3D-Printed Aircraft Missiles in 1/48th scale from FAB Scale

The AMRAAM, HARM & Sidewinders are just three of the items we will review today…

Review: 3D-Printed Aircraft Missiles

From FAB Scale
1/48th scale
Reviewed: Mar 2024
are another small after-market player based in China that focuses on 3D printed weapons and detail parts in 1/48.

FAB ScaleIn this review I’ll look at more details about three of their modern aircraft The AMRAAM, HARM & Sidewinders are just three we will review today…

Review: 3D-Printed Aircraft Missiles
From FAB Scale
1/48th scale
Reviewed: Mar 2024

are another small after-market player based in China, focusing on 3D printed weapons and detail parts in 1/48.

In this review I’ll look in more detail at three of their modern aircraft weapons sets:

FA48054 – AIM-120C AMRAAM

FA48056 – AIM-9M/L Sidewinder

FA48073 – AGM-88 HARM

AIM-120C AMRAAM

First up is set FA48054 containing four (4) AIM-120C AMRAAM A-A missiles in 1:48. The fins are already on each missile. The preparation of the paint is made easy as you only need to remove fine supports. No gluing, or alignment is required. Modern weapons are covered in a variety of warning and safety bands, as well as stencils. FAB Scale provides a complete set of markings, including a decal sheet with paint color options and an A4-sized sheet of decal layout. The missile uses an active transmit/receive guidance system instead of semiactive receive only radar guidance. NATO pilots launch AMRAAM missiles using the code “Fox Three”.

More that 14,000 AMRAAM missiles have been manufactured for the United States Air Force and Navy as well as 33 other international customers. AMRAAM was used to achieve 16 air-to -air kills during conflicts in Iraq, Bosnia Kosovo, India and Syria. Close-up pictures of missile bodies show very clean prints with carefully placed supports. This allows for easy removal while minimising the risk of damaging the part. All fins on the AMRAAM have a scale-like thickness, and surface details are also kept to a minimum. The decals have excellent registration and clarity even under magnification. Even under magnification the registration and clarity of the decals holds up very well.

You can see how fine the smaller stencils are in the photo below.

The A4 instruction sheet includes paint callouts are for Gunze Mr Color range or FS (Federal Standard) colors where appropriate.

AIM-9M/L Sidewinder

1/48th scale

Set No:

FA48056Set FA48056 contains four (4) AIM-9M/L Sidewinders A-A missiles in 1:48. All parts of this set are packaged in a durable cardboard box with bubble wrap to ensure they remain protected during transport and storage. Having a better background rejection and infrared countermeasures discrimination (WGU-4/B), and a low-smoke motor to reduce the visual signature of the weapon, and improved guidance control section with counter-countermeasures and improved maintainability and producibility. AIM-9M is equipped with an annular fragmentation blast warhead. The modifications improve the ability of the missile to lock on and locate a target, and reduce its chances of detection. AIM-9M is the standard AAM for dogfights in the RAAF, and it’s carried on the F/A-18 or F-111. The main body has been printed in vertical orientation, and supports are needed to support the horizontal fins. It was easy to remove supports using sharp cutters, and then to sand them down to make it look clean. The missile can be mounted on any aircraft, so it is up to modellers to modify the attachments to fit the launcher or pylon they use.

The various components of the AIM-9 are nicely represented from the IR seeker head to the tail rollerons (providing gyroscopic stabilization).

Some care is needed to remove the main (heaviest) supports from the bottom fins. To soften the resin, I soak it in hot water and then use a knife to cut through the supports. This reduces the chance of damaging the resin. FAB Scale has also provided a complete set of cover for the seeker, as they are seen most often when an aircraft is in a parked position. The decals are supplied on a single sheet and include all of the necessary markings for four missiles. Even under magnification the registration and clarity of the decals holds up very well.

The full color A4 instruction sheet includes paint callouts and stencil marking layouts.

AGM-88 HARM Missile

From Fab Scale

1/48th scale

Set No:FA48073

Set FA48073 contains two (2) AGM-88 HARM missiles in 1:48. The HARM missile is more complicated and larger than the standard HARM. Therefore, some assembly will be required. FAB Scale has thoughtfully provided two options for the LAU-118 launch adapter. Texas Instruments originally designed it as a successor to the AGM-45shrike and AGM-78 Standard Arm system. Raytheon Corporation took over production after it acquired the Texas Instruments defense business. FAB Scale has taken time to enhance the details of these missiles’ surfaces as this is a more complicated print. The parts have been printed well, cleaned up and dried to produce excellent parts. FAB Scale is not among those operators who are careless with their printing. These need to be attached to the body of the missile (probably after painting).

Two types of launch adapters (LAU) are included by FAB Scale. The LAU-118(V)2/A adapter was used for the longer pylon (USAF), while the shorter Navy pylons required the LAU-118(V)1/A.

The longer pylon (USAF) used the LAU-118(V)2/A whilst the shorter Navy pylons required the LAU-118(V)1/A adapter.

The single decal sheet includes all the markings needed for the two missiles.

The full color A4 instruction sheet includes paint callouts and stencil marking layouts.

CONCLUSION – FAB Scale 1:48 3D Printed Aircraft Weapons

Having seen a steady stream of exhaust nozzles from most of the new 3D printed cottage manufacturers, its refreshing to see some love for new aircraft weapons.

FAB Scale will be new to most of you (as it was to me) but I’m happy to say their products do not disappoint. I’m most impressed with the AIM-9s and AIM120s that are made from a single piece. Trying to align multi-part resin bodies and photo-etch fins are a thing of the past in this new 3D world.

These parts (plus many more in the FAB Scale range) can be found at the usual online shops, such as