1:32 BLU-1B (750 lb) napalm bombs finned MXU-393/B (4 pcs)

The BLU-1B fire bomb in a large scale

The American incendiary bombs of the BLU-1 series came about at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s as thin-walled aluminum tanks filled with a thickened incendiary mixture. Against high-explosive ordnance they lack both the thick-walled casing and a fixed tail from the factory: the body is smooth, slightly egg-shaped, and ends in a filler neck with a cap. The BLU-1B version in the 750 lb class belonged to the typical armament of the machines deployed over Southeast Asia, where they were carried by the Douglas A-1 Skyraider, the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, the North American F-100 Super Sabre and the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II.

What the MXU-393/B unit was for

A smooth tank on its own falls unpredictably, which is why a tail assembly was fitted to it before takeoff. That is exactly what tells the individual versions apart in period pictures. The designation MXU-393/B belongs to one of these: it changes the ballistics of the free-falling bomb so that it can be dropped from a greater height and at a higher airspeed without tumbling.

What is in the box

Four pieces are supplied, each with sharp edges on the suspension lugs and fine detailing on the caps. At the magnification 1:32 scale offers, even the small things that get lost at smaller sizes stand out: the parting lines of the casing or the seat of the tail fins.

• Intended for hanging on pylons and multiple ejector racks.
• Suited to dioramas with a munitions trolley.

Before the build, rinse the parts in lukewarm soapy water and let them dry. Mold release residue is the most common reason paint flakes off later. Make the joints with super glue or epoxy.