founder, since passed, was in drone operations in Vietnam.

His Son and Grandson are great contacts and willing to share.

https://auvm.net/

Photos from my AUVM visit in 2019 are here:

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmKuG5tZ

 

Rob your pages and modeling are outstanding!

 

bill