BLU-43 (Antipersonnel Landmine)

This mine is the predecessor of the soviet PFM-1 mine known as the butterfly mine.

Originally from the United States. It was used primarily in the Vietnam War. It was discontinued in the 1970s. Its design and principle was subsequently adopted by the Soviet Union. It was the Soviet PFM-1 mine that was the driving force behind the ban on anti-personnel mines, particularly because of its deployment in Afghanistan.

The BLU-43 mine works on the principle of hydrostatic pressure. When stepped on, the increased pressure of the liquid explosive activates an initiating mechanism that detonates the mine.

I printed it from PLA and I printed it standing up. The second part (head), I also printed straight and in a different colour.

Originally, the mine has a special extension in red colour and a thin aluminium strip coming out of it. This part would not be a problem to model, but my printer could hardly handle it. For my needs, this mine in the armed state is sufficient.

As with the PFM-1 mine, I make an exception and load the model before I print it. The mine contains only two parts connected by a single thread. Their compatibility can be easily verified in a modeling program.