EMW A-9 Suborbital Rocket (1945)

SCALE: 1/72

INITIAL RELEASE: 1997

MEDIUM: Polystyrene

RARITY: (2)

ABOUT THE DESIGN

ABOUT THE KIT

Developed as part of Nazi Germany's "Projekt Amerika," the A-9 was an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to strike major cities along America's Eastern Seaboard.  Another outgrowth of Germany's A-4 (V-2) rocket program, the weapon was actually envisioned as a two-stage weapons system with a V-2-like booster and a piloted upper stage/warhead, shown here.  As planned, the pilot would be guided along his course by strategically positioned U-boats, then bail out once his craft was near his target.  If he survived, he would likely become a POW...until Germany's expected triumph.  The first prototype of this concept was the winged A-4B, although subsequent wind-tunnel tests revealed that the more streamlined "strake" design seen here would create far less drag and thus increase the missile's range.  The A-9 was a project vehicle only; no A-9s were actually built.

Special Hobby, a division of MPM Models, Czech Republic, released this unique kit in 1997.  Only the craft's upper stage was included.  This model was built from an original issue.

Artist: Josha Hildwine

(photo courtesy of Dan Johnson's Luft' 46)

Original Box Art