Eduard has produced a beautifully cast 1/48 version of one of the most current US Military’s air-delivered weapons – the AGM-154C1 (Block II) Joint Stand-off Weapon (JSOW).

The Wikipedia article for the AGM-154 says:

“The AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon or JSOW is currently in the fleet and in use by the US Navy. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases have been signed with Poland and Turkey for use with their F-16 fighters. Finland, Greece and Singapore are pursuing FMS cases at this time.^[1][2] The AGM-154 is intended to provide a low cost, highly lethal glide weapon with a standoff capability. The JSOW family of air-to-surface glide weapons are 450 kilograms (1,000 lb) class weapons that provide standoff capabilities from 28 km (15 nmi) low altitude launch and up to 110 km (60 nmi)^[3] high altitude launch. The JSOW can be used against a variety of land targets and operates from ranges outside enemy point defenses.

The JSOW is a launch and leave weapon that employs a tightly coupled Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS), and is capable of day/night and adverse weather operations. The AGM-154A (JSOW A) uses GPS/INS for terminal guidance, while the AGM-154C (JSOW C) uses an infra-red seeker for terminal guidance.

The JSOW is just over 410 centimetres (160 in) in length and weighs about 450 kilograms (1,000 lb). The JSOW was originally to be delivered in three variants, each of which uses a common air vehicle, or truck, while substituting various payloads. The AGM-154A (JSOW-A) entered service in 1999. The US Navy and Air Force developed the AGM-154B (JSOW B) up until Multi-Service Operational Test & Evaluation (MOT&E) but the Navy decided not to procure the weapon when the Air Force left the program. The AGM-154C (JSOW BROACH) entered service in February 2005.”

What I would add is that this thing looks really mean hung beneath the wing of any modern US Military aircraft!

Eduard’s pair of 1/48 JSOWs come packed in a sturdy cardboard box with the resin parts securely nestled in zip-lock plastic pouches, sandwiched between soft pieces of foam. All resin parts are cast free of flash in Eduard’s dark gray resin. Also included are Eduard’s typical picture-illustrated instructions, and a small sheet of appropriate deals.

I removed my JSOW parts from the casting blocks with a #11 blade and sprue nippers. Individual parts include the 6 fins, two mounting brackets, two “wings”, top wing housing, and the weapon body itself. A quick couple of swipes with a medium sanding stick, and the parts were ready for assembly.

Following Eduard’s easy assembly instruction sheet, I dry fitted the wing blades to the appropriate position, and then used CA to attach the top cover over the blades, allowing them to be posed either closed or deployed. Next came the fin blades, the smaller of them being installed horizontally on each side. The 45 degree splay are the larger blades. Simple … assembly completed.

A quick swipe with an alcohol-soaked swab to remove any trace of mold-release, and it was off to the paint booth. I used Vallejo’s primer, already FS-36375 – Light Ghost Gray, for the one and only color coat on the assembly. I wanted to preserve the exquisite engraved detailing with the thinnest layer of paint I could manage. Everything covered quickly and dried very thin to accomplish the task.

After drying, I carefully applied a drop of steel to each of the attachment points, and applied the two decals to the top of the weapon. I used a little Future on the backside of each before applying to the flat surface of the 36375 finish coat, to ensure a good “stick”.

The end result looks the part, and I am now trying to decide which of my next builds will be armed to the teeth with both of these bad-ass bad guy getters!

Thanks to the IPMS Reviewer Corps and Eduard for the opportunity to review these beautiful items.