Two more question, before I buy Trumpeters HMARS kit.
1. Whats the designation of the loop antenna used on HIMARS
and MLRS.
2. What does the launch containers for MGM-140 ATACMS missiles
look like? I found only photos of the 6-tube launchers.
ATACMS might be a job for aftermarket, gives some extra load
for LHS flatracks.

I believe that externally at least, the MGM 140 container looks similar to the 6-pack one :



If you look closely to the picture below, you'll notice splinters of the end cap that resembles a 6-pack pod end (but it's "flatter" )...



So.....If I'm right, the picture below shows a genuine MGM 140 container :



H.P.

About twenty years ago I built several ATACMS I and ATACMS II containers for Lockheed Martin Missile Division. (the missile were cool, with cutaways)
As I recall, the containers were the same, with dummy end caps to make them look like the normal 6 pack. I know I posted photos on here once, but with Photobucket's shenanigans I'm sure they're long gone. I do have to scan some images soon, so if I run across the prints I'll post them here.

Very interesting. So I have to fill and sand the endcaps and voila, I have an ATACMS container.

Hot Wheel ?



Second guess :

Harris RF-3134 high-frequency (HF) full-loop antenna :



Some info here

I guess this shows a HIMARS launcher fitted with a MGM 140 pod :



H.P.

Would it possibly be easier to make a rectangular sheet of styrene with 6 discs glued to it?
The end-caps of the 6-pack extend further outside the rectangular plate so filling only the fronts of the six end-caps only fixes half of the difference, filling the space between the end-caps will be more difficult.

The top and bottom of the containers may also be differen,
3 tubes side by side vs something larger trying to look like 3 tubes.
Compare the appearance of the ends of the containers:



and regular MLRS






/ Robin

IMHO....Yes

H.P.

No you don't. The U.S. Army is going "Long Range Precision Fires" (LRPF) due to microchip miniaturization so rockets are shrinking for longer range.

Now two LRPF missiles can fit in a six-rocket pod that used to house one ATACMS.

You want to make this.

https://www.armyrecognition.com/july_2017_global_defense_security_news_industry/lockheed_martin_contracts_long_range_precision_fire_80707171.html

https://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/deepstrike_long_range_precision_fires

One more question. Do all the M270 MLRS now have the A/C unit and Harris RF-3134?

I don't see your point...We are talking about the way to represent a MGM 140 pod, not about the next missile generation

H.P.

Yes, all have been updated by now to M270A1s with A/C, Aux Gen, M240 MG mount, and Harris antenna. The Dragon M270A1 kit has all of these features minus the antenna. Unfortunately, the much better Trumpeter kit has none of these features. I have both and plan on adding the updated features to the Trumpeter kit and building the Dragon kit as an earlier M270A1 from my unit in Iraq (1-39 FA(MLRS), 3 ID) in'03.



Also, as noted above, an operational ATACMS LPC (Launch Pod Container) looks pretty much the same as an M26 Rocket LPC. It is designed that way so the enemy can't tell the difference between the two and target ATACMS.