Store identification

[pyro-manic]

OK, I have looked and looked, but I cannot identify the centreline store on this Italeri 1:72 F-15E I picked up recently. I thought maybe the datalink pod for the GBU-15s, but it's got all those weird intakes/vents on the front, which the DLP doesn't have. I thought maybe a recce pack or some sort of gun pod, but AFAIK the Mudhen hasn't ever carried either of those. See pic below for the offending item.



Any help would be much appreciated.

[kitnut617]

It's a gun pod, the kit of the F-15 I have (which I think is a Monogram kit) has one too which you can just make out in the photo below.  Also I think you'll find a couple of them in one of the Hasegawa Weapons Sets.  IIRC the gun pod holds the 30mm Vulcan cannon

[Green Dragon]

It's a Gun Pod Pyro, think it's a GPU 5/A 30mm cannon based on the GAU-8 from the A-10 but with four barrels. Pretty sure it doesn't get used because of vibration problems. I could be wrong though!

Paul Harrison

[Weaver]

It looks like the GPU-5/A gunpod. It holds a GPU-13, which is a four-barrelled version of the A-10's GAU-8A 30mm cannon, and has been trialled on the A-4, A-7, F-4, F-5E, F-16, F-20 and F-15E. The USAF bought some as part of their scheme to have CAS-tasked F-16s to take over from A-10s, however, when used in the 1991 Gulf War it was taken out of service after one day because of vibration and poor accuracy due to mounting distortion. Thai F-5Es still use it, but it's nowout of USAF service.

Loads of info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAU-13_cannon Interesting bit at the end about the USMC proposing to use four or them on an LCAC for suppressive fire!

GD's data sheet: http://www.gdatp.com/files/PDF/A015_GPU-5A.pdf

[pyro-manic]

Ahh, thanks gents. Now to find something fun to hang it from!

[kitnut617]

My model if of this F-15E, which is actually a F-15B converted to an E and used as the prototype for the E program

[chrisonord]

I have 2 of those pods hanging from the wings of my Maritime Patrol MRB-57 Canberra that I did a while back, there are a couple in one of the Hasegawa weapons kits too, as I have a few left over. What ever aircraft you put it on Alun, make sure you make some scale gaffer tape to put on the parts of the plane that has been vibrated apart by the gun
Chris.

[pyro-manic]

Heheh, maybe some bits of welded-on scaffold pole as extra bracing. We shall see. Thanks again gents.