1:48 Feuerlilie F-55 Flakrakete w/dolly

The experimental Feuerlilie F-55 missile with a dolly

A model of a rocket body completed by the transport dolly that is given in the name of the item. The real subject belongs among themes that stand aside from the mainstream: it never entered service and yet a number of photographs and documents remained after it, because it was one of the first attempts to construct a guided antiaircraft weapon.

The real subject in brief

The Feuerlilie came about in Germany during the Second World War as an experimental range whose larger member carried the designation F-55. The body had an aerodynamic shape with small wings and stabilizing surfaces and served above all for research into behavior at high speeds. The trials took place on coastal ranges, but the results could not be turned into a usable weapon and the project was stopped at the close of the war. That is exactly why mainly trial pieces on dollies and transport frames have survived, which makes such an arrangement a rewarding subject for a display case.

Building and painting

The seams on the body of the missile deserve the main attention: after gluing, sand and polish them, because on a smooth body every scratch stands out. Glue the dolly separately and paint it before joining, as a brush will not get inside the structure later. With this kind of real subject a contrast between a smooth, glossier body and the matte, slightly dusty structure beneath it proves itself. The result is underlined by a simple base that holds the arrangement in the right position.

Who the model is for

• collectors of rocket and experimental equipment
• modelers looking for a fresh subject for a display case
• builders of scenes from research ranges
• anyone interested in the technical development of the nineteen forties

It is supplied as a kit without a coat; the finishing is entirely up to you.