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Equip your 1/72 scale fighter and attack aircraft with precision-crafted rocket pods and gun pods from MPM Hobbies. This specialized collection features authentic replicas of unguided rocket systems and gun pods including the iconic British RP-3 3-inch rocket projectile for WWII ground attack, the versatile LAU-10/A rocket launcher carrying 5-inch Zuni rockets, and the powerful SUU-11/A minigun pod, manufactured with crisp molding, accurate dimensions, and authentic surface details for realistic ground attack loadouts.
MPM Hobbies specializes in creating highly detailed 3D printed resin aircraft ordnance that brings authenticity and realism to scale model aircraft builds. This specialized collection focuses on rocket pods, gun pods, and unguided rockets that provided close air support and ground attack capabilities throughout aviation history. Each piece is manufactured using advanced 3D printing technology to ensure crisp detail, accurate dimensions, and authentic surface features including rocket tubes, gun barrels, fins, and mounting hardware that capture the distinctive characteristics of these area-effect weapons.
The British RP-3 3-inch rocket projectile represents one of WWII's most effective air-to-ground weapons, providing fighter-bombers with devastating firepower against tanks, ships, and ground targets. This iconic weapon features distinctive 3-inch diameter rocket body, solid propellant motor, various warhead options including 60-pound semi-armor-piercing and 25-pound solid shot, stabilizing fins, and authentic RAF details. The RP-3's development gave RAF Typhoons, Tempests, and other fighter-bombers the ability to engage armored vehicles effectively, earning the nickname "flying can opener" for their effectiveness against German tanks.
The rocket's operation involved firing salvos of multiple rockets at ground targets, with the sheer volume of fire compensating for individual rocket inaccuracy. A Typhoon carrying eight RP-3 rockets could deliver firepower equivalent to a naval destroyer's broadside, making these aircraft feared by German armor crews. The rockets proved particularly effective during the Normandy campaign and subsequent operations, where rocket-armed Typhoons devastated German armored columns attempting to counterattack Allied forces.
The RP-3's versatility extended beyond anti-tank operations, with different warhead types allowing attacks on ships, submarines, buildings, and other targets. Coastal Command aircraft used RP-3s against U-boats and surface vessels, while tactical aircraft employed them against bridges, rail yards, and fortifications. The rocket's presence on WWII British aircraft models adds historical authenticity and tells the story of this weapon's significant contribution to Allied victory.
The LAU-10/A rocket launcher represents the standard American rocket pod for carrying 5-inch Zuni unguided rockets, providing strike aircraft with area-effect firepower for close air support and interdiction missions. This versatile weapon system features cylindrical pod body housing four Zuni rockets, individual launch tubes with proper spacing, mounting lugs for aircraft pylons, distinctive nose cone, tail fairing, and authentic surface details. The LAU-10's widespread use on F-4 Phantoms, A-4 Skyhawks, A-7 Corsairs, and numerous other aircraft made it ubiquitous in Vietnam and subsequent conflicts.
The Zuni rocket's 5-inch diameter and substantial warhead made it effective against a wide range of targets including bunkers, buildings, vehicles, and troop concentrations. The rocket's unguided nature required pilots to aim the entire aircraft at the target, firing salvos to ensure hits. Despite this limitation, the Zuni's heavy warhead and area effect made it valuable for suppressing enemy positions, destroying structures, and supporting ground forces in contact with the enemy.
The LAU-10's continued service well beyond Vietnam, equipping aircraft through Operation Desert Storm and into the 21st century, demonstrates the enduring utility of unguided rockets for certain missions. The pod's distinctive shape and substantial size make it visually impressive on aircraft models, immediately identifying them as configured for close air support or ground attack missions. Multiple LAU-10 pods on an aircraft model create an imposing appearance that reflects the heavy firepower these weapons provided.
The SUU-11/A minigun pod provided aircraft with devastating close-range firepower through a podded 7.62mm GAU-2/A Gatling gun. This powerful weapon system features streamlined pod body, six-barrel rotating gun assembly, ammunition drum, distinctive muzzle configuration, mounting hardware, and authentic surface details. The SUU-11's 3,000 rounds-per-minute rate of fire made it devastatingly effective for strafing runs, convoy escort, and suppressing ground fire, with the dense stream of bullets creating a "beaten zone" that few targets could survive.
