Hello - Am in the process of building the two MRLS rocket pods that come in the Dragon M270 kit. I just started placing the decals and noticed something I think is odd.

Should the two pods have decals on the top and sides that say "INERT"?

Perhaps the decal maker researched a practice (training) rocket pod? One that actually was INERT but wouldn't that one have been painted blue?

I think I need to consult someone who has actually had real first hand experience with the MRLS pods but I am open to any advice at this time.

Without further info I intend to leave the "INERT" designations off these pods.



Thanks for any and all assistance! Mike

Well apparently some say "INERT" and some do not. Again I have to assume the pods marked inert are dead weight training rounds.

Same thing on HIMARS ?

Inert would be non live pods.

If they were live pods, they'd have an orange explosive diamond on them.

I've been puzzled by the same "INERT" markings visible on upcoming Trumpeter's THAAD. But later I realised that in fact it is true for live missilein this case, as the rocket head contains no explosives and rely on its kinetic energy to destroy a target.

Dustin is correct. The pods with "inert" on them are practice pods that contain no rockets. They have a computer in them and are known as brain pods since they trick the M270s fire control computer into thinking they are actual pods; allowing it to go through the whole firing sequence to train the crew.

To make them live M26 rocket pods, leave the "inert" markings off.

The same is true for the THAAD. They are empty as well if marked "inert" since the explosives part includes the missiles motor.

Thanks guys - question answered.

The LP/Cs with large INERT markings on them are expended M26 or M28 pods used for handling training or displays and demonstrations. Sometimes tube caps are recovered and reattached. Certainly any with open tubes and inert markings are fired pods kept for training. The M27 trainer pods have ballast in some tubes and caps on all of them.

Look at the other markings in the kit. They should have either M26, M27, or M28 markings. If M26, the only time they would be marked with the big inert label is after they have been fired. They would have the upper left corner of the frame painted yellow. This would indicate an HE loading, but because it isn't there they use the large inert markings.

The M27 trainer will have M27 markings with a bronze paint swatch on the corner and markings with 1-inch high INERT TRAINING ROCKET POD markings, so no large inert label.

The M28 practice pod has M28 markings, and given that it has a live rocket motor with a live smoke warhead, it would NOT be an inert munition. It would have a blue paint patch on the corner, and could have the large INERT label after firing. That looks like what is in this photo:



KL

I think you are saying it is OK to use the yellow tab with the live M26 rocket pods but I am still confused, sorry.

Based on the decals in the kit these are the M26 rocket pods. At this point I DID NOT include the "INERT" markings on the pods but I did add the yellow corner tab markings. Is the use of the yellow tab marking correct in this live configuration?

M26 = yellow
M27 = bronze
M28 = blue

KL

Color indicates weapon type but does it also indicate that the weapon is active/live?

No. Obviously the color of the shipping container which is what these are does not automatically change once the weapon is removed from it. The INERT marking indicates that the container does not contain any energetic materials.

KL

Got it! So here is how mine turned out:

Are these rocket pods reusable/reloadable back at the factory or are they strictly a one use item?

I see a fair number of photos of vehicles carrying spent pods. I might have to open a couple of these up and use the "INERT" decals after all!

Yes, they are sent back to the factory for reloading. The empties are recovered and sent back through the supply system.

I am a recycle nut so somehow I am glad to hear that! Thanks Gino.