FineScale Modeler – October 2019

36 FineScale Modeler October 2019

and one that I couldn’t pass up.

The parts suffered from sink and ejector-

pin marks, and many had their part num-

bers prominently molded on. On the plus

side, the instructions called out the parts by

their actual names and were easy to under-

stand. Between the clear instructions, the

kit’s large scale, and the accurate though

poorly produced parts, I couldn’t resist the

challenge to build and detail it.

I finished basic assembly on the trailer,

which included about 60 parts and made

a frame about 16 inches long. The launch

platform (left) had a lot of sink marks

and flash, 1.

The first scratchbuilt items were new

rear levelers made from .187-inch and .25-

Detailing a Cold War-era nuclear missile and launcher

BY MIKE DEL VECCHIO

Keeping the peace

N

ATO first deployed the MGM-

31 Pershing intermediate range

ballistic missile to Europe in

1960 as part of its nuclear force.

Both the missile and launcher underwent

upgrades 1969 and ’70: the former to the

1a, and the latter to the M757A1.

Martin Marietta Corp. manufactured

the Pershing, and its prototype and tooling

department made a 1/32 scale plastic model

kit of the missile and its launcher. The

model, once assembled, was meant to be

posable, allowing the builder to show the

missile stowed or ready for launch. Marked

EPL-1 and dated for 1973, it’s a rare find,

inch styrene tube and Milliput to form

the top, 2.

To enhance the realism, I fashioned pis-

tons for the levelers from aluminum rod.

After filling ejector-pin marks on the level-

ing pads, I mounted them to the pistons

and then installed them on the trailer. I

filled the ejector-pin marks on the decks

and restored the grate detail with 26AWG

stainless-steel wire, 3.

After cleaning up the booms, I assem-

bled the lower split ring. The front guide-

posts were added, clevis for the erector

cylinders and then the booms. The booms

The box says it contains an “authentic working

model,” which it does, to a degree.

While the kit parts may have accurate shapes,

they suffered from poor production quality.

1

Before beginning to detail the model, I

assembled the basic chassis for the launch

trailer.

2

Rather than try to fix the problems with the

rear hydraulic levelers from the kit, it was

easier to make new ones.