Summary

These highly detailed missiles would make a great addition to any of today’s super detailed models. The text on the labels is legible with magnification. There is minimal construction, but be prepared to spend a lot of time applying the numerous small decals.

Background

The following are excerpts from the website. The description for the AGM-84D is from https://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-84.html

The AIM-120 advanced medium-range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) is a new generation air-to-air missile. It has an all-weather, beyond-visual-range capability and is scheduled to be operational beyond 2000.The AMRAAM is being procured for the Air Force, U.S. Navy and America's allies.

The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a supersonic, heat-seeking, air-to-air missile carried by fighter aircraft. It has a high-explosive warhead and an infrared heat-seeking guidance system. The Sidewinder was developed by the U.S.Navy for fleet air defense and was adapted by the U.S. Air Force for fighter aircraft use.

The AGM-84Harpoonis the only dedicated anti-ship missile in service with U.S. armed forces. The Harpoon will remain in service with the U.S. Navy for the foreseeable future. In 1985 the Block 1C version of Harpoon was introduced, being designatedAGM-84D. The Block 1C has increased range (AGM-84D maximum range is quoted to be 220 km (120 nm)) by using JP-10 instead of JP-6 jet fuel.

The AGM-88 HARM or high-speed anti-radiation missile is an air-to-surface tactical missile designed to seek and destroy enemy radar-equipped air defense systems. The missile is operationally deployed throughout the Air Force and in full production as a joint U.S. Air Force-U.S. Navy project.

What’s in the Box

Each model comes in a sturdy 6 x 4 x 1⅝ inch cardboard box. Inside each box are resealable bags for the models and accessories, a small decal sheet, and a one-sided A-size (5⅞ x 8¼-inch) sheet of instructions.

The AGM-84D comes with two missiles in two parts in separate resealable bags. All materials are bubble wrapped

The AGM-88 comes with two missiles in their own resealable bag, a small printing with eight fins in their own resealable bag, two LAU-118(V)1/A short launch rails in their own resealable bag, two LAU-118(V)2/A long launch rails in their own resealable bag. All materials are sandwiched between two pieces of soft foam.

The AIM-120 C comes with four missiles in their own bag resealable. All materials are bubble wrapped.

The AIM-9L/M comes with four comes with four missiles in their own bag resealable, a small printing with six nose covers in their own resealable bag. All materials are bubble wrapped.

The Instructions

The instructions consist of a single A-size (5⅞ x 8¼-inch) sheet. Only the AGM-88 instructions were on thicker glossy paper. The others were on non-glossy regular weight paper. Each instruction sheet has a four view color and decal image (top view, left view, right view, and bottom view). The AGM-84D and AGM-88 have assembly instructions above the four view image.

The bottom of the page has a paint color callout for Mr. Color paints and the Federal Standard color, were applicable. There is also a QR code on the lower right that will take you to their webpage.

Construction

All four models are 3-d printed in orange resin. Upon removing them from their bags they seemed a bit soft/sticky, so I put all the pieces in the sun for about 30-minutes to set-up the resin. When I retrieved the parts they were no longer soft/sticky but were brittle. I would recommend putting them out for maybe 15-minutes first and check them.

The first step was to scrub all the parts with an old toothbrush in warm water and dish soap (Dawn) to remove any residual resin residue.

Assembly was quick and simple. For the AGM-84D I clipped the supports from the bottoms of the warhead (top) and the engine (bottom). A quick swipe with a sanding stick removed and nubs. I then used CA (cyanoacrylate) glue to attach the tops to the bottoms.

The AGM-88 I clipped the box sides of the fin casting. I did the same for the end covers for the AIM-9L/M’s. For LAU-118 launch rails I only removed the outer most set of supports.

For the AIM-9L/M and AIM-120C I clipped the supports to the upper wings. Except for the AGM-84D I left all the other missiles attached to their bottom supports. This helped greatly with painting and handling.

After painting I attached the upper wings to the bodies of the AGM-88 missiles with CA glue (although this could be done before painting). A word of caution here be careful not to get any glue under the front part of the wing as there is decal that slides under this portion of the wings.

