Eduard 1/48 Mk.20 Rockeye II Set First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Eduard from the Czech Republic is easily the most prolific producer of aftermarket details. Period. Their series of photo-etched detail sets have brought additional fidelity to otherwise bland subjects, and have taken even the best-produced models and kicked them up a notch or two with details that cannot be produced with injection-molded plastic. Many AMS modelers will collect the relevant Eduard photo-etch sets for a given project, but they'll also go out and gather specific resin enhancements as well. Eduard has stepped up with a new product line to complement their photo-etched detail series - Brassin. Brassin is a play on words with Brass and Resin, and in many sets in this series, the resin details also include a set of color photo-etch as well.

The CBU-100 (Mk.20) Rockeye II cluster bomb was developed to counter formations of armored vehicles on the battlefield and each cluster bomb carries 247 Mk.118 bomblets. When released, the cluster bomb will extend its stabilizing fins and descend one of two selected durations. When that duration (mere seconds) is reached, the cluster bomb shell flies away to allow the cluster bombs to spread like a shotgun shot. The Rockeye was carried by US Air Force, US Navy, and US Marine Corps combat aircraft from Vietnam through Desert Storm.

This latest release from Eduard replicates six CBU-100s ready to hang directly on a weapons station or on a triple ejector rack (three bombs) or multiple ejector rack (MER). This set contains six cluster bombs with the forward arming fuse molded in place. The rear fuse impeller is rendered as photo-etch. The set also includes a set of optional forward fuse covers which require the molded-on impeller to be removed and replaced by the cover part.

If you want another distinctive armament option for your next project, this latest release from Eduard will help you bomb up your quarter-scale masterpiece.

My sincere thanks to Eduard for this review sample!