Hello all,

I am looking for a good after market TOW launcher. I have purchased the Dragon figure kit that comes with one. I have one from Italeri and academy also as well as a PE kit for the it. So far out of all of them the academy one appears to be the best, but I am hoping there is a very nicely detailed resin TOW laucher out there. Anybody know if this is the case. The ones I have just arn't as sharp as I would like. Any help would be great.

The AFV Club TOW launcher that comes with the Wiesel is nice. Word on the street is that the TOW will be reissued separately along with Skybow's 105mm recoilless rifle.

I honestly do not know if there is a resin TOW available.

I concure with Sabot, the wiesel TOW from AFV CLub is very nice. And I have not seena Resin TOW launcher either.

Thanks guys, I will keep my eyes open for an AFV version.

I don't know of a resin launcher in 1/35th, but Aber makes a set
VLS at www.modelmecca.com
has them listed

TOW & Dragon Detail Set
Item Number: AC 35009
Manufacturer: Aber Detail Sets
Location: American
Category: Armor
Type: Foto
Scale: 1/35
Price: $9.99

If it's anything like the rest of the Aber stuff I've seen it's downright psychotic..

Mike

Drew,
What time frame are you looking for in the TOW? Like the other guys, I agree with them on the AFV TOW. It is the best.
Now, why I was asking. The MGS(Misille Guiodence Set) in the Dragon, and AFV kits is a later type MGS. I came in the service in 89' and I dont remember working on that stlye MGS. The earlier MGS has a LED read out with a brightness knobe on the face panel and the test swith, along with 2 cable connectors.
I beleave the Academy kit has the current MGS in it.
Also, dont go by the box art on the Dragon kit for the cabling, IT IS WRONG! There are a total of 3 cables that are on the system if you are going to show it grounded. One cable, the umbilicle, is the main cable from under the TU(Traversing Unit) to the MGS. There is another cable small cable that wraps around the left side of the TU that is attached to the TU and connects to the top of the AN/TAS4-C Night Sight on the left side. There is also a small cable that connects to the small box located next to the eye piece on the Night Sight that is connected to the battery source for it. Yes. 2 batteries, one mounted inside the MGS and one seperate bottery box for the Night Sight. Its a hole different story if it is mounted in a vehicle.
Sorry to drag this on for so long. The reason why I justed butted in is because the TOW is what I work on. I dont want to sound like a KNOW IT ALL.

As Major MLD stated the ABER PE set for the TOW and Dragon is an excellent PE set to use for the TOW II or later. I've used it when I built my M966 HMMWV TOW Weapon Carrier. And there is an excellent PE detail set for the TOW II Hummer.

I agree with LTC Epi on his explaination of the TOW cables. I became a 11H (TOW) back in 1978 with the basic TOW. Here it had only one cable going from the bottom of the traversing unit to the MGS. The next version included the orignal AN/TAS-4, here there was two cables. The one from the TU to the MGS and from the AN/TAS-4 compressor to a battery box (power source. The AN/TAS-4C had three cables one for the TU to MGS; MGS to the AN/TAS-4C and one for to power the AN/TAS-4C.

Here's a link to my webpage with photos of my M966 http://train.missouri.org/~emgeer/m996.htm

Azimut has a resin TOW Launcher in their XM233E1 M113 Conversion. It includes only the TOW launcher and extra TOW,s. There is no control unit or tripod (ground) mount with the kit. The Azimut kit number is #35110. I think it may still be available.

As far as the kit goes; it is not an accurate representation of the M113 mounted TOW (Hobby Fan produces a much better conversion), but the resin TOW is very nice.

Dave

What I am thinking of doing is just a stadic display of the tow launcher. Thanks so much for the cable information as well as the rest of it. I have got that aber PE kit and was thinking of using it on the TOW launcher that comes with the academy hummer. Between the 2 it should be good enough for my skill level. Don't ever worry about giving to much infomation if you answering one of my posts, I am grateful for every word and I am always looking for more info. I have a couple projects I want to finish before I dive into another but I will keep this page in mind when it is time to do it.

You may also want to look into the 1/16 or 200mm (whatever) Verlinden TOW launcher...A bit more model for just a static display. HOWEVER, I do not know if it has any accuracy or fit problems.