Спасибо! THANKS VERY MUCH Mikhail and Victory models for importing and distributing these sets, and also sending IPMS USA another of your growing line of resin accessories for Russian/Soviet aircraft. Much thanks also to IPMS USA leadership for sending it on to me to review….

A word about customer service; Mikhail, the Proprietor of Advanced Modeling, provided Dave Morrissette with reference pictures of the actual MER installed on three aircraft; it looks like Sukhois and one TU-22m; Dave then forwarded to me. THAT saved me a lot of time on correct colors. Most excellent service Mihail!

This Multiple Bomb Rack (MER) set is a simple, extremely well-done example of resin casting with the end result of vastly improving the current injected molded kit weapons carriages on the available 1/48 Russian aircraft kits. The MBD3-U6-68 Multiple bomb rack is the current standard for what we Americans call a Multiple Ejector Rack; Russians call them Multiple Bomb Racks. These are visually utilitarian and interesting; these are simple engineering solutions to complex problems! Up to six weapons can be carried on these racks.

First observation: This set is about as good as it gets; flawless casting, detail that holds up under a magnification, and timely subject.

The set contains two resin weapons MER beams, 12 Sway braces to fit on the station mounts, and four mounting brackets to install the beams on the mounting pylons of your model. Also included is a decal sheet to finish off… This set is intended to be used on the following 1/48 Soviet/Russian aircraft: MIG-27, Su-17/22, Su-24, Su-25, Su-27, SU-30, SU-34. If you can find one, it would also be appropriate for mounting on a 1/48 Tu-22m; it would be huge but cool…

Following the instructions, I used CA glue to install the sway braces into place on one main beam in about fifteen minutes. I planned to use this set on my Trumpeter SU-24; this kit (I have been working on it off and on, had the Begemont aftermarket improvements and decal sets), and the aircraft certainly benefitted from installation of the MER with it’s fantastic detail. Paint was with Tamiya Primer White, a gloss coat, and then I used some of the miniscule decals. These performed flawlessly, even in this small size. I can’t imagine a 1/72 MER with these decals!

Did I say this set has fantastic detail? The rivets, bolts, and all the angle iron hanging off it absolutely say “Close to perfection”. I could not make one of these from scratch if I had all the parts! It totally knocked me over as to how good this set looks. We have come a long way from 1980’s models… Great Job Mikhail!

The photos tell the story; after construction, installation was facilitated by drilling a hole behind the mounting clamps, then inserting wire which was then pushed into the MER with Superglue; this provided solid attachment to two holes on the SU-24 centerline weapons station.

For the longest time it seemed we did not have sufficient Russian weapons available on the market, except for some WWII bombs and rockets, and those sets within the Trumpeter kits. Don’t get me wrong, Trumpeter’s weapons look great, but the AM items go a step further with finesse only capable with resin. AM is addressing this shortage in a big way, particularly in 1/48 scale! After building this, I ordered some FAB 250K and 250 Cluster weapons to hang from my Sukhoi on this rack and the wing racks…

Advanced Modeling parts make the finishing difference for many kits like the Sukhoi. I know it seems like I always give top ratings, but everything I have reviewed recently has been of maximum quality, and AM parts earn the rating as well! Thanks again Mikhail for addressing this modeling niche and IPMS USA for the forum to review these items…