Painting and Finish

All parts were primed with Krylon 2X Ultra Cover Flat Gray Primer and allowed to cure for 24-hours. Next the AGM-84D, AIM-120C, and AIM-9L/M missiles and the launch rails for the AGM-88 were all airbrushed MR. Color C308 Light Gray (FS36375). The instructions for the AGM-84D call for the color of Light Compass Ghost Gray and the four view color pictures look to be a darker color, but the FS number given is the same. When I to do another set of these missiles I’ll look for the noted Light Compass Ghost Gray.

The AGM-88, fins, and the nose covers for the AIM-9L/M were all painted with a rattle can of Tamiya US Navy Insignia White (AS-20). Both the light gray and insignia white gave glossy surfaces that were ready for decals.

The AGM-84D and AGM-88 missiles are single color subjects. The AIM missiles are multi-color affairs. For the AIM-9L/M I masked the warhead end of the missile and airbrushed it with Mission Models Cold Rolled Steel. The very tips of the missiles were brush painted with Model Master Insignia White. The tiny roller fins on the bottom wings were brush painted Mission Models Cold Rolled Steel. The right view notes the very end of the tip as “Silvery C8” to represent the glass dome over the infrared sensor. Instead of this I clipped of the very tip and made a small dome using Micro Krystal Klear.

The warhead ends of the AIM-120C missiles were masked and painted with the rattle can of Tamiya US Navy Insignia White (AS-20). The upper and lower wings were brush painted Mission Models Cold Rolled Steel. The nose covers after being primed and painted insignia white were painted Tamiya TS-47 Chrome Yellow from a rattle can.

Decals

I used the Red and Blue MicroSol/MicroSet products to apply the decals without any problems.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Be extremely vigilant when applying the decals. You will need to find an identifying mark on each missile and match that to the four view image so that the right decals go on in the right places.
  • For the AIM-9L/M there is a small square fitting just below the yellow strip. When this is pointing towards the viewer this is the TOP view of the missile.
  • For the AIM-120C the external conduit, when facing the viewer is the BOTTOM view of the missile.
  • For the AGM-84D use the access plates near the nose. With the smaller plate facing the viewer this is the TOP view, with the large plate facing the viewer it is the BOTTOM view of the missile.
  • For the AGM-88 there is an external conduit and raised fitting. With this facing the view it is the TOP view of the missile.

Keep these in mind as you work around the missile. It is quite easy to lose ones place.

• On the AIM-9L/M only the left, right and bottoms get decal 9 applied between the wings.
• Also note that decal 6 on the right side of the AIM-9L/M goes on upside down on the bottom wing.

Decaling turned out to be the longest part of the build. I did all the decaling in two steps. Step 1 was to apply all the stripe decals. I found these to be a bit stiff, requiring multiple applications of MicroSol and careful finger pressure to finally get them to conform to the round missile body. All the stripes for all the missiles ended up being from 0.5 to 1 mm to short. I lined up the gaps and put them on one side. On the AIM-120C there is an external rib that runs up the bottom of the missile. I used this to gap my stripes. After the MicroSol had dried (a couple of hours) I gave the decals a liberal coat of MicroSet.

Step 2 was to apply all the labeling. There are a fair number of labels on each missile. To make things even more difficult the decals themselves are very small. Again I found the large labels to be stiff and required multiple MicroSol applications and finger pressure to get them to conform to the curve of the missile body. As with the stripes after the MicroSol had dried I applied a liberal coating of MicroSet.

There are enough labels that I ended up doing two sides of each missile, applying the MicroSet, and letting the decals sit over night. This way I was worried about previously applied decals moving around while I did the other sides. All told it took me about five days to decal all 12 missiles.

Aside from the slightly stiff stripes and labels the only other issue I encountered was on the AGM-88 missiles with decal 11. The four view images show the red box as extending just above the lower wing on the left side, completely between the wings on the bottom and finishing just above the lower wing on the right side. My decals were much longer reaching halfway between the upper and lower wings on the left and right sides.

Once dry, I gave all the missiles, launch rails, and end covers a coat of Tamiya Semi Gloss Clear from a rattle can to seal the decals and give the missiles a satin finish.

Conclusion

I recommend these missiles to an upper intermediate to advanced modeler. Or someone with experience placing tiny decals.

The detail on these 3D printed models is exceptional. Even the smallest rivet details are captured. One more impressive item, even as small as the labels are they are not just scribbles. Under magnification the text is legible.

I would like to thank FabScale for providing this kit for review, and IPMS/USA for giving me the opportunity to build it.