Randy Asplund's
Aviation Models
Fiesler Fi 103 "Reichenberg"
Encore repackaged Heller model Kit
1/72 scale
This model comes with the Ba 349
Natter. I guess they are too small to be packaged alone! The Reichenberg
is the German version of the Kamikazi plane. You start with a
V-1 Buzzbomb and modify it for a pilot. The idea was to put a
Hitler Youth (aka brainwashed idiot teenager) into the cockpit
with almost no flight training. He would then try to fly it out
to a target like a ship, and then put it intpo a dive. Theoretically,
the idea was that the exhuberant individual would then have a
few seconds to open the canopy and jump free. I think the best
estimates of being able to do this without getting killed was
something like a 10% chance of sucess. Yeah, right. They were
expected to be suicide pilots. However, they decided not to do
this, and the planes never attacked anyone.
On a sad note, just as I was writing
this page came news that the World Trade Center had just been
attacked by a suicide planes. Three civilian airliners were hijacked
and used in suicide attacks against the WTC and the Pentagon.
The assinine evil of this current attack is simply stunning. Not
even the evil of the Nazis was great enough tto get them to do
these kinds of suicide attacks. And they were in the desperate
defence of their homeland and way of life. Their backs were to
the wall, and they still decided the concept was way overboard.
Now today, some brainwashed shadows of evil have decided to commit
suicide by killing thousands on innocent civilians who never had
a thing to do with them. The power of evil is truly amazing.
I did a fair bit of accurizing on
this model, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the Matchbox V-1 sold
by Revell of Germany. I did have to remake the mounting points
and add pitot tube & something that I think is the sight.
I also hinged the cockpit and made the seat harness. I had to
score some lines and also add the rudder pushrods.
Reichenberg!
8x10"
Acrylic & Alkyd
This Fi 103 is being jumped by a
Gloster Meteor M.III from the RAF No. 616 (F) Squadron, 1944.
Obviously, since the Reichenberg was never actually used in combat,
this is an alternate history painting.