Military Model Scene

I have to admit I had been looking forward to seeing this new kit from ModelCollect from the moment they announced it was coming.  The first thing to say, which is not obvious from the box art is that they actually include two V1s and two ramps in the box. Each ramps is made up from 5 sections.  Two sprues hold the ramp parts (that's 2 for each ramp so 4 in the box).  One makes the end section (a spare left over then) and then four sections to go behind it.  There are also supports for the ramp.  The slight disappointment comes in some missing detail on the faces of the sections at both ends of the completed ramp.  It is also a bit short, as a standard ramp usually consisted of 6 sections.  You can use the spare one as a basis for the sixth section but that will need a bit of work to join it in.  The supporting ribs are absent on the end faces and the different plate fitted to the top end of the ramp is omitted altogether.  If you look at the preserved example on display at the IWM site at Duxford in Cambridgeshire you can see what it should look like, along with the missing reinforcements on the end plate itself and additional supports.  At the bottom end there are a couple of supports that match the ramp at Duxford, but there is no inclusion of the firing equipment which actually was used to propel the launch piston for firing.  A preserved one is displayed inside one of the hangers at Duxford, along with a bottom section of ramp and the V1 plus launch connections.  If you want one of these you'll need to scratchbuild it, or it is an ideal candidate for one of the resin kit producers to release as a useful accessory.  One other detail included in the kit is the piston which was propelled through the ramp to launch the V1 though unfortunately over size and should be replaced.

The ramp and the V1 itself are easy enough to build, though the ramp does warrant a bit if extra detailing.  So far I have built one straight out of the box, to see how it went together, and the second one remains for me to turn into a six section ramp and to add the extra detailing on the end plates.  It is also short of a couple of supports.  It is a bit odd in that they are included in the box art just not in the kit itself.

Despite the updates it could do with, it is a very welcome kit and good value for having two sets in the one box.  For anyone wanting references there are preserved ramps at Duxford and in France at the V2 bunker at Eperleques.  As for books, if you can find V1 Flying Bomb published by Ian Allen a good few years ago, it has photos, scale drawings and the best details of how they were operated that I have seen to date.

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I bought mine from Tas Models in Holland.

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Robin