Introduction:

Boomerang pinpoints the shooter’s location of incoming small arms fire. Boomerang uses passive acoustic detection and computer-based signal processing to locate a shooter in less than a second. Whether vehicle mounted or in a fixed position, Boomerang detects small arms fire travelling toward it for bullets passing within approximately 30 meters of the mast-mounted compact array of microphones, even when shooters are firing from maximum effective weapons ranges.

Adapted from Raytheon website: http://www.raytheon.com/

Review:

Broken BOOMERANG III as SOF crews like to use (LRE-35237) is identical in content to set LRE-35236 BOOMERANG III Anti-Sniper/Sniper Detection/Gunfire Detection Systems back mount version for various MRAPs and M-ATV. Mario Matijasic (Maki) covered the basic set in a review posted here. Since the only difference between the two sets is the packaging, I have only included photographs of the completed mast, sensor and control box.

The set comes packaged, like all small sized items that Live Resin makes, in a small zipper bag, stapled in a folded piece of white card stock. The packaging has black and white photos of renderings of the assembled set. The control box is not shown in the renderings, but is included in the set in case you want to use it in the cabin of your vehicle. You will have to use your own references for its location as it varies from vehicle to vehicle.

The set comes with fourteen pieces attached to two pour plugs in Live Resin’s medium gray resin. Attachment points for most of the pieces are small and are easy to remove. The mount for the mast has three attachment points that are not as easy to remove all traces of. The resin is as strong as styrene and is easy to work. As with styrene, the smallest pieces must be handled with care as they may break during removal from their pour plugs and during assembly. The detail on the castings is very sharp. Of the fourteen pieces, only ten are required to be used during assembly. There are seven of the main microphones included which will leave you with a few spares. This is a good thing as the microphones are fragile.

Detail:

The Boomerang III system is very versatile and can be used on just about any vehicle and can also be used in fixed locations such as on buildings around the perimeter of forward operating bases. The mast in this set can be mounted on the sides or rear of a vehicle and has been photographed on many MRAPs such as the M-ATV and the MaxxPro. The mast has a double conical head that has six foam covered microphones, with three arrayed above and three arrayed below. Some Boomerang systems can be seen mounted on vehicles with a ring mounted around the lower microphone array that protects the microphones from damage. The microphones are sometimes seen broken or missing. This set depicts three components of the Boomerang III system; the control box, the mast and the mast mounted sensor array.

The detail on the pieces is fantastic. The control box has the finest detail I have ever seen on any piece of any model. The cooling fins on the control box are thinner than a piece of paper. I have no idea how detail can be cast this thin. The mount and the mast are simple but have all of the necessary detail. The mast head and sensors are where this set shines. The mast head has fasteners at the base of each sensor that I had to use my optivsor to see. There is also a reasonable representation of the wires protruding from the broken sensor bases.

Assembly:

Like most Live Resin sets, there are no instructions included. Studying the photos on the packaging should allow the average modeler to assemble the set. Fit of the parts is very good. The mast and mast base should go together first. I added the base for the mast mounted sensor next, fixing the sensor base to this before adding any of the microphones. The microphones are very fragile. The pins at their bases are a tiny bit larger than the holes in the sensor base. I used a drill bit to enlarge all six holes before gluing any of the microphones to the base. Try to dry fit the microphones first. All three of the bottom microphones are meant to be undamaged. One microphone on the top is undamaged, two are missing, and one is depicted as broken but present. That’s it! It is a very simple set, but the microphones are a bit of a challenge to assemble.

Conclusion:

This set is another solid offering from Live Resin. It is a great subject that can be used in a variety of settings on a variety of vehicles. While the assembly of the microphones can be challenging and fragile once completed, the Boomerang III will add that extra touch to any vehicle you choose to mount it on. I highly recommend it.