Pre-order - Kinetic 48178 - 1:48 FMA IA-58 Pucara - with Mk.13 Torpedo

Pre-order item! Your order will be fulfilled once the manufacturer releases the model. Estimated availability: end of September 2026. The delivery date is approximate and may change for reasons beyond our control.

Plastic Model Kit of the FMA IA-58 Pucará Ground-Attack Aircraft with Mk.13 Torpedo in 1:48 Scale

Kinetic 48178 is a plastic model kit reproducing the Argentine FMA IA-58 Pucará COIN/ground-attack aircraft in a special configuration equipped with the Mk.13 aerial torpedo, as used by Argentine naval aviation. The kit is based on the K48078 tooling, supplemented with parts specific to this variant. The Pucará is the only South American-designed aircraft to have engaged directly in combat against a Western military force – during the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom.

The Kinetic tooling includes approximately five gray plastic sprues (with one duplicated sprue), a clear sprue, and a photo-etched fret. One of the characteristic design solutions of the kit is the lower fuselage section integrated with the lower wing surfaces, ensuring the correct wing dihedral and improved structural alignment. Cartograf-printed decals allow several FAA and Armada marking options to be reproduced.

Inside the box you will find:

• Gray plastic sprues with fuselage, wing, and engine nacelle parts
• Clear sprue with tandem cockpit canopy parts
• Photo-etched detail sheet
• Mk.13 torpedo parts with mounting hardware
• Cartograf water-slide decal sheet with FAA and Armada marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model technical details:

• Scale: 1:48
• Catalog number: 48178
• Manufacturer: Kinetic
• Completed model length: approx. 228 mm
• Wingspan: approx. 270 mm
• Difficulty level: intermediate

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints, or modeling tools. The model requires assembly and painting.

Building the model:

The integrated lower fuselage and lower wing section significantly simplify assembly and ensure the correct wing angle. Reviewers praise the good overall fit and the sharply reproduced surface detail. The tandem cockpit canopies require careful fitting and polishing of the edges. The landing gear struts are molded in plastic and may benefit from reinforcement with cyanoacrylate glue at the attachment points.

Pucarás in Argentine Air Force service wore a multi-color camouflage scheme – typically olive green, sand brown, and black (for example FS34083, FS30219, and FS37038 equivalents) over a gray underside. Applying a dark enamel wash is recommended to emphasize the numerous panel lines and engine nacelle details, while a final matte varnish coat will highlight the aircraft’s operational appearance.

Essential tools:

• Model sprue cutters for removing parts from sprues
• Modeling knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for photo-etched and delicate parts
• Paint brushes in various sizes and precision tweezers
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel) and matte varnish
• Model wash for emphasizing details

About the aircraft – FMA IA-58 Pucará:

The FMA IA-58 Pucará (“fortress” in Quechua) is an Argentine twin-seat turboprop COIN (Counter-Insurgency) and ground-attack aircraft designed by Fábrica Militar de Aviones in Córdoba. Development began in 1966 in response to a requirement from the Argentine Air Force for an aircraft optimized for anti-guerrilla operations. The prototype first flew on August 20, 1969, and the aircraft entered service in 1974. A total of 107 examples were produced until 1999.

The aircraft is powered by two Turbomeca Astazou XVIG turboprop engines rated at 978 hp each, driving three-bladed Ratier-Forest 23LF propellers that can also function as aerodynamic brakes. Fixed armament consists of two 20 mm Hispano 804 cannons and four 7.62 mm Browning FN machine guns. The Pucará participated in the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas conflict – of the 24 aircraft deployed to the islands, several were captured by British forces. In addition to Argentina, the aircraft also served with Colombia, Sri Lanka, and Uruguay.

Technical data of the original aircraft (FMA IA-58A Pucará):

• Length: 14.25 m
• Wingspan: 14.50 m
• Maximum takeoff weight: 6,800 kg
• Crew: 2 in tandem seating
• Powerplant: 2 × Turbomeca Astazou XVIG, 729 kW (978 hp) each
• Maximum speed: 500 km/h
• Range: approx. 3,042 km (ferry range)
• Fixed armament: 2 × Hispano 804 20 mm cannons + 4 × Browning FN 7.62 mm machine guns
• 3 hardpoints, maximum combat load 1,620 kg
• Production: 1974–1999, total of 107 aircraft

About the manufacturer – Kinetic:

Kinetic Model Kits is a Taiwanese model company that has steadily built a leading position since the early 2000s in the field of modern jet aircraft kits in 1:48 and 1:72 scales. The release of the Pucará in 1:48 scale was considered a genuine surprise on the market – for decades, the aircraft had only been available in difficult-to-build resin kits. Kinetic introduced it as a full injection-molded kit with a good level of detail, delighting enthusiasts of Falklands/Malvinas subjects and South American aviation alike.