Zactomodels 1/32 R-73 (A-11 Archer) First Look

By Michael Benolkin

First Look

Zactomodels is a small aftermarket company that does some of the most incredible engineering and casting to correct selected beloved subjects. This time around, they've produced the first of several nice missile options for modern Russian fighters. With each generation of fighter/radar combination, the former Soviet Union would also develop a new set of weapons to exploit the advances that the new fighter and radar possessed. In the case of the MiG-29 and Su-27 that evolved at about the same time, a common set of weapons were developed to provide a good mix of long-range attack, mid-range attack, and dogfight.

In the dogfight missile department, the very capable R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) that armed the previous generation of fighters was replaced with the R-73 (AA-11 Archer).

The R-73 represents the current generation of short-range dogfight missile that is designed to provide air-to-air capabilities not only for the front-line fighter fleet, but also provides defensive capabilities for the fighter-bombers like the Su-24 and Su-34 as well as for attack helicopters like the Mi-24 and Mi-28.

In this release, Zactomodels has produced the R-73 in resin and photo-etch. The casting of these missiles is up to the usual great standards of Zactomodels with the fins and rocket motor bells cast separately.

If you want to put the best-looking weapons on your Trumpeter MiG-29, Revell MiG-29, Trumpeter Su-27 or Trumpeter Su-30 kit, these new missiles from Zactomodels will definitely be a nice eye-catching enhancement for your next big project.

You can learn more about this and other project from the Zactomodels website at http://www.zactomodels.com.

My sincere thanks to Zactomodels for this review sample!