If you have more money and less time than it takes to detail up the kit minigun pods, Metallic Details has a nice set for you. The M18 minigun pod is the Army's version of the Navy/USMC SUU11-A/B. During my ICM 32nd scale AH-1G Cobra builds, I started detailing up the kit parts but then remembered seeing these advertised. Yes, there is also a set from Ukrainian Reskit but their set is almost the same price for only one gun pod even though it includes decals.
As can be seen, I bought two sets at different times.
The lighter 3D printed resin of this earlier set makes it hard to see details but the miniguns were already removed from the supports. All is beautifully and accurately (more important to me) detailed which includes the miniguns with six clear distinct barrels per gun.
It is nice to know that Metallic Details improved their set and switched to a darker resin. However, the 3D supports are no longer removed. Not clearly evident, unless to take a closer look, is that the rear fairing is now hollow printed which makes it SOOOOoooooo much easier to put the front and rear fairings together. One can see that the light resin rear fairing is solid and its front face is slightly concave. This meant drilling the mounting hole for the minigun deeper and filing the hard resin down.
The barrel tips do have pilot holes for drilling them out with a #95 bit.
I've inserted the light resin into the dark resin forward fairing and vice versa... One can see the minigun's gun barrels and body. Yes, I did this to see what details to add to the plastic ones from the kit!
Other than wiring plus feed and spent chutes, it is all there and highly detailed! The newer one is much easier to use but take care with removing the 3D printing supports as I did accidentally break off a part. Easy to fix as it is a clean break. Yes, @jknaus, I need to get an ultrasonic cutter is I plan to use more 3D printed parts! Squadron Hobby offers a tool for removing the 3D printed supports but they clearly state it is NOT an ultrasonic knife.
As can be seen, I bought two sets at different times.
The lighter 3D printed resin of this earlier set makes it hard to see details but the miniguns were already removed from the supports. All is beautifully and accurately (more important to me) detailed which includes the miniguns with six clear distinct barrels per gun.
It is nice to know that Metallic Details improved their set and switched to a darker resin. However, the 3D supports are no longer removed. Not clearly evident, unless to take a closer look, is that the rear fairing is now hollow printed which makes it SOOOOoooooo much easier to put the front and rear fairings together. One can see that the light resin rear fairing is solid and its front face is slightly concave. This meant drilling the mounting hole for the minigun deeper and filing the hard resin down.
The barrel tips do have pilot holes for drilling them out with a #95 bit.
I've inserted the light resin into the dark resin forward fairing and vice versa... One can see the minigun's gun barrels and body. Yes, I did this to see what details to add to the plastic ones from the kit!
Other than wiring plus feed and spent chutes, it is all there and highly detailed! The newer one is much easier to use but take care with removing the 3D printing supports as I did accidentally break off a part. Easy to fix as it is a clean break. Yes, @jknaus, I need to get an ultrasonic cutter is I plan to use more 3D printed parts! Squadron Hobby offers a tool for removing the 3D printed supports but they clearly state it is NOT an ultrasonic knife.
