British Interplanetary Society (BIS) Winged Rocket

Scale: 1/288
Initial Release: 2023
Medium: Resin
Kit Rarity: 2
Height: 7.75 inches

About the Design

In the years following World War II, British Interplanetary Society (BIS) member Ralph Smith produced many spacecraft concepts that showed the potential of rapidly evolving rocket technology. One of these was the "Winged Orbital Rocket." Premiering in 1952, it featured a V2-like two-stage liquid-fueled booster supporting a winged orbiter designed to return to earth and land under its own power. (If this looks similar to Werner Von Braun's concepts from the same period, note that form follows function!) 
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The Winged Orbital Rocket was given a full two-page spread in the 1954 book EXPLORATION OF THE MOON, which Smith co-authorized with legendary BIS member Arthur C. Clarke. 

About the Kit

Released in Spring 2023, the BIS Winged Rocket was hand-mastered by Ed Holt and cast by .JPG Productions. The model was based off Smith's original design which featured two separate winged stages, as opposed to the winged bottom stage featured in the 1954 EXPLORATION OF THE MOON.

This kit was produced under license and with the cooperation with the British Interplanetary Society. Rocket design (c) British Interplanetary Society 1952.