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                        1/40 MIM14 Nike Hercules Missile, 1-4-14, Complete

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                        stikpusher
                        • Member since
                          July 2004
                        • From: Sonora Desert
                        Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, January 4, 2014 6:34 PM

                        Wow! Bow DownBow DownBow Down

                         

                        F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

                        U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

                        N is for NO SURVIVORS...

                               - Plankton

                        LSM

                         

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                        redleg12
                        • Member since
                          July 2006
                        • From: New Jersey
                        1/40 MIM14 Nike Hercules Missile, 1-4-14, Complete
                        Posted by redleg12 on Saturday, January 4, 2014 6:26 PM

                        Fire Mission
                        1/40 MIM14 Nike Hercules on launcher
                        Introduction
                        The Nike Hercules, was a solid fuel propelled two-stage surface-to-air missile, used by U.S. and NATO armed forces for medium and high-altitude long-range air defense. It was normally armed with the W31 nuclear warhead, but could also be fitted with a conventional warhead for export use. Its warhead also allowed it to be use in a surface-to-surface role, and the system also demonstrated its ability to hit other short-range missiles in flight. Hercules was replaced in the long-range anti-aircraft role by the higher performance and considerably more mobile MIM-104 Patriot.
                        The Kit
                        I will be using the classic Revell 1/40 scale Nike Hercules kit. First issued in the late 1950s the kit has seen a number of re-issues. The kit is typical of that era with 3 small sprues and a minimum number of parts. The seams will need a bunch of work, some parts have cast in part numbers, which will have to be removed, but it will be a fun holiday build.
                        The Build
                        This was a simple build from the standpoint of parts. The missile is assembled with about 12 parts. Unfortunately most of the seams fit poorly and require putty and sanding in multiple applications. Excuse the pictures as the kit is molded in white plastic.
                        The launcher is assembled from about 20 parts. Here is the main frame assembled
                        This is the main launch rail and lifting frames. The launch rail was a mess and requires a ton of putty and sanding work.
                        After putty the seams on the fins nose and lower cowl, I painted the first stage with Tamiya Flat White. Then I coated the first stage with Future to prepare for decals.
                        The decals that come with the kit are poor scale quality. After researching the markings made my own set of decals. All of the hatch cover stencils are essentially a font 1.
                        The first stage is totally out of scale. It has raised bands and a raised center cover neither of which really exist.
                        To replace the kit parts, I used 7/16 tubes to create the four first stage motors. I made a custom covering for each with the proper stencil marking for the rocket motors and background color. The four motor mounts are .020 styrene strip used between each motor. The strips and the lower fin section were painted with Tamiya JA Green. Here is the assembled first stage, coated with Future gloss to seal the markings. 
                        After mounting the complete missile on the launch rail, assembling the launcher, I mounted the completed kit on a platform.
                        The launcher is painted with Tamiya JA OD Green and then coated with a semi-gloss clear coat. The elevating pistons are painted with Alclad Dark Aluminum.
                        The platform is “semi-scale” to the silo platform that would rise from underground. The platform is 3/16 inch pine cut to size, coated with Rust-o-leum Terra Cotta paint to create a “anti-slip” surface. The edges are trimmed with .020 styrene strip. I then painted the platform with Tamiya NATO Black and the front half with Tamiya Gloss Yellow

                        "The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

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