1:48 Kh-23 missile with APU-68 (2 pcs)

Kh-23 with the APU-68 launch rail in 1:48 scale (Reskit)

This set from Reskit brings a pair of Kh-23 missiles together with the APU-68 launch rail in 1:48 scale. The number of pieces is given in the name of the set itself. The parts are cast in resin, so expect classic resin technology and the fact that this is a product for completing a build, not a model in its own right.

The real subject

The Kh-23 is a Soviet air-to-surface guided missile from the end of the 1960s, steered by a radio command system: the operator watched the flare in the tail of the missile and corrected its path. It was carried on the APU-68 rail, which became a standard part of the armament of Eastern tactical aircraft. A pair of missiles with their rails is therefore a typical part of the external stores on the machines most often built in 1:48 scale.

Building and painting tips

First wash the resin parts in warm soapy water so that the mold release residue disappears from the surface, because without that the paint will not hold. Cut the casting blocks off with a fine saw or a cutter, never snap them. Sanding should be done with respiratory protection, ideally wet. They are bonded with super glue, and you attach the whole load to the plastic model only after the basic camouflage has been sprayed. Use a primer before painting, because resin holds paint less well without one. The thin aerodynamic surfaces of the missiles are fragile, so leave them until the end of the build.

Who the set is for

• Modelers who want external stores more faithful than the plastic in the box offers.
• Builders of Eastern tactical aircraft in 1:48 scale.
• Modelers with experience in resin and super glue.
• Completing a project already under way without buying another kit.

This is an add-on set, not an aircraft model. It is supplied unassembled and unpainted; glue, paints and the base kit are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.