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In-Box Review
132
M 117 GP Bombs
Video Aviation M 117 GP Bombs (163932)
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by: Pedro Matos [ PACMAN77 ]

Introduction

The M117 is an air-dropped general-purpose bomb used by United States military forces. It dates back to the time of the Korean War of the early 1950s. Although it has a nominal weight of 750 pounds (340 kg), its actual weight, depending on fuze and retardation options, is around 820 pounds (372 kg). Its explosive content is typically 403 pounds (183 kg) of Minol 2 or Tritonal. It can also be configured with a low-drag tail fin for medium and high-altitude deliveries.
In the 1950s through the early 1970s the M117 was a standard aircraft weapon, carried by the F-100 Super Sabre, F-104 Starfighter, F-105 Thunderchief, F-111, and F-4 Phantom.
The M117 series was used extensively during the Vietnam War, and B-52G Stratofortress aircraft dropped 44,600 M117 and M117R bombs during Operation Desert Storm.
At present it is used only by the B-52 Stratofortress; tactical aircraft now tend to use the Mark 80-series bombs, particularly the Mark 82 (500 pounds (227 kg)) or Mark 84 (2,000 pounds (907 kg)) bombs and their guided equivalents.
On 26 June 2015, the last Mk 117 in PACAF inventory was dropped by a B-52H crew on an island near Andersen AFB, Guam.


Contents of the Blister box


1 little sheet with building instructions, color guide and Stencil placement.

36 Resin Parts for making Six M117 Bombs

1 Decal Sheet with Stenciling for the six Bombs

Packaging


The bombs are packed in a Blister box inside a plastic bag with the decals, small resin parts like the bomb supports were broken.

Instructions


The instructions are well printed in a small sheet of paper in black & white including colors with generic paint call out and decal stencil positioning.

The Bombs


The bombs are broken in 4 parts, the back of the bomb with the fins already attached on it, the body of the bomb, the detonator and the bomb support. The bombs have good detail with rivets and panel lines and are well molded. I didn’t find any air bubbles on the resin, the downsides I encountered were that some of the parts for the bombs support (part that attachments to the wing Pylon) were broken.
SUMMARY
Highs: Very good Level of Detail Full Decal Stenciling for the six bombs
Lows: Small parts Broken
Verdict: In my opinion I recommend this Bombs set, you only have to take care when gluing the bombs together to use a Gel cyanoacrilate glue to give more time to correct any misalignment when attaching them because the bombs don’t have any kind of locating pins. A
Percentage Rating
85%
  Scale: 1:32
  PUBLISHED: May 08, 2017
  NATIONALITY: United States
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 84.57%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 84.82%

Our Thanks to VideoAviation.com!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Pedro Matos (Pacman77)
FROM: LISBOA, PORTUGAL

Copyright ©2021 text by Pedro Matos [ PACMAN77 ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



   
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