Predecessor to the cruise missile, Germany's Fieseler Fi 103 V-1 flying bomb was developed during World War II and launched against London beginning in June 1944. Though it lacked reliability, the V-1's 850kg warhead was devastating. Of the 30,000 "buzz bombs" produced, 10,000 were fired at London, striking 2,419 targets, killing 6,184, and injuring nearly 18,000 until Allies overran the launch facilities.
Bronco's kit is molded in gray styrene with little or no flash. The recessed detail is to scale and consistent. The small decal sheet provides two options for markings.
With only 37 parts, the kit's a fairly fast, straightforward build with an easy-to-follow, six-page instruction guide. Included is a parts breakdown as well as a great decal and paint guide that indicates colors for different paint manufacturers.
The fuselage halves didn't line up correctly, but I simply cut off the locating tabs and glued the halves together with no problem. Wings and tail stabilizer fit fine, though I added a touch of filler to the wing roots and sanded them smooth to ensure a smooth fit.
Paint the engine intake's screen (Part A6) steel before installing the intake cover. This makes painting easier later on. I would also wait until the very end of the build to add the prop on the tip of the warhead - it's a tiny, delicate, and fragile part.
I painted my V-1 Testors Model Master Acryl hellblau (RLM 65) and dunkelgrun (RLM 71). Decals went on with little difficulty - Micro Sol solved a slight silvering.
Keeping in mind that V-1's flew only once, I skipped weathering and merely added a dark wash to define recessed details.
The inclusion of a cart for the weapon was a pleasant surprise. Again, it was an easy and straightforward build. However, the instructions give no hints on color; I painted it Testors Model Master Acryl olivgrun (RLM 80). The completed V-1 fits perfectly on the cart.
Bronco Models has produced an outstanding model that's very close to scale. Anyone with a few kits to his or her credit should have no problem turning out a realistic buzz bomb. It would be a great centerpiece for a diorama.
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