Would like to build a German V2 rocket, what are my options for kit makers?

Someone earlier mentioned the Mauve 1/48 scale kit. Here are some details on it.

1. The rocket body, fins and engine are injection molded styrene with nice detail and engraved lines. From the small sprue attachment points, I suspect this is a high pressure molding.

2. The small parts, the base and the Wernher von Braun figure are pewter or Britannia metal (can't tell which). They're excellently cast with a bare minimum of flash. Since all the fiddly bits are toward the bottom of the rocket, this baby won't be top heavy. Wernher von Braun looks to be 30-35 years old and closely resembles photos of him taken around the time of Explorer 1 (the sculpting is that good).

3. The instructions are totally Japanese. You do get the parts numbers in Western numerals, but that's about it. Needless to say, the painting guides are printed in black-and-white with colors called out in Japanese.

If you want a V-2 in 1/48th, I can't imagine a better one.

I got mine years ago for a diorama project which fell through for me. Thanks, Chris Hall, for an excellent idea as to what to do with this excellent kit!

Oh, cool Phil. Sorry 'bout my lateness in reply.

You go there often??
Will

I build the A4/V2 by Condor (kit # 001) 1/72 scale. Nice kit. As an additional I build the Meiler Wagon by Planet Models (kit # MV 0130. Nice, but expensive, resin kit.

I found it a pain the @#$ to build the Meiler Wagen. The reason being this was the first resin kit I made, the kit itself is of very good quality.

I added some mass to the V2 by filling up with caster suger so it would sit better on the Meiler Wagen

I could mail you some pictures (I do not know how to post pictures on this forum)

The Condor 1/72 kit is pretty good by limited run standards.It also comes as a manned version in a Special Hobby box. Hannants have both in stock.

A few years ago, I built the manned version as a 'What if' operated by the US Army/ NACA at White Sands in the late 1940s, with added escape tower. Note the Tamiya potlet for size reference:

Cheers,

Chris.

Will7813 wrote:

I'd love to do a dio with a V-2, hey, you'll have to post finished pics when your finished. Sound like it'll be great. Will

This is a note for Will.

If you're seriously considering doing a V-2, I was in your regular LHS this afternoon and they have a couple of Dragon 1/35 V-2 kits in stock on the aircraft shelves.

How big is your dio gonna be?

Like stated above. Revell made one in an odd scale. It is a neat kit unto itself because it comes with the Meilerwagen. Also has detailed interior components.

DML/Shanghai Dragon Made/make one in 1/35 scale. Easy enough to find military kits and figures but it will be a large dio.

Mauve made one in 1/48 scale which has been long oop. Very pricey when it was available and it came with a portable launch platform and a white metal figure of Herr Braun.

 Condor made/make a nifty one in 1/72 scale. Comes with portable launch pad.

Estes rockets made one in (can't remember the scale but I have one in the attic!) Would be rather big when done. blow molded nose and tail section with cardboard body tube and vacform tailfins.

IMEX made one even slightly bigger than the Estes. Came with clear vac fuselage half so you could show off all the nifty interior detail. 

Good luck on your project

Max Bryant

I'd love to do a dio with a V-2, hey, you'll have to post finished pics when your finished. Sound like it'll be great.

Will

Blackfive wrote:

The most accurate V2 rocket comes out of the UK, it is the correct shape etc (something other kit suppliers have messed up completely  you can find it at Accurate Amour.com  hope that helps

According to the recent Osprey publication, since the Germans made over 3000 of them, there were more then one version of the German A-4 ballistic missile, better known by its propaganda name of V-2, each one having a slightly different shape, I do not see how a single kit maker can be "the only one that got it right".

I did the Revell kit when t first came out, and it basically represents an early to mid-production model.

The Dragon model which has broader fins then the Revell kit, does not appear to have as slender a nose as the latest models, but I would not say it is wrong.

You see, the Germans did not destroy their documentation as others did, and therefore it is possible to get very accurate plans of their war toys.

As a for instance, I have a book that amongst other things, has the exact factory spec paint scheme, with measurements (!) for the Heinkel 177, and so far I cannot find any kit maker that owns up to this particular scheme in its instructions, as it seems it was not popular in actual service.

So which maker is this British V-2 kit ?

Tom T

Dragon #9002 is a 1/35 German V-2 missile but I dont know if it's still available.

Edited: I found one in stock at greatmodel.com    simply type DML9002 in the search feature.

Also, here is a good reference site with a listing of all kit makers: http://www.postwarv2.com/

Revell made a kit of the V2 in a rather strange scale (1/54), but I have no idea whether or not it is still in production.  I have the kit and was intending to make a diorama myself, but the scale was not compatible with other vehicles, figures, etc., so it's still in the box.  If you're interested, I can pull it out and give you more precise details.

Doc 

Here: http://www.v2rocket.com

and here: http://www.v2rocket.com/start/scale/models.html

Have a look here: http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/models/space_models.html#euro_launch

This is a list of almost every space related model kit that exist or ever existed.  You might find what you look for!