MLRS Rocket Pods Available Separately?

#521
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, August 13, 2019 - 04:33 PM UTC

#521
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, August 13, 2019 - 04:36 PM UTC
I recently bought a complete (but already started) MLRS tracked launcher just to get the two rocket pods.
That netted me two pods for my CROPS load - the second two seen below are, for the moment, only photoshop.



Bayern, Germany
Joined: October 14, 2008
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Posted: Tuesday, August 13, 2019 - 05:30 PM UTC
Try Trumpeter Spare Parts service. The price for a sprue is around 4 USD plus 15 USD for shipping. Service is very fast, but maybe they choose the slow boat shipping option. Still waiting for my sprues to arrive.
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Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
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Posted: Tuesday, August 13, 2019 - 07:17 PM UTC
Pawel "Vodnik" Krupowicz
Professional Certified Rivet Counter.

#521
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, August 13, 2019 - 11:33 PM UTC
Hermann - thank you for that contribution. Yes, of course that is possibly an obvious solution however the current MLRS kit has now been built and the rest of the vehicle sold on to someone else so it will require my finding/borrowing another kit to acquire the necessary sprue and decal ID numbers. However I admit I had not thought of going that route.
Pawel - Thank you for that brilliant find. I will look into the availability of this set. I hind sight I think Frenchy might have told me of this set quite a while ago and I did not act on it at the time.
I do think my original premise still holds in that Trumpeter (or others) really should make these pods available separately, simply for use as loads (or as spares positioned around a dio) to accompany the many logistical vehicles they now offer.
Rhone, France
Joined: December 02, 2002
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 12:13 AM UTC
You may be right Mike

One thing I'm sure of is that I've told you about Voyager Models set PE35007 :
http://www.aussiemodeller.com.au/pages/Reviews/Conversions/Voyager_PE35007MLRS.htmlOf course you would have to scratchbuild the tubes...
H.P.
"Find the Bastards, then Pile On"
Col. George W.Patton III 's standing order for the troopers of the 11th Armoured Cavalry Regiment
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 12:30 AM UTC
I scratched the 4 empty pods in the rear of the HEMTT for the reloading dio below. I copied the Dragon pods using sheet/strip styrene and tubing. It wasn't that hard, just took some time.

Sorry for the crappy pic. It was taken a long time ago with a cheap digital camera.
Unfortunately, the dio did not survive the last move. I still have the launcher and HMMWV, but the HEMTT and base did not make it.
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GulfWarrior
Campaigns AdministratorTexas, United States
Joined: January 05, 2010
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 12:56 AM UTC
Gino, I remember that dio from when you first posted it! In fact I’ve got the MLRS and the HEMTT with the six-packs and one day I’m gonna shamelessly copy it! Though I’m sure my work won’t be nearly as good as that of the Master!
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Ohio, United States
Joined: September 14, 2010
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 01:16 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hermann - thank you for that contribution. Yes, of course that is possibly an obvious solution however the current MLRS kit has now been built and the rest of the vehicle sold on to someone else so it will require my finding/borrowing another kit to acquire the necessary sprue and decal ID numbers. However I admit I had not thought of going that route.
You can go to this website and get the sprue information from the posted instructions then try ordering them.
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10434319 This is the picture of the instructions for the pods
https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10434319/70/17 Bayern, Germany
Joined: October 14, 2008
KitMaker: 4,099 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 01:39 AM UTC
Eduand has end caps for MLRS pods.
https://www.eduard.com/Eduard/MLRS-launch-top-cover-1-35.html?listtype=search&searchparam=MLRS All you have to find is a rod or tube of the right diameter.

P.S. I think building the framework from scratch is not that difficult.
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What does a rivet counter count on a cast or welded tank hull?
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 01:44 AM UTC
You actually want the M26 LPC (Launch Pod Container) from the US M270/A1 Trumpeter kit (01049).


On the Trumpeter German MARS version (01046), the launch pod containers are different. I guess they area European design.


Quoted Text
Gino, I remember that dio from when you first posted it! In fact I’ve got the MLRS and the HEMTT with the six-packs and one day I’m gonna shamelessly copy it! Though I’m sure my work won’t be nearly as good as that of the Master!
Thanks Richard. I bet yours will look just as good, if not better.
Field Artillery --- The KING of BATTLE!!!
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell
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#521
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 01:51 AM UTC
The structure of the pods is certainly build-able though I would rather not have to but it is the extensive decal set required the poses the greatest challenge.
Again my primary purpose for starting this thread was to raise awareness that these items might be worth offering as a separate item.
Bayern, Germany
Joined: October 14, 2008
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 01:57 AM UTC
Quoted Text
On the Trumpeter German MARS version (01046), the launch pod containers are different. I guess they area European design
Bundeswehr has special designed pods to fit the leftover 110 mm rockets from LARS 1 and 2 MRL. These pod can be reloaded and are used for firing on ranges where a 227mm rockets would be to big.
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What does a rivet counter count on a cast or welded tank hull?
Bayern, Germany
Joined: October 14, 2008
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 01:59 AM UTC
Quoted Text
The structure of the pods is certainly build-able though I would rather not have to but it is the extensive decal set required the poses the greatest challenge.
Again my primary purpose for starting this thread was to raise awareness that these items might be worth offering as a separate item.
Sorry to say that, but from my experience but major modelling companies DON´T listen to the requests and complaints of us modellers.
CAD Images mean nothing.
What does a rivet counter count on a cast or welded tank hull?
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 02:03 AM UTC
Quoted Text
The structure of the pods is certainly build-able though I would rather not have to but it is the extensive decal set required the poses the greatest challenge.
You may be able to order a couple of the decal sheets from the US version from Trumpeter.
Quoted Text
Bundeswehr has special designed pods to fit the leftover 110 mm rockets from LARS 1 and 2 MRL. These pod can be reloaded and are used for firing on ranges where a 227mm rockets would be to big.
That is interesting. Good use of sub-caliber munitions. For ranges and practice, the US uses the M28A1 RRPR (Reduced Range Practice Rocket - pronounced ripper). They have smoke marking charges and a range of only 9k. The LPC looks the same though.
Field Artillery --- The KING of BATTLE!!!
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell
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Bayern, Germany
Joined: October 14, 2008
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 02:22 AM UTC
CAD Images mean nothing.
What does a rivet counter count on a cast or welded tank hull?
Virginia, United States
Joined: April 03, 2006
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 05:00 AM UTC
This thread has piqued my interest into trying to scratchbuild some pods...
Florida, United States
Joined: November 24, 2012
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 08:02 AM UTC
Hi;
I also scratch built my pods using Evergreen plastic tubing & Strips; The hard part was also making the Missiles themselves, I made these way back when DML first came out with there first kit. This is Good Stuff; Keep it Going !
CHEERS; MIKE.
Bayern, Germany
Joined: October 14, 2008
KitMaker: 4,099 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 12:20 PM UTC
@ Michael K.
Why not take the venture and build a 20ft. ISO container with 4 side doors?
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/2972340/biggest-ammo-shipment-20-years-arrives-germany CAD Images mean nothing.
What does a rivet counter count on a cast or welded tank hull?
Bayern, Germany
Joined: October 14, 2008
KitMaker: 4,099 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 - 04:39 PM UTC
Information from Trumpeter spare parts service:
Price for two MLRS pods incl. decals
4x Sprue H 8 USD
2x Sprue K 6 USD
1x decal sheet 1 USD
Shipping fee China to Germany 11 USD
Total 26 USD
Sounds like a good deal to me.

CAD Images mean nothing.
What does a rivet counter count on a cast or welded tank hull?