In-Box Review

Background:

The High Velocity Aircraft Rocket, or HVAR, also known by the nickname Holy Moses, was an American unguided rocket developed during World War II to attack targets on the ground from aircraft. It saw extensive use both during World War II and during the Korean War. The HVAR was 5 inches (130 mm) in diameter, and carried a 45lb (20kg) high-explosive warhead. Two different versions of the HVAR were built during World War II. One was a general-purpose missile with base and nose fuses, and the other had a semi-armour-piercing warhead with a nose fuse. After World War II, newer versions included a new general purpose type with a proximity fuse and a shaped charge warhead for use against tanks. The HVAR was normally used to attack tanks, trains and bunkers. More than one million HVARs were built before production ended in 1955.

The resin rocket bodies are attached to two casting blocks. There is a small length on the rocket bodies that is narrower than the rest, I presume these are cut off. There is no mention of this in the instructions, but the diagram shows the rockets with a constant diameter. The rocket bodies look consistent with no flash or blemishes. The rear of the rockets containing the fins and the rocket nozzle are cast separately. Each one is cast onto a block via the four fins. So some careful separation will be needed to be carried out. I am a little disappointed with the thickness of the fins, but there is some good detail around them.
The photo etched fret includes:
-10 x ignition cables.
-8 x rocket exhaust covers.
-18 clamps.The photo etched parts are nicely done, I particularly like the ignition wires and the rocket exhausts. The instructions are vague about the distance between the fixing brackets, there are two per rocket. This is possibly because it varied depending on which aircraft these were hung under.
The instructions consists of black line drawings and the instructional symbols to guide you through the building process. There are a few questions about lack of information about preparing the rocket bodies in order to fit the tail unit, and the spacing between the attachment brackets. There are no painting suggestions so you need to consult your references. In the end if you consult some good references, and there are plenty out there, then there should be no problems.

Conclusions:

This is a very good release from Eduard. I have the plastic versions of the HVAR from Eduards 1/48 Hellcat F6F-5 and the Brassin ones are far superior. They are certainly worth considering if you fancy equipping your 1/48 WWII or Korean fighter/bombers

SUMMARY

Highs: Very good looking resin and photo etched parts.Lows: Overly thick fins. A bit more information in trimming the rocket bodies.Verdict: Highly recommended. Will look really good slung under the wings of your anything from the period from the Avenger up to the Sabre.