This is a big deal: Takom has packaged the V-2, Hanomag, Meillerwagen and launch platform in one box. You can show the rocket erected or stowed for transport, the steering is movable, and there’s an optional APU setup. Markings are provided for four rockets and three Hanomag SS100 tractors.
The instructions are split into two booklets, one for the Hanomag and one for the V-2/Meillerwagen/launch platform. I started with the V-2. Test-fitting the rocket halves, I found the two sides didn’t match. To fix this, I cut and glued tabs made from styrene sheet and let them cure. The halves then matched up better, but still needed careful sanding and filling because of the surface detail near the joint. From pictures, I noticed the tip of the rocket is slightly elongated instead of a spire point. I sanded it to shape.
There are many paint schemes for the rockets — almost no two were alike. After painting the rocket, I assembled its mobile launch pad and painted that.
The Meillerwagen transporter/erector is one complicated piece of equipment, and Takom has worked hard to bring it to scale. First, you have to decide whether to have the rocket in transport, erect mode, or on the pad alone. I chose to have the rocket in the transport position. I started with the tubular frame, then built up some of the piping for the air system (not included, so you’ll have to look to references for that). There is an optional APU for the trailer.
I painted the subassemblies as I went along to ensure good coverage. Suggestion: Mark the instructions according to which version you are making.
Building the wheel assemblies and attaching them to the axles proved problematic because of weak attachment points. When building the steering assembly, Part G4 can be put in backwards, and that affects the shaft (Part G51) location. Once finished, the steering assembly moves left and right with ease and can impact the frame. I had it knock off one of the tires while working on final assembly. I glued it where I wanted it to be so that couldn’t happen again. The tires are Continental-marked, unlike the postwar ones for the SS100.
I painted the trailer, pad, and SS100 Tamiya gray (X-24) and weathered with Tamiya pastel dust. The rocket was painted with Tamiya buff (XF-57), dark green (XF-61), dark yellow (XF-60), red brown (XF-64), and brown (XF-9). I kept the weathering light for the transport — being at the test site with a lot of brass around the project, they probably were cleaned more than in the field. The decals for the license plate do not include enough numbers for this example, so I left them off.
My reference was
V2 — Dawn of the Rocket Age by Joachim Engelmann (Schiffer, ISBN 978-0-88740-233-3).
It took 60 hours to finish this kit, with a good part of that time spent cleaning up the rocket and building the complicated Meillerwagen.
Because of the parts count and the kit’s complexity, I recommend this kit for advanced modelers — but it has a lot of potential for dioramas.
Note: A version of this review appeared in the December 2017 issue.