Eduard 1/48 AGM-78 Standard ARM 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.

In this release, Eduard has replicated the AGM-78 Standard ARM in 1/48 scale. Due to the short range and small warhead on the AGM-45 Shrike, the Navy took the huge Standard missile used as a surface-to-air missile aboard US Navy warships and changed the seeker head to home on radar signals (anti-radiation missile or ARM). Unlike the Shrike, the Standard ARM could be fired with the nose of the aircraft pointing away from the target to maintain a safe distance from a SAM site being targeted. The Standard ARM was initially carried by the A-6 Intruder but it was adopted by the USAF Wild Weasels and flown on the F-105F/G as well as the F-4G Weasels. You'll typically see only one AGM-78 loaded on the F-105 or F-4G.

This set includes two AGM-78 airframes, two rear guidance sections/motors, and two sets of guidance fins plus a set of decals. These Standard ARMs are the nicest I've seen and will definitely enhance the loadout of your next Weasel project. You will have to provide your own LAU-77 launch rail if your kit doesn't have one.

My sincere thanks to Eduard for this review sample!