U.S. SPACE MISSILES BY PAUL ADAMS

Atlantis is a US model company that specialises in re-issuing old and classic kits from past decades. One of their new releases for 2022 is the U.S. Space Missile set, containing 36 US missiles and rockets from the 1950s and 1960s.

This set started out in 1958 as the Monogram U.S. Missile Arsenal in 1/128th scale, 3/32 inch to the foot (this was once regarded as a standard model aircraft scale, and is half of 1/64th). The set contained 31 missiles, a display stand, and a 32-page booklet on missiles, which had an introduction by Willy Ley.

In 1959 the missiles from this set were also released in six smaller sets, in plastic bags.

In 1969 the set was revised, and re-issued under the title U.S. Space Missiles. Five of the older missiles were deleted, mostly the winged types, and ten newer missiles were added. This brought the missile count up to 36.

Actually, most of the missiles were military. They ranged from small tactical battlefield and air-to-air missiles to Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, so there is a vast difference in their sizes. Two human figures were included to give an idea of scale.

The display is 12 3/4 inches wide, and 10 1/2 inches to the tip of the tallest missile. Some of the missiles are one-piece mouldings, others contain up to six parts.

It is the U.S. Space Missiles set, with 36 missiles, that Atlantis is re-issuing. The Atlantis web site gives a US retail price of $39.99, and an expected release date of July 2022. Again, a booklet on missiles is included.

Atlantis Plastic Model kits Made in the USA! (atlantis-models.com)

The instruction sheet for the Monogram version can be downloaded from the Scalemates site.

U.S. Space Missiles, Monogram 6055 (1983) (scalemates.com)

Apart from the U.S. Missile Arsenal and the U.S. Space Missiles sets, Monogram did a U.S. and U.S.S.R. Missile