Armory 1/72 R-60 (AA-8) Aphids First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | October 2009 | Manufacturer | Armory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | R-60 (AA-8) Aphids | Scale | 1/72 |
| Kit Number | 7231b | Primary Media | Resin/PE |
| Pros | Detailed Aphid missiles and twin-rail launchers | Cons | None noted |
| Skill Level | Intermediate | MSRP (Euro) | 6.40€ |
First Look
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Armory of the Ukraine has released a number of very nice detail sets, this one tackling an important detail on modern Soviet fighters, the R-60 dogfight missile. The R-60, as well as subsequent missiles, featured a unique arrangement of fins and control vanes to give the missile its agility in combat. This is one subject that hasn't been captured very well in scale - until now. This set, rendered in 1/72 scale, provides some interesting potential for Soviet and Russian Air Force kits 'out there'.
The set is comprised of four resin airframes and two sets of launch rails. The APU-60-II launch rails are distinctive as they are a twin-rail adapter that first appeared on the MiG-23's fuselage pylons to double the R-60 loadout. This adapter has been backfitted to the MiG-21 as well as appearing on other types through at least the MiG-31 Foxhound.
To capture the intracies of the fins, Armory rendered these as photo-etched parts as you can see in the images:
The V-shaped PE parts are folded in half to render each main fin with the 'open-end' of the fold mounted to the airframe. Given that these are very small parts, this set should be undertaken by experienced modelers, but the results will be worth it!
You can purchase Armory products from a number of online stockists as well as directly from their online store.
My sincere thanks to Armory for this review sample!