Zactomodels 1/32 APU-60-2 Launch Rails 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 or convert selected beloved subjects. This time around, they've addressed a shortfall in the Trumpeter MiG-23 kits. The ventral pylons that mount under the fuselage can accept the APU-60-1 or -2 launch rails which are used to carry the R-60 (AA-8 Aphid) missiles. The Trumpeter kits for the MiG-23MF and MiG-23ML provide the APU-60-1 rails which give you a loadout of only two AA-8s on the aircraft (plus the AA-7s under the wing gloves). While this is technically correct, most MiG-23s typlically carried the APU-60-2 twin-rail launchers to allow the aircraft to carry two AA-7 and four AA-8 missiles. Trumpeter did provide the APU-60-2 rails in the MiG-23MLD Flogger K release, but those of us that also have the earlier Floggers were stuck with the single-rail launchers - until now.

Zactomodels has nicely replicated the details and shape of the APU-60-2 and I will be using these in place of the kit APU-60-2 in my MiG-23MLD build as well as on the earlier Floggers. You can see in the title graphic what one of these twin-rail launchers looks like with the Zactomodels R-60 missiles (sold separately).

You'll not only find these APU-60-2 rails on the MiG-23, they've been fitted to the late-model MiG-21 as well as the MiG-31 Foxhound. While we do have some nice 1/32 MiG-21s, it may be a while before we see a 1/32 Foxhound...

This is another nice enhancement produced for the MiG-23 kits from Trumpeter and can be used of course on other aircraft (check your references).

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!