Skunk Models Workshop

1/48 MQ-9 Reaper model kit

Product # SW-48013

Product Article by Mike Johnson on May 6 2011

 

History 
The U.S. Air Force proposed the MQ-9 system in response to the Department of Defence request for Global War on Terrorism initiatives. It is larger and more powerful than the MQ-1 Predator and is designed to go after time-sensitive targets with persistence and precision, and destroy or disable those targets. The "M" is the Department of Defence designation for multi-role and "Q" means unmanned aircraft system. The "9" indicates it is the ninth in the series of remotely piloted aircraft systems. 

The MQ-9 is currently operated by the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron and the 42nd Attack Squadron, both at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., and the 29th Attack Squadron at Holloman AFB, N.M. It is also used by the US Border Protection Service for extended surveillance missions.

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General Characteristics 
Wingspan: 66 feet (20.1 meters)
Length: 36 feet (11 meters) 
Height: 12.5 feet (3.8 meters) 
Weight: 4,900 pounds (2,223 kilograms) empty 
Maximum takeoff weight: 10,500 pounds (4,760 kilograms) 
Fuel Capacity: 4,000 pounds (602 gallons)
Payload: 3,750 pounds (1,701 kilograms) 
Speed: Cruise speed around 230 miles per hour (200 knots)
Range: 1,150 miles (1,000 nautical miles)
Ceiling: Up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) 
Armament: Combination of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, GBU-12 Paveway II and GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions 
Crew (remote): Two (pilot and sensor operator) 

The Kit
Skunkworks new quarter scale MQ-9 Reaper comes in a slimline box. For your hard earned money, you get four light grey trees and one in clear. All the parts trees are individually bagged. The parts are mostly free of flash with recessed panel lines being slightly soft in nature. The single clear tree contains the lens for the Reaper’s prominent FLIR turret and wingtip navigation lights. 

Two small decal sheets contain markings for two subjects offered out of the box, these being a Creech AFB and US Customs subjects. The second sheet contains markings for the kits included external Hellfire and Paveway ordinance.

The supplied A5 instruction sheet really needs to be bigger, with paint call-out shades being hard to tell the difference between. References will be very useful. I am not even sure if the overall compass grey Creech subject is correct as most airframes I have seen are two toned grey. Again, research is the key here.

Dimensionally, the Reaper scales out quite well. Dry fit assembly reveals the Reaper fuselage and engine assembly fits well, so hopefully, this will be the same for the rest of the kit assembly. However it is apparent that care will need to be taken when attaching the wings assembly to the fuselage halves. The two wings are locked together inside the fuselage by a peg and hole attachment which can, if due care is not taken lead to a anhedral alignment of the wings.

Overall this is a great kit from Skunkworks and one that is a must buy for enthusiasts of UAV’s It will look great next to the Bronco Predator.

Mike Johnson

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Photos and text © by Mike Johnson