1:35 US NAVY MHU-191/M (AERO 21A) Munitions Transporter (with adapters for bombs) (Carrier Fleet)

A cart for aircraft bombs, 1:35 scale

The towed munitions transporter is one of the inconspicuous but indispensable machines of every flight deck and field base. This item from the Kelik brand captures its version with adapters for bombs, and in 1:35 scale it completes a scene of arming equipment. The build is short and the result takes up little room on a base.

Heavy iron

A classic aircraft bomb has no propulsion and no electronics, but it does have a weight that no one shifts alone. That is exactly why munitions are moved across the apron lying in cradles, and jacks are used to hoist them onto the rack. The cart is therefore not just a chassis with wheels: it decides how quickly a machine is ready for its next sortie, and that shows immediately in the number of sorties per day.

Advice on painting

Spray the cleaned and degreased parts with the primer and only then deal with the wear. The salt or hairspray technique works well and exposes the metal base on the edges of the load surfaces. Dust the wheels and the underside with a light pigment, and darken the upper surfaces instead, so that dripping oil and grease show. Finally unify the whole cart with a matte varnish, which fixes the pigment and evens out the sheen of the individual layers.

When to reach for this model

• when building a scene of preparing an aircraft for takeoff
• as an accessory to a helicopter or a combat vehicle in this scale
• to enliven a display case with small ground equipment
• when you want a practice build with a small number of parts