Product Review : AMS Resin Falcon Missiles!

[LSP_Paul]

A couple of weeks ago , Harold sent me a small box. In it were the parts I needed for my two current builds plus a pair of missiles he is going to release shortly.

 

Some background on the missile, 

 

The Air Force deployed AIM-4 in May 1967 during the Vietnam War on the new F-4D Phantom II, which carried it on the inner wing pylons and was not wired to carry the AIM-9 Sidewinder. The missile's combat performance was very poor. The Falcon, already operational on Air Defense Command aircraft, was designed to be used against bombers, and its slow seeker cooling times (as much as six or seven seconds to obtain a lock on a target) rendered it largely ineffective against maneuvering fighters. Moreover, it could only be cooled once. Limited coolant supply meant that once cooled, the missile would expend its supply of liquid nitrogen in two minutes, rendering it useless on the rail. The missile also had a small warhead, and lacked proximity fusing. As a result, only five kills were scored, all with the AIM-4D version.(The Falcon was also experimentally fired by the F-102 Delta Dagger against ground targets at night using its infrared seeker.)

The Model Missile, 

I found in the parts one main missile body, 4 sets of large fins and 4 sets of small fins, and the rocket motor exhaust section. All parts were cleanly cast in gray resin with excellent detail, especially the locating areas where the fins connect to the body.

The fins are all attached to mold blocks that have been thoughtfully kept very thin and the parts separated very easily after one pass from a sharp # 11 Blade.I found very minimal warping despite the ultra thin parts and the ones that had a slight warp straightened back out nicely during the gluing process. I tacked the fins to the body with slow setting superglue and then made sure they were straight and aligned, then ran a tiny bead of ultra thin down the joins.

 

 Then I painted the Missile with a couple of coats of Tamiya Fine White Primer.

 

 And there ya have it!  Harold's new Falcon Missiles will be released soon, price to be determined at this point. The launch rails are in the production process and I'm sure will be every bit as well engineered and detailed as the missiles themselves.

 

 Another Great Product from AMS Resin! Thanks Harold for the review sample.

 Paul

Edited June 9, 2014 by av8shunmodels

[Tony T]

Looking really good. Waiting for the rails.

 

I believe the AIM-4Ds were carried as late as June 1972 in the combat zone. Some of the Ritchie/DeBellevue MiG kills with AIM-7E2 Sparrow IIIs were accomplished with a jet also toting Falcons. Trying to work out when USAFE Zulu Alert F-4Es stopped using them, as my build choice is either this squadron based in the Netherlands circa 1970-72...

http://www.ausairpower.net/Falcon-Evolution/F-4E+AIM-4D-Willemsen-1S.jpg

http://aircraftslides.com/auction/images/3167bff868-0438-CR%20F-4E%2032%20TFS%20Soesterberg%208-Jul-71%20auction.jpg

 

Or an alert jet from the 13th TFS at Udorn posted recently by D B Andrus...

Mine would be "Ripley's believe it or not" with a fair bit of blue trim.

 

Very exciting development

 

Tony

[marauderdriver]

Well Heck Harold,

 

Now I'm gonna have buy another F-4. Thanks A lot  

 

Thanks for the backround and  review,Paul

 

jack

[Harold]

Thanks for the review Paul. When I get back next week,  (I am in California right now) I will post a scan of the bottom rail in progress.

Edited June 9, 2014 by Harold

[Paolomaglio]

Excellent Missiles Harold, now we need a 32 scale Draken!

[Scotsman]

 

 

 now we need a 32 scale Draken

Or an  F-101/102 or even a 106... well we can dream!

[jozef]

Or an  F-101/102 or even a 106... well we can dream!

Yes, yes, YEEEES

 

But I am getting them for my F-4D as well. Me wants, me wants

 

Best

 

 

Jozef

[LSP_Kevin]

With Paul's permission, I've just published this one on the main website:

 

http://www.largescaleplanes.com/reviews/review.php?rid=1321

 

Kev

[BradG]

For a missile the Falcon made a great bomb. They were carried as late as June 1972 as Phil Handley fired two (one didn't come off the rail) before gunning down a MiG 19 on June 2nd.

[Tony T]

Falcon was certainly more complicated, and challenging, to use than the uncooled AIM-9B with the simple lead sulphide seeker. Before the shortcomings could be fixed with the Hotel mark (an updated Delta with proximity fusing, updated sensor and bigger warhead) the series was superseded by the vastly superior Navy all-aspect gas-cooled AIM-9L and USAF Peltier effect AIM-9J. However, I for one am sooooo heartily sick of making Sidewinders.

Adding Falcons will be so very refreshing - and historically accurate for USAF F-4D/Es assigned to alert duties 67-72.

 

Who knows? We may get lucky and, as Paolo mentioned, get a Saab J.35 Draken before long. That's a kit I'd queue in the freezing rain outside the shop for 24 hours for. No, I'm not kidding!

 

Tony

[Guest]

Thanks for the review Paul. When I get back next week,  (I am in California right now) I will post a scan of the bottom rail in progress.

Where at Harold.....Harv

[jozef]

 

Who knows? We may get lucky and, as Paolo mentioned, get a Saab J.35 Draken before long. That's a kit I'd queue in the freezing rain outside the shop for 24 hours for. No, I'm not kidding!

 

Tony

Me too. Moreover, Plasticart Draken in 1:100 was the first kit ever built myself.

 

Jozef

[Harold]

Where at Harold.....Harv

Redding, Santa Rosa, Gilroy..... Right now in Santa Rosa.

[Harold]

A couple of weeks ago , Harold sent me a small box. In it were the parts I needed for my two current builds plus a pair of missiles he is going to release shortly.

 

Some background on the missile, 

 

The Air Force deployed AIM-4 in May 1967 during the Vietnam War on the new F-4D Phantom II, which carried it on the inner wing pylons and was not wired to carry the AIM-9 Sidewinder. The missile's combat performance was very poor. The Falcon, already operational on Air Defense Command aircraft, was designed to be used against bombers, and its slow seeker cooling times (as much as six or seven seconds to obtain a lock on a target) rendered it largely ineffective against maneuvering fighters. Moreover, it could only be cooled once. Limited coolant supply meant that once cooled, the missile would expend its supply of liquid nitrogen in two minutes, rendering it useless on the rail. The missile also had a small warhead, and lacked proximity fusing. As a result, only five kills were scored, all with the AIM-4D version.(The Falcon was also experimentally fired by the F-102 Delta Dagger against ground targets at night using its infrared seeker.)

The Model Missile, 

I found in the parts one main missile body, 4 sets of large fins and 4 sets of small fins, and the rocket motor exhaust section. All parts were cleanly cast in gray resin with excellent detail, especially the locating areas where the fins connect to the body.

The fins are all attached to mold blocks that have been thoughtfully kept very thin and the parts separated very easily after one pass from a sharp # 11 Blade.I found very minimal warping despite the ultra thin parts and the ones that had a slight warp straightened back out nicely during the gluing process. I tacked the fins to the body with slow setting superglue and then made sure they were straight and aligned, then ran a tiny bead of ultra thin down the joins.

 

 Then I painted the Missile with a couple of coats of Tamiya Fine White Primer.

 

 And there ya have it!  Harold's new Falcon Missiles will be released soon, price to be determined at this point. The launch rails are in the production process and I'm sure will be every bit as well engineered and detailed as the missiles themselves.

 

 Another Great Product from AMS Resin! Thanks Harold for the review sample.

 Paul

Here is a rough mockup of the bottom launch rail.

 

[Lee White]

Is this a variant that was used on the F-106?