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
Here is the second stage after decals, panel lines, and a final coat of semi-gloss clear.
Here is the first stage and adapter on the launcher, also coated with semi-gloss clear.
Here is a head on view of the finished build
This is a view from the rear. The rocket motor nozzles are painted with Tamiya NATO Black.
That’s my quick holiday build. Though not full of details, but it is a good representation of this historical classic.
Next build is the M110A2 in Operation Desert Storm
As always if you have any comments, please feel free to drop in.
Rounds Complete!!
EOM!!
Wow! [:D[[:D[[:D[
I love it. Brings back memories. I had this kit as a kid. Is it still available? I’d love to have it again.
Stick - Thanks
Jim - Yep it is currently on re-issue and you should be able to find it… Thanks
Rounds Complete!!
It came out great Mike. Sometimes the old kits can become real gems with a bit of work.
She’s a gem! Great job! [Y]
Brian
Gino - Thanks. It is a good exercise in practice of putty skills!! Also except for snow, most armor modelers don’t get a chance to finish coat in white!!
Brian - Thanks
Rounds Complete!!
That is awesome! This may sound weird, but I miss the Cold War
Bravo Battery! Stand By! -Ready- Launcher up- down range ready! Standing by for launch authorization!
AH heady stuff in the mid 60’s as we sat in our berm and watched the missiles rise on the mobile launchers shut the blast “proof” doors. Waiting for the go/no go from the old man…or was it another, NATO drill?- ya never really knew.
Though outside of CONUS the Nike was OD as was the Herc booster
. 
(that way nobody could see 'em—
shhhh)
& Nuke warheads?!? 
what? “nuc-u-lar” warheads?? we never had no nukes there
in wes girm-man-ee
No Sireee -nope
Thanks Redleg for the memories.
Missile secure, Launcher Secure- all clear down range
Jet - Thanks, I know what you mean, it is not as weird as you think
Steve - I love it…yep, the units deployed here in CONUS with nuclear warheads and no one knew or complained… ahhh, the good old days when people were grateful for their freedom and did not question how it came!!
Thanks for stopping by
Rounds Complete!!
Hey Mike, that’s wickedly-cool! Nice looking model!
Believe it or not, they stil have one of these at the Danville, Virginia American Armored Foundation Museum! It looks exactly like your model there!
A suggestion—get out to AC Moore’s and get yourself some black poster board for tricky photo subjects like this. You just can’t shoot white against that light blue—I’ve tried it myself with primed models or car models… I keep a piece of it around for situations like this.
I can’t wait to see what you do with the M110A2!!!
Karl - As always many thanks for stopping in and for your comments. Yep, I need to pick up a dark background. Usually photographing my favorite color…Green! Thanks again
Rounds Complete!!
Outside of the science fiction genre this was/is my favorite missle…!http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/flirt/drool-smiley-emoticon.gif pretty hot looking like Marilyn Monroe of that same era.
I used to have that kit at some point a lonnng time ago but I lost track of it…
!http://n5.nabble.com/images/smiley/anim_confused.gifit somehow got “wasted along the way”.
You’ve captured the look and as usual presented a first class piece of work here!http://n5.nabble.com/images/smiley/anim_drunk.gif
!http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/christmas/santa-babe-smiley-emoticon.gifMM would be proud.
Steve - I am always happy to have you stop by.
This kit does bring back memories of a time long past.
As for Marilyn… it think of it with a little more class, like Sophia Loren. Comparisons between the two are for another forum!! LOL…Like the two of us, two classics!
Thanks
Rounds Complete!!
Nice work! How was that thing transported, or was it a hard-mount?
Looks great as always!
I have that kit, the reissue from 1994 still in the stash.
My grandfather served in the AD Artillery in the 1960’s and assigned to these in NY.
RBaer - They were hard mounted, most in silos which the whole launch platform, as I did in the model, would rise up out of the ground. There was some experimentation with a transporter…here is an interesting transporter using an M520 Goer
http://ed-thelen.org/HerkTransporterModern-.jpg
Chris - Thanks, seem like everyone knows someone or a family who served on these!! Build it, it will be fun!
Rounds Complete!!
Mike, that’s just amazing! Awesome work sir! [Y][Y] Thanks for posting unusual and obscure weaponry builds on this forum! BTW, I was going to ask just how big this Nike Hercules was, but that last photo you posted answers my question! Its smaller than I originally thought… when looking at your previous photos I perceived them being much larger!
My friend thanks. I always try to keep everyone up to date on the different and strange. It is not huge but for armor modelers a 13 inch long model is big… if you model ships, its a destroyer!
Thanks again
Rounds Complete!!
Beautiful work there, Mike, as always. My sincere compliments.
Lee