2006 proved to be a drought for building for me.  At the end of the year, I glanced over my year's goals, and met none of the modelling ones at all.  After mulling over the possible reasons, I decided that a frustration with the builds on the table, AMS, over researching my subjects, and a silly worry about not being a good enough modeller to do justice to my stash of kits were at the head of the blame list.  Clearly I needed a couple jump starts...  And so here is my 1st model completed for 2007!  The Trumpeter 35th scale SA-2 Guideline missile on Launcher - I believe the Soviets knew her as the S-2 Dvina.  No cockpit, no landing gear, no wells, and I refused to allow myself any aftermarket items at all.  I also put a strict short limit on the research... although I had already been collecting some photos previously.

I started this kit on New Year's day, and finished it on 1/24/07, working on it here and there in spare time after work some days, and some weekends.

It was a fun build, and I can see myself building another someday.  Some of the instructions were a tad vague, or maybe I had inhaled too much glue...  Fit was great, injection marks few.  There are several confusing callouts in the instructions that seem to indicate no glue... but I ignored most since I didn't really want a moveable kit.  I had some difficulty with the decals - some of the numbering doesn't seem to indicate the same decal that they intend it to, and many of the decals are much larger than I expected, but I got it worked out.  I had a couple decals rip when I was repositioning them, but that may have been my setting solution setting a bit early.

There are a good number of stencils for all over the missile, but not a single decal for the launcher, which I have to say I find odd.  There was no stenciling or warnings or anything on the launcher at all?  My references seem to bear this out, though most photos I have appear to be from in museums so might have the stenciling painted over. I wanted to model a North Vietnamese SAM, and I had trouble finding many photos of the NVA SAMs during the conflict.  I went with an aluminum for the missile, and Russian Green for the Launcher.  Photos show the launchers as grimy and rusty (again - might be a part of being in museums?) - especially the blast deflector.  If it looks overdone to you - I swear I have photos that show it much worse!  Mine looks toned down in comparison!

Click on images below to see larger images

The kit comes with very little description of the coloring of the missile, nor of any differences if it was in Asia, or the Middle East, or Cuba.  Spelling is fascinating - in particular I love the decaled stencil that goes near the top of the missile reading 'NO PHOTOSORRY" in large. block, red lettering.  

A very enjoyable build - maybe I'll try the one on the truck next time.

Thanks to Steve for having this TET-themed day - I was born on the same day the major part of the TET offensive began, so I have an association with it that intrigues me.
Tracy & Jeni