Magnetic payloads for models, a good or bad idea

[Spey_Phantom]

ive been looking into something, that might be a very good idea, although a bit time consuming.

ive been thinking of adding very small magnets (0.5mm or even 0.2mm thick) to aircraft models.
these would be fitted on the pylons, and propably also the suspended weapons.

this would make the weapon detachable, so you can swap it out for another weapon. on the same model.
for example, you build a Rafale, armed with MICA missiles, but then you click off the missile and exchange it with a Storm Shadow/SCALP, with a simple click.

would it be a good idea, just to mix up the ordanance once in a while, or is it not worth the effort?
i already ordered a few of these micro-magnets to experiment with 

[Rheged]

Aeons ago, in the early 1960's,  I used magnets to mount a hand-carved balsawood "Tallboy" bomb under a Lancaster bomber.   The modelling was not really of an acceptable quality but a pair of magnets embedded in the bomb and fixed in the bomb bay did seem to work well.   The unfortunate Lancaster was written off after a mishap during a bedroom-tidying event  in about 1967 or 68.  Others here have considered mounting pieces of ordnance or cargo pods this way. their experiences will be more recent and therefore more valid than mine.

[PR19_Kit]

I used magnets to hold the container under the fuselage of my Rotocrane.



The magnets were quite a bit larger than you're planning to use, but the container is pretty hefty and needs some serious magnetic force to hold it up. In my case the magnets were embedded in the top of the container, and I used self tapping screws tapped into the underside of the fuselage to act as 'targets', you can see them in the pic.

I like your idea, and may use it in future, thanks for expanding my thoughts on magnets. 

[Pellson]

For weaponry on modern aircraft, please do note that in many cases, in particular as soon as you're talking anything missile-ish, there will be a more or less weapon specific launcher between the actual weapon and the pylon, and thus, maybe you should have the magnets between the launcher and the pylon?

[Dizzyfugu]

While the basic idea would generally work, I have doubts about the (invisible) implementation on a modelk, esp. when you have rather delicate ordnance like thin AAMs or MERs. Additionally, integrating magnets or metal pieces into narrow pylons will not be easy. Flush things, like AIM-54s under an F-14, or Kit's container solution, will certainly work better.

[zenrat]

If the weapons are hollow then put a couple of the magnets inside.  If they are neodymium alloy magnets they will "work" through the plastic.

I've used magnets a number of times to secure various things.  Best results come from putting magnets on/in both parts.

[NARSES2]

Isn't one of the manufacturers, Kinetic ?, using this system for attaching some of the weaponry to things like it's 1/48 F-16 ?

Regardless of whether they are or not I think it's an idea worth experimenting with 

[Wardukw]

When I played Warhammer 40k I used magnets on all my tanks and dreadnoughts.
It was perfect for weapons mountings..as Fred mentioned I used 2 magnets for positive and negative weapons mounts.
Made changing weapons a breeze 😁

[Weaver]

You can get really TINY neodymium magnets that are still very strong, and they're ideal for this stuff. The tail rotor on one of my 1/72nd helicopters is detachable for transport by virtue of having two 1mm(ish) magnets stuck at the bottom of the hole in the boom, and at the tip of the shortened rotor shaft.

[Spey_Phantom]

The first neodymium magnets have arrived today (1mm diameter, 0.5mm high,  my GOD these things are tiny!!)
i have performed a first test by fitting 2 on a 1/144 scale blu-109 jdam, and so far, the results are promising! 

the only problem is is that i will have to make a caliber to make the fittings and to recognise which side is North and which one is south.
but so far, so good. im gonna do more extensive testing over the weekend 

[killnoizer]

I always use little magnets to mount my weapon turrets  ( in Germany we say tower / Turm )  on the models , easy to move of at the painting .   A small screw from laptop trash on the other side works well .

[NARSES2]

The first neodymium magnets have arrived today (1mm diameter, 0.5mm high,  my GOD these things are tiny!!)
i have performed a first test by fitting 2 on a 1/144 scale blu-109 jdam, and so far, the results are promising! 

the only problem is is that i will have to make a caliber to make the fittings and to recognise which side is North and which one is south.
but so far, so good. im gonna do more extensive testing over the weekend 

Good to read Nils, thanks for the update 

[killnoizer]

The first neodymium magnets have arrived today (1mm diameter, 0.5mm high,  my GOD these things are tiny!!)
i have performed a first test by fitting 2 on a 1/144 scale blu-109 jdam, and so far, the results are promising! 

the only problem is is that i will have to make a caliber to make the fittings and to recognise which side is North and which one is south.
but so far, so good. im gonna do more extensive testing over the weekend 

Good to read Nils, thanks for the update 

That's why I use just a simple piece of metal on one side , no problem with the North and South poles ...

[sandiego89]

I used magnets for my B-52 mothership carrying two F-104s and my B-24 carrying a P-80. In both cases just used the magnets on the mother ship or pylon, and grafted a bit of metal onto the fighters.  The F-104s were actually just tow nails glued on, the P-80 was more refined with a piece for thin sheet steel grafted onto the spine. Worked very well. 









 

[PR19_Kit]

I used self tapping screws to act as 'magnetic targets' on my Rotocrane, and that works a treat.