The minigun pod saw extensive service in Vietnam where F-4 Phantoms, A-37 Dragonflies, and other aircraft used it for close air support, armed reconnaissance, and base defense. The weapon's high rate of fire allowed pilots to saturate target areas during brief firing passes, maximizing effectiveness while minimizing exposure to ground fire. The distinctive sound of the minigun's firing became iconic, with its buzz-saw roar striking fear into enemy forces.
The SUU-11's external pod configuration allowed it to be carried by aircraft lacking internal guns, providing them with strafing capability for missions requiring direct fire support. The pod's presence on aircraft models tells the story of close air support operations where precision wasn't as important as volume of fire, and where the psychological impact of the minigun's distinctive sound and visible tracer stream proved as valuable as its physical effects.
The SPPU-22 gun pod represents Soviet/Russian gun pod technology, featuring twin-barrel 23mm GSh-23L cannon in a streamlined pod. This powerful weapon system features distinctive twin-barrel configuration, substantial ammunition capacity, mounting hardware for various aircraft, characteristic muzzle brake, and authentic Soviet/Russian Air Force details. The SPPU-22's heavy 23mm rounds provided greater destructive effect than smaller caliber weapons, making it effective against armored vehicles, fortifications, and aircraft.
The gun pod's service with Su-17, Su-25, MiG-21, and other Soviet/Russian aircraft provided them with enhanced ground attack capability. The 23mm cannon's combination of high rate of fire and substantial projectile weight made it particularly effective for strafing runs against ground targets, with each round capable of penetrating light armor and causing significant damage to structures and vehicles. The pod's presence on Soviet/Russian aircraft models adds authenticity and represents the different approach to gun pod design compared to Western systems.
Despite the proliferation of precision-guided munitions, unguided rockets and gun pods retain important roles in modern conflicts. Their simplicity, reliability, and low cost make them valuable for missions where precision isn't critical, such as suppressing enemy positions, destroying area targets, or providing psychological impact through volume of fire. The lack of sophisticated guidance systems makes these weapons immune to electronic countermeasures and allows their use in environments where GPS jamming or other interference might degrade precision weapons.
The visual and psychological impact of rocket and gun attacks often exceeds their physical effects, with the sight and sound of multiple rockets launching or a minigun firing creating powerful impressions on both friendly and enemy forces. This psychological dimension made these weapons valuable for morale purposes, reassuring friendly troops of air support while demoralizing enemy forces facing overwhelming firepower.
MPM Hobbies manufactures these rocket pod and gun pod replicas using advanced 3D printing technology with UV-cured resin, ensuring crisp molding with fine surface details, accurate dimensions matching historical specifications, authentic features including rocket tubes, gun barrels, fins, and mounting hardware, minimal cleanup required with well-designed support structures, and consistent quality across all products. Each pod is carefully researched using historical documentation, technical manuals, and photographic references to ensure maximum accuracy.
These precision rocket pod and gun pod replicas transform aircraft models from static displays into realistic representations of ground attack machines configured for close air support missions. Proper weapons loadouts add authenticity and visual interest, telling the story of each aircraft's mission and the evolution of air-to-ground warfare. Whether building a WWII Hawker Typhoon armed with RP-3 rockets for tank-busting missions over Normandy, a Vietnam-era F-4 Phantom carrying LAU-10 rocket pods and SUU-11 minigun pods for close air support, or a Soviet Su-25 equipped with SPPU-22 gun pods for ground attack, these detailed pods complete the picture.
These 1/72 scale rocket pods and gun pods are designed to complement aircraft kits from leading manufacturers. Pair them with models from our 1/72 Trumpeter Jet Aircraft collection, or combine them with missiles from our 1/72 MPM Missiles collection for mixed loadouts. For modelers working in larger scales, explore our 1/48 Rocket Pods collection offering similar weapons systems in increased detail.
Each rocket pod and gun pod represents more than just an accessory; it tells the story of close air support evolution, the missions flown, and the critical role these weapons played in supporting ground forces. From WWII rocket-armed fighter-bombers attacking German armor to Vietnam-era aircraft providing fire support for troops in contact and modern attack aircraft suppressing enemy positions, these weapons shaped ground attack tactics and saved countless lives by providing responsive firepower when and where it was needed most. By adding authentic rocket pods and gun pods to your aircraft models, you create more than a display piece—you build a historical narrative that honors the close air support mission and the aircrews who flew these dangerous low-altitude attacks.
