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The rocket program in the US and
USSR was driven by the military goals of an offensive ICBM arms race. One
of the earliest Soviet ICBM's was the SS-6 Sapwood. The
R-7/SS-6 Sapwood was the first Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile
developed to be launched from the USSR. It is estimated that it could deliver a
reentry vehicle weighing 4.5 tons 6500 nm. The R-7 missile became the
first Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile.
The R-7 missile employs a unique
rocket system including one central rocket and four strap-on boosters, all of
which were started simultaneously at liftoff. The strap-on boosters formed the
first stage, and the central sustainer constituted the second stage. This tandem
structure allowed the start and control of all engines at normal atmospheric
pressure. There are Aerodynamic fins located at the base of the strap-on
boosters that also assist for flight control.
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In October 1957 Sputnik was
launched and this caused a stir in the US military. It was instantly
realised that the USSR had developed long range ICBM abilities in excess of US
capabilities. The US launched a number of small American satellites using
the Jupiter and Vanguard boosters to boost public morale, but it would take the
US quite a while to narrow the gap in rocket booster abilities.
Cutting
Edge Modelworks has included this important Soviet ICBM in their Lift
Off Series of
models. This latest release will permit modelers to add this ICBM to the
other famous
space rockets recently released by Cutting
Edge Modelworks as well as the other resin items and decals related
to the USSR and US space programs also recently released by Cutting
Edge Modelworks.
This is one of the many 1/144
items from Cutting
Edge Modelworks in their Lift
Off Series
dealing with the race for space. This particular 25 piece resin model kit set is fairly straight forward
but full of rich detail.....study the instructions carefully....especially the
pictures on the instructions and you'll do ok. The masters for this resin
model kit were created by NASA patternmaker Ben Guenther with additional work by
Scott Battistoni.
First up we have the central
rocket. This is a long solid resin part. There is a resin casting
block (see photo below on far right) that will require the use of a saw to cut
off, but that's easy enough. The top of this part has a very nicely done
nose cone. This was an ICBM capable of carrying a thermonuclear warhead of
3 tons in the nose cone.
Click
on images below to see larger images |
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Once you
remove the casting block from the bottom of the central
rocket.....you then attach the rocket motor exhaust cones.
Also included are 16 (you only use 12) small nozzles. Four of
these will be used on the bottom of the central rocket. You
will have to cut down the small rocket nozzles and drill holes in
the base of the rocket to slide these 4 small nozzles into.
Detail on these small nozzles is delicate and the nozzles themselves
are hollowed out cones.....just like the larger main
nozzles.
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There are 4 strap-on rocket
boosters......two are in the image below. You need to cut the casting
block off the bottom and attach the rocket exhaust cone base to each booster
rocket. Then you drill 2 tiny holes in the base of each booster and insert
the smaller
nozzles for rocket bases. These strap-on boosters have panel lines
etc that will show up well.
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2 of the 4
strap-on boosters
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1 of the 4
bases for the strap-on boosters
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smaller
nozzles for rocket bases
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The most complicated part of this
model will be the rods that interlink and then get attached to the base of the
rocket motors. You only use 4 rods but 6 are included which is good incase
something goes wrong at this stage. Read the instructions
carefully....study the pictures included and dry fit a few times to make sure
you've got everything figured out for this stage before you get out your CA
glue.
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Rods
to be interlinked to bases of the 5 rockets....and the vents that will
be attached to the main rocket. |
Here is the bottom of
one of the four strap on rocket boosters. There is a casting
block that will need to be removed
with a saw. The bottom end as you can see in the picture to
the right is full of well done detail.
Painting instructions
are not included, so you'll have to figure that out for yourself.
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Click on
image below to see larger image |
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There is one page of
instructions and it covers all aspects of the construction of this resin
kit. Painting instructions are not included and there are no
markings included in this kit. The kit is safely packet in a custom
made cardboard box to ensure it's safe transport.
It's refreshing to see Cutting
Edge Modelworks taking on and producing the Early Space related
items. This "Lift Off Series" is sure to be a big hit with
anyone with an interest in the Space Race.
I would like to
thank Cutting Edge
Modelworks for providing me with this review sample. |
Click
on image below to see larger image |
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Steve
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