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Bachem Ba 349 "Natter" - 1/32 -
The Bachem Ba 349 "Natter" (Viper) was a World War II era German experimental
rocket-powered interceptor aircraft developed to defend against Allied bombers. It
actually came about because of the German's inability to overcome problems they had with the
guidance systems of their experimental surface to air missiles. So basically the idea
became to launch the rocket-powered aircraft and guide it from the ground to the location of
allied bombers, where the pilot would take control to point the nose in the right direction,
jettison the plastic nosecone and pull the trigger to fire a salvo of rockets.
It was simply constructed using glued and screwed wooden parts with an armored cockpit, and was
powered by a Walter HWK 509A-2 rocket, similar to the one in the Me 163. To get off the
ground, four jettisonable solid rocket boosters were used for launch, and burned for 10-12
seconds before they were jettisoned. The vertical takeoff from an open-structure launch
tower, eliminated the need for airfields, and after the mission, the aircraft would deploy a
large parachute from the rear, popping off the nose section and the pilot with it. The
pilot and the tail with the engine would then land under their separate parachutes. An
advantage of the system was it eliminated the necessity to land an extremely fast rocket aircraft
at an airbase that, as the history of the Me 163 demonstrated, was extremely vulnerable against
air raids. By design, the nose and the fuselage with the wooden wings were disposable, and
the engine was to be reused, however in testing, engine reuse proved highly unlikely.
The only manned test flight, on 1 March 1945, ended with test pilot Lothar Sieber being killed.
At least 20 had been produced before the end of the war, but fortunately for the Allies,
only 10 were made fully operational, and their base was over run before they could see action.
The Americans captured Four "Natters"; one went to Britain and one ended up with the
Russians.
This is a multi-media kit with 25 resin and 15 cast metal parts. The major fuselage and
wing components are resin, and the tail can be removed to show the cast metal engine. The
kit also includes two vacuformed canopies, decals and full instructions.
MM03 - Bachem Ba 349 "Natter" - 1/32 - $60.00
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Yokosuka MXY7 "Ohka" Model 22 - 1/48 -
The Ohka Model 22 was an attempt to increase the range of the Ohka 11 by giving
it a simplified jet engine, which replaced the rocket power of the model 11. This took
the form of a Campini type engine driven by a Hitachi 100hp 4-cylinder piston engine.
This unit was called the Tsu-11 and provided a thrust of 551 pounds. The design called
for it to be launched from the ground or a submarine using booster rockets, or from the air
by way of a P1Y1 Ginga bomber. Fifty of these aircraft were built and one test flight
was made. The test flight ended in a stall after the under wing booster lighted early,
and the pilot lost control. The Ohka 22 never saw combat.
This kit is all resin with some cast metal parts for the control stick, rudder bar, control
balances, ventri tube, front sight, pitot tube and exhaust stubs. Two vacuformed canopies
are provided as well as decals.
MM02 - Yokosuka "Ohka 22" Jet - 1/48 - $40.00
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Sanger "Silverbird" Space Bomber - 1/48 -
The Sanger Silverbird was the brainchild of Eugen Sanger. It
operated on the principle of skipping across the atmosphere to reach targets on the other
side of the world. The actual aircraft was never built, however small scale engine
tests were conducted.
The kit is a resin multi-media model with all the major parts made from resin while the landing
gear and bomb bay actuating arms are cast metal. Photo-etched details are included
for the cockpit. Many optional parts are provided mainly because the exact
configuration of this aircraft cannot be agreed upon! This includes two different
rocket exhausts options, vacuformed canopies and weapons load. The cockpit is well
detailed but with plenty of room for scratch building. Also the fuselage was left
hollow for the same reason (and to keep the weight down!).
Decals are also provided for four different aircraft, though anything goes with Luft 46
models. This is no small kit as it weighs over two pounds, and is 24 inches long
with a 13-inch wingspan.
MM01 - Sanger "Silverbird" Space Bomber - 1/48 - $100.00
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