1:72 Ba349A Natter What if?

The real subject

The Bachem Ba 349 Natter is a German single-seat interceptor from the end of the Second World War, built around a single idea: to get the pilot to the altitude of a bomber formation as fast as possible. It was powered by a rocket engine and took off vertically up a guide tower, so it managed without an airfield and without a take-off run. The design was simple and made of cheap materials, because the machine was not counted on for long service: after an attack the pilot and the rear section with the engine were to come down to the ground on parachutes and the rest of the airframe was sacrificed. The type never reached regular deployment.

What the kit offers

A kit of a model of the Ba 349A in 1:72 scale. The What if addition in the name refers to a hypothetical rendering, that is to a scheme and markings the machine did not actually carry. The extent of the parts, the building procedure and the form of the markings included are given by the manufacturer in the instructions, which you should follow during the build.

Building and painting tips

The model is small, so the joints and clean work decide the result more than the number of parts. Try every part dry first and only then glue it. Small surfaces are easily flooded by a heavy layer of paint, so spray thinly and rather more often. A hypothetical rendering gives you a free hand, but it looks best when it keeps to the logic of the period: restrained markings and wear corresponding to short service will do more than a gaudy scheme.

• a kit in 1:72 scale
• the real subject is the rocket-powered interceptor Ba 349A Natter
• a hypothetical rendering marked as What if
• the extent of the parts and the building procedure are given in the manufacturer's instructions
• a small model, where trying the parts dry pays off

Terms of supply

Paints, glue and other tools are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.