Zactomodels

1/32 Russian Air-to-Air Missiles For any applicable Russian aircraft kit

Reviewed By  Dave Morrissette, IPMS# 33653

Vympel R-60 - AA-8 Aphid, (Set of 2) MSRP: $14.00 Vympel R-73 - AA-11 Archer (Set of 2) MSRP: $18.00 Vympel R-27R - AA-10 Alamo-A/Alamo B (Set of 2) MSRP: $23.00 Vympel R-27R - AA-10 Alamo-C/Alamo D (Set of 2) MSRP: $25.00 Website: www.zactomodels.com So you have finished off that Revell MiG-29, Trumpeter MiG-21, or Su-27 and it looks just a little "naked"? Maybe you left all the kit-supplied missiles off due to them being very bland and not very accurate? No worries! Dress up your large scale fighter with the best researched, detailed cast missiles you could hope for anywhere. Chris "Zactoman" Wilson from Zactomodels has come out with several sets of Russian missiles that can really take your kit to the next level. These are beautifully mastered by Alexander Rogal, who also mastered the MiG-29 exhausts. Available sets include: · AA-8 Aphid Missiles (R-60) - Carried by the MiG-21, MiG-29 MiG-23 and others · AA-11 Archer Missiles (R-73) - Carried by the MiG-21, MiG-29, Su-27, Su-30 and others. · AA-10 Alamo Missiles - Including the Alamo-A (R-27R), Alamo-B (R-27T), Alamo-C (R-27ER) and Alamo-C (R-27ET) Carried by the MiG-29, Su-27 and Su-30.

All of the missiles are cast in tan resin and it was all I could do find a flaw. I have seen other reviews of these on the Internet and in print media, but have yet to see one where the reviewer actually built the set, so I built examples of the Aphid, the Archer and two of the Alamos. Missiles are typically festooned with markings, data placards, etc. Zactomodel's instructions do not indicate markings or paint schemes, but there are schemes in the Trumpeter kits mentioned as well as the recommended decal sheets. One nice feature of Zactomodels is that the instructions for the parts are on-line. There was a very fine seam line on one of the larger Alamos, but that's it! Good deal. All of the missiles start with a two part build- the main body of the missile, and a separate exhaust which has to have a pour stub removed. This was simply done with a sanding stick and all of the missile bodies went right together. Once the bodies are done, the variation starts. There are numerous large and smaller fins that need added and aligned. The alignment was probably the most difficult task, with up to three fins on four sides to get a perfect look. Once assembled, I pinned each missile so that I had something to grasp while painting. Each missile was washed in warm dishwater and soap to get rid of mold release agent, and primed with sandable gray auto primer. Xtracolor white was applied and allowed to dry thoroughly, followed by decals application. A watercolor wash and a wipe, followed by flat coat, and we were done. When I built the Trumpeter Su-27 kit I had planned to use the kit armament but couldn't bring myself to build one, as they are Neanderthal-ish compared to these castings. Each rivet on the fin and pivot is there, perfectly molded, as are the exhausts and the attachment points. I would go past saying these are recommended. If you are building a 1/32nd scale Russian jet that carries one of these, these are required. They are just that good and can take a well done kit to a winner. Very highly recommended!! My thanks to Chris Wilson and Zactomodels for allowing IPMS/USA to build the review samples.