1/48 AFV Aftermarket Parts

AFV Club Models: Taiwanese Excellence in Military Modeling

AFV Club Models has established itself as one of Asia's premier manufacturers of military scale model kits and aftermarket accessories, with particular strength in modern military aviation subjects and specialized detail sets that address specific operational configurations. Based in Taiwan and operating since 1989, AFV Club combines local expertise in aerospace manufacturing with deep knowledge of Republic of China Air Force operations to produce accessories that reflect actual military practice rather than generic approximations. This 1/48 aftermarket parts collection showcases AFV Club's commitment to operational accuracy, featuring products that enable modelers to replicate specific weapons configurations and specialized equipment used by modern fighter aircraft. The Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation & AIM-9L/M Series (AR48115) provides detailed representations of the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile in its L and M variants, along with the ACMI pod used for training exercises, allowing modelers to arm their fighters with the most common Western air-to-air weapon system. The F-CK-1C/D Aero Weapon set (AR48110) addresses the specific armament options for Taiwan's Indigenous Defensive Fighter, including domestically developed weapons and imported systems integrated onto this unique aircraft. The Have Glass II anti-reflective coating canopies, available for both the A-10A Thunderbolt II (AC32003) and F/A-18D Hornet (AC32002), replicate the specialized coating applied to operational aircraft canopies to reduce radar signature and glint visibility, representing a level of detail rarely addressed in standard aircraft kits. Each product demonstrates AFV Club's philosophy of providing modelers with the tools to create accurate representations of specific aircraft configurations rather than generic armed fighters, reflecting the company's understanding that operational military aircraft carry mission-specific loadouts that vary based on role, threat environment, and available weapons inventory.

Modern Air-to-Air Weapons: The AIM-9 Sidewinder Family

The AIM-9 Sidewinder represents one of the most successful and widely deployed air-to-air missiles in aviation history, with continuous development since the 1950s producing numerous variants that equip fighter aircraft worldwide. AFV Club's weapons set focuses on the AIM-9L and AIM-9M variants, representing the third and fourth generations of Sidewinder development that introduced all-aspect engagement capability and improved countermeasures resistance respectively. The AIM-9L, introduced in 1977, revolutionized short-range air combat by enabling pilots to engage targets from any angle rather than requiring a stern chase to lock onto the target's hot exhaust, achieved through improved infrared seeker technology and more powerful control surfaces. The AIM-9M, entering service in 1983, refined the L model with reduced smoke motor for better launch concealment, improved infrared countermeasures rejection to defeat flares, and enhanced reliability for extended storage on alert aircraft. Modeling these weapons accurately requires attention to the subtle differences between variants, including seeker head configuration, control surface design, and the presence or absence of cooling bottles for the infrared seeker. AFV Club's set provides crisply molded missiles with separate fins and seeker heads, allowing proper assembly and alignment that captures the distinctive appearance of these weapons. The included ACMI (Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation) pod represents the training equipment used to record aircraft performance during practice engagements, typically carried on a wingtip station and featuring distinctive antenna arrays that modelers can use to depict training rather than combat-configured aircraft. Proper painting of Sidewinders involves overall white finish with black seeker heads and colored bands indicating warhead type and guidance section, with stenciled markings providing lot numbers and handling instructions. For additional weapons and detail sets, explore our 1/48 Hasegawa, 1/48 Tamiya, and 1/48 Reskit aftermarket collections.

Have Glass II: Stealth Technology for Legacy Aircraft

The Have Glass program represents the United States Air Force's effort to reduce the radar cross-section of existing fighter aircraft through application of radar-absorbent materials and specialized coatings, predating the development of purpose-designed stealth aircraft like the F-117 and F-22. Have Glass II specifically addressed canopy treatments, as the large transparent surfaces of fighter cockpits create significant radar returns that compromise aircraft survivability in high-threat environments. The coating consists of a thin metallic film applied to the canopy exterior that reflects radar energy while maintaining transparency for pilot visibility, creating the distinctive gold or bronze tint visible on treated canopies. The technology was applied to various aircraft types including the A-10 Thunderbolt II for operations in radar-dense environments and the F/A-18 Hornet for carrier-based strike missions requiring reduced detectability. AFV Club's replacement canopies replicate this specialized treatment through tinted clear plastic that captures the characteristic appearance of Have Glass II coated canopies, providing a simple upgrade that dramatically enhances the authenticity of models depicting operational aircraft from the 1980s onward. Installation involves carefully removing the kit-supplied clear canopy and replacing it with the AFV Club part, which typically features improved clarity and thinner material compared to standard kit parts even beyond the coating representation. The canopies can be displayed open or closed depending on modeler preference, with the coating visible from exterior views while maintaining reasonable transparency for viewing cockpit details. Painting the canopy frames in appropriate colors and adding the distinctive yellow or red ejection seat warning triangles completes the installation, creating a visually striking detail that immediately identifies the model as representing a specific operational configuration. For modelers working in other scales, our 1/35 AFV Aftermarket Parts collection offers similar quality enhancement products for armor subjects.

Building Operationally Accurate Modern Jets

Creating authentic representations of modern military aircraft requires understanding that operational fighters rarely appear in the clean, unmarked configurations often depicted in kit box art, instead carrying mission-specific weapons, external fuel tanks, electronic warfare pods, and other equipment that varies based on assigned role and threat environment. AFV Club's aftermarket accessories enable modelers to move beyond generic armed fighters to create specific aircraft configurations documented in photographs or described in operational histories. The weapons sets allow accurate replication of standard air-to-air loadouts, such as the typical F-15 configuration of four AIM-9 Sidewinders on fuselage stations and four AIM-7 Sparrows on wing pylons, or the F-16's wingtip Sidewinder mounting that became a visual signature of that aircraft. The F-CK-1 weapons set addresses a particularly specialized subject, providing the unique combination of indigenous Taiwanese weapons like the Sky Sword air-to-air missile alongside imported systems, enabling accurate representation of this aircraft that remains unavailable from most mainstream kit manufacturers. Research into specific aircraft and time periods guides weapon selection, as missile variants, pylon configurations, and carriage methods evolved throughout aircraft service lives. The Have Glass canopies similarly require research to determine which aircraft and units received the treatment, as application was not universal even within aircraft types. Combining AFV Club accessories with other aftermarket products like photo-etched cockpit details, resin wheels, and custom decals creates comprehensive upgrades that transform standard kits into competition-quality builds. Whether depicting a specific aircraft from a particular squadron and time period or creating a representative example of a type in operational service, AFV Club's aftermarket parts provide the authentic details that separate knowledgeable modeling from generic kit assembly, honoring both the aircraft and the aircrews who flew them in defense of their nations.