This is Special Hobby's EMW A9 kit. Not sure which category this should be posted in... Aircraft, Space or Science Fiction. Since it has a pilot and flies and I normally post in the aircraft forum I'll post it here. This is one of those Luft' 46 paper projects that thankfully never got of the ground. According to the instructions it was intended to be delivered to the US, using a second stage booser (not included in the kit), by a pilot who was to be directed to the target by a surfaced U-boat. The pilot was supposed to be able to bale out but I'm guessing that wasn't going to happen because of the speed at which it would be travelling and I doubt the German's would want their pilot to be captured and "questioned".
Anyway, this is pretty much out of the box. It is a typical short run kit that required much filling and sanding. Especially the long fins that run the length of the rocket. The other two fins are attached to the rocket fuselage and were not quite at 90 degrees to the other two fins. I thought it would be a nice easy weekend build but nope. The launching pad was difficult to figure out how to it went together because the instructions are not much help. I figured out most of it by looking at the painting diagram. The paint scheme is of my own imagination and I supplemented the kit decals with a unit badge and number from the spares box. I figure that like the Japanese kamakaze pilot's they would want to inspire/honor their pilots for their one way trip. Well... maybe not, but at least it would make for a good propaganda photo op.
This is the first time I've attempted a vac form canopy and now I know why some people recommend filling the canopy with silly putty or something like it. I was a bit rough on it and there are some marks on it. Oh well, lesson learned.
Enough rambling...
