[Brian J.]

I have three makes/versions of Mk. 82 500 lb bombs and am in a bit of a fix figuring out which is the most accurate.

I've read that the bombs found in the 1/32 Trumpeter A-4 Skyhawk are much too slender/thin and the "snakeye" variant is overly simplified.

I have made up a set of Mk.82s from the older 1/32 Hasagawa A-4 and they appear to have a better shape, but they too look a bit undersized (wish or hope I'm wrong).

I also have a set of Mk.82 Retarded Bombs (USN) from CAM (R32-020). The rear section is much more detailed than the Trumpeter interpretation but they are noticably thicker/fatter.

I checked out the Master Details site and they carry a nice looking version of Mk.82s. Unfortunately they sell for about $20.00 a pair! As I need 6 bombs that gets a little rich.

Has anybody done a build-up of a Viet Nam era model using Mk.82s? What was your take and what might you recommend?

[Youngtiger1]

I don't have the CAM but between the Has. and Trump. I say go with Hasegawa. However, most accurate bombs are Academy sets out of F/A-18C/D kit.

[Finn]

The Trumpeter Mk-82 w/conical tail bombs dia is actually closer to a Mk-81 250lb, they are too long however, if you can find a way to shorten them by about 5mm then you can some nice 250lbers which were quite common early in Vietnam. The Snakeye tails of the Academy F/A-18 are off, it tapers too much, only if Hasegawa would convert their 48 Weapon Sets into 32nd scale then there would be more than a few modellers.

Jari

[Joe Hegedus]

Youngtiger1, on 03 July 2012 - 04:23 AM, said:

I don't have the CAM but between the Has. and Trump. I say go with Hasegawa. However, most accurate bombs are Academy sets out of F/A-18C/D kit.

I'm not sure that Hasegawa didn't put MK-81 bombs in their old 1/32 A-4 kit.

[Brian J.]

I just noticed the post by Curt entitled "Notice anything strange" which includes a photo of a VF-111 F-4B dropping bombs. What type and size of bombs are these? They look much like the type found on the 1/32 Hasagawa A-4.

What a coincidence! I have converted the 1/32 Tamiya F-4J to an B using nose and tail resin from an old CAM set, along with numerous other aftermarket sets. I also want to do my build-up in VF-111 markings, the often done '201'.

I have both of CAMs 1/32 resin TERs and MER's and plan on using the TERs on the F-4B and the MERs on Trumpeters A-4. These sets look like they're on steriods compared to the Trumpeter and Hasagawa versions.

I have the 1/32 CAM sheet for this bird but the main thing holding me back is correcting the nose art/shark mouth. The CAM decals (a copy of the old 1/72 Micro Scale sheet) is incorrect. Poor shape and way too many teeth.

[Finn]

The bombs look to be Mk-82s, here is another pic of the F-4B with bombs:

http://www.usscorals...ges/rt71721.jpg

Jari