The latest in WWII german rocketry is next for Bronco models as they release their new "Rheintochter" German R-3p Surface-to-Air Missile. This space age looking missile will interest many a modeller, with a few different options for a launching platform, let's have a look in our preview.
Bronco's new Item Preview.
"Rheintochter" German R-3p Surface-to-Air Missile
1/35th scale
Product No: CB35075
two sheets of photo etch detail included
Decals also provided
The "Rheintochter" German R-3p Surface-to-Air Missile
In 1942, the Allied air strikes against the German and industrial targets were increasingly fierce, which necessitated the Germans to step up their research and development of anti-aircraft rockets and missiles. In September 18th of the same year, the RLM and the Rhine metals company officially signed a new type of anti-aircraft missile research and development contracts. The main person in charge was Dr. Crein, who developed the "Rhinebote" ground to ground tactical rocket as the project. The new missile is called the ‘Rheintochter’. Rheintochter was a German surface-to-air missile developed during World War II. Its name comes from the mythical Rheintöchter (Rhinemaidens) of Richard Wagner's opera series Der Ring des Nibelungen.
This original version of the Rheintochter used a canard aerodynamic layout and had a length of 5.74 m, a diameter of 535 mm, and a 2.65 m wingspan. Mass at launch was 1748 kg, with the second stage totalling 1000 kg. The first stage boost consisted of a solid rocket charge exhausting through eight nozzles. In only 0.6 seconds this accelerated the missile to 300 m/s. After the initial boost four stabilisers in the exhaust controlled the missile, the steel vanes being connected through two moving linkages. The second stage was a steel-cased solid propellant motor, 510 mm in diameter, which provided 4100 kg for 10 seconds. An acoustic proximity fuse triggered the 150 kg warhead. Six flares on the second stage were used by the operator to visually orient and guide the path of the missile.
The R-3 version of the missile was designed to achieve the 10-12 km altitude requirement. Work had begun in May 1944, and six launches of the prototype were made in January 1945. There were two variants: the R-3F version with a Konrad engine (Nitric acid/Tonka-250 or Nitric acid/Visol) in the cruise stage; and the R-3R with a solid propellant cruise engine. In both versions, a parallel booster motors were used in place of the in-line first stage of the R-1. The R-3 had a length of 4.75m, and an 1170 kg launch mass. The boost motors provided 1400 kg for 0.9 seconds. Altitude was to be 12 km at a range of 20 to 25 km. However, the missile never reached the stage of state trials testing. Peenemuende was abandoned on 20 February 1945, by which time only 15 R-3's had been completed. The solid rocket motor for the R-3R had reached the stage of stand tests on 6 February 1945, but further work was cancelled.
"Rheintochter" German R-3p Surface-to-Air Missile stats:
Status: Cancelled 1945.
Thrust: 13.70 kN (3,080 lbf).
Gross mass: 1,170 kg (2,570 lb).
Height: 4.75 m (15.58 ft).
Apogee: 12 km (7 mi).
Maximum range: 25 km (15 mi).
Boost Propulsion: Storable liquid rocket or solid rocket.
This new kit from Bronco
This new kit features not only the missile but the launcher stand, which is the base for the FlaK 88 gun or very near to it.
You also have the choice of the transport trolley in this boxing.
You can always adopt another launcher kit to make this a transportable tracked launcher platform.
Three marking choices are suggested in this kit
The kit includes decals and of course photo etch parts
Here are the rest of the kit features – some in rough English from the manufacturers so bear with us here, but it's better than me translating it!
This kit should be available sometime around December this year – check out the Bronco Models website for more on all of their kits.