Doing the Tamiya 1/48 F16 Aggressor in Indiana ANG livery... Wanted to put the Sidewinders on. Is there a visual difference between the practice or dummy Aim9 and a live one? At least a difference noted at 1/48 scale?

An inert AIM 9 would have a blue rocket motor and warhead section.

Inert rocket motor and warhead can also be signified by blue bands. I believe that the USN prefers painting the entire body blue, while the USAF prefers blue bands. I never saw a CATM-9 with a blue body in 12 years as a 462/2W1, but we did have some load trainers that were all blue (load trainers are not flight worthy) Some CATM-9s don't have rollerons on the fins, and I've even seen CATM-9s flown with no fins at all in at least one squadron. Most units paint a number on the fins to track each missile for maintenance.

Todd Enlund

"Bandits at 3 O'Clock"
"Roger. What should I do 'till then?"

I stand corrected. It has been a long time since I was on the flightline.

Not a correction, an expansion

Todd Enlund

"Bandits at 3 O'Clock"
"Roger. What should I do 'till then?"

CATM (Captive) AIM-9 is basically an inert motor and warhead missile, though does have seeking ability and in some cases proximity sensors. AMA pods (aka dummy missiles) were typically loaded in place of CATM AIM-9s as there weren't enough to configure near all jets with 2 AIM-9s. AMA pods aren't used as much these days.

AMA Pod

[IMG][/IMG]

Captive AIM-9

[IMG][/IMG]

Mike V

"I am a "Realist". I see and call things as they are, not how I want them to be."

Since none of the previous posters mentionned it. I thought I would. Live AIM-9 have a yellow and brown stripe.

Why install/carry them at all?


It's only a hobby..it's only a hobby..it's -

While the rocket motor and warhead are inert, the seeker is functional. This allows the pilot to track and lock an adversary aircraft in a training environment.

Todd Enlund

"Bandits at 3 O'Clock"
"Roger. What should I do 'till then?"