Background

The AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM, is a modern beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) capable of all-weather day-and-night operations. Designed with the same form-and-fit factors as the previous generation of semi-active guided Sparrow missiles, it is a fire-and-forget missile with active guidance.

AIM-120C deliveries began in 1996. The C variant has been steadily upgraded since it was introduced. The AIM-120C-6 contained an improved fuse (Target Detection Device) compared to its predecessor. The AIM-120C-7 development began in 1998 and included improvements in homing and greater range. It was successfully tested in 2003 and is currently being produced for both domestic and foreign customers. It helped the US Navy replace the F-14 Tomcats with F/A-18E/F Super Hornets – the loss of the F-14's long-range AIM-54 Phoenix missiles is offset with a longer-range AMRAAM-D. The lighter weight of the advanced AMRAAM enables an F-18 Hornet pilot greater bring-back weight upon carrier landings.

The Product

The parts are trapped in a sturdy, clear plastic clamshell. There are 26 resin parts and a small decal sheet that includes miscellaneous stencils and stripes for the missile body. Also included is a small PE fret with five “remove before flight” streamers…a very nice touch.

The resin parts include two missile bodies, mid-body fins, and the tail fins. The missiles can be assembled as training versions or tactical version by the selection of the appropriate nose cone and exhaust cones. Surface elements are comprised of raised and recessed details. Part numbers are cast into the casting blocks. A color chart is also included that identifies the colors and marking for each type of missile.

Conclusion

Many aircraft kits include underwing stores. The kit-furnished missiles often require removal of the mold lines along the length of the missile. Removing the mold line is often complicated by the smallness of the part and the largeness of the builder’s thumbs.

Eduard offers their Brassin accessories to replace the plastic kit parts. The surface detail on these missiles parts look great!! However, some work is required to remove the parts from the casting blocks. Cutting the nose cones and exhausts from the casting plug requires perfectly square cuts for the parts to fit together properly later. For me, the nose and tail cone butt joints just would not work: I drilled holes in the mating faces of the nose and exhaust cones and the missile body, inserted a short length of styrene rod (the rod shown in the images is longer than required and was trimmed to less than 1/8th inch in length before the parts were fitted together). Even after that effort, the nose and exhaust did not appear to be in perfect alignment with the missile body. That shortcoming may just be a result of my clumsy efforts. The fins are quite small and require a good deal of care to remove from the casting blocks. Even with care, the mounting plugs can be cut away from the fins. Cleanup of the fins’ mating surface is required for the fins to fit properly to the missile body. Super glue is required to attach the various parts

As noted above, fitting the fins in place on the missile body required some effort to remove any excess resin on the mating surfaces. In fact, I needed to over-drill some of the openings in the body before the fins would seat properly in place.

At $13.00, the cost of the accessories may be a deterrent to many. Cleanup and assembly may prove to be a challenge. These accessories are recommended for the experienced modelers who are willing to spend the effort in parts removal, cleanup, and alignment. The end result will be a function of the builder’s skills and abilities.

I wish to thank Eduard and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review this product.