As a short rest from my big Revell Heinkel 111 I am building Pegasus Hobbies’ 1/18 V1 Flying bomb.
An unusual scale for this subject, and apart from a little flash and some odd streaks on the tail fins the parts are very well detailed, defined and look as if they go together well.
There are two sprues in the box, neither which are packaged in a plastic bag and they are free to bounce around. In my box there was one part that seperated from the sprues and another which has a scratch.
I count 12 parts, 1 piece of paper with build, painting and decaling instructions and a plastic packet with the decal sheet inside.
This kit cost me £11.99 which more or less makes it £1 per part - but at 1/18 scale it is quite large.
On the down side there is no stand, trolley or ramp section included, so the modeller must source or make their own… that for this kit is a draw back and Pagasus Hobbies should IMHO sort this out.
Most modellers should build this in a couple of days and with a proper paint job will look good in a cabinet.
The paint is on, the decals on too… that’s the lot!
the paints I used were RLM 83 variant 2 for the upper surface and RLM 76 for the lower one. I delved into my decal spares box to add a couple of crosses on just to add a little extra. I wasn’t sure if the V1 sported them, but to me it just adds a little extra.
If anyone from Pegasus Hobbies hangs around here…
This is labelled as a military museum collection model acording to the box. What was in this box could have been so much more than what it is!
Basically - this is really going back to basics - it is a snap together very basic beginners kit. The exterior shows some very good detail… but what about the interior. In this scale of 1/18? One fuselage side could have been cast in clear plastic and the interior components included such as the fuel tank, warhead compartment, gyroscope, pulse engine components etc.
This model, Pegasus hobbies, could have been so much more than what it is and when my time is added up took LESS than 6 hours to build and put together, paint and decal.
I am sure that with thought, time and a little research Pegasus Hobbies could have made this into a stunning kit that in this scale could make a big impact in anyones display case with all the internal detail seen through a clear fuselage side etc.
Now then Pegasus… How about showing us what you can REALLY do and put out a 1/18 scale V2 with the interior engine, warhead, guidence, fuel tanks etc, not fogetting a launch stand to display it on! Make modellers really drool!
Oh… don’t forget to re-do the V1 as well and include a trolley or stand or section of launch ramp. Please give us a couple of large scale masterpieces at a reasonable price!
Thanks for all the kind comments. It does look good when finished and my families comments were favorable apart from the “you have to get out more and into society!”
I am not asking for a £12 kit. All I am asking for is something in this scale that has the internal stuff that can be displayed. I realise that the more detail the more it costs (tamiya’s new 1/32 spitfire and P51 kits are a case in point) , but the oppotunity as modellers to educate and inform on the breakthroughs the Germans made for space flight (V2) and Cruise Missile (V1) should not be lost.
On showing this kit my 6 year old Nephew wanted to know how it worked and how the engine made its noise. Having a clear side with those components so makes it easier to explain and understand!
Would there be any model companies out there who would be willing to provide the worldwide modellers community with 1/18 or 1/16 scale V1 & V2 that have all the fine detail of these breakthrough weapons both inside and out?
I’ve dug into my vergeltungswaffe references, and I cannot confirm the Balkankreuz (means “Balkan’s Cross”) aka “Beam Cross” ever graced an actual V-1. Lots V-1 photos (WWII dated, REAL V-1s, not models) save only this, below, which has a very shaky provenance. (It may be nothing but a paper model. The ogive curve is questionable.)
Also, I can’t come with a rational reason to paint a whopping big target on a bomb. Some of our cruise missiles have US military aviation insignia, some don’t. Now does that your excellent model is “wrong”? Not so fast, Kimosabe. [insert cheesy German accent] “I vas only following orders” [stage-German off]. I can imagine some poor conscript told to paint them as he muttered, “Befehl ist Befehl” [“orders are orders”].
Ahhhh, isn’t it a nice break to do something different. Nice job! You’re right though, it’s a shame there isn’t a little detail on the inside, or a carriage of some sort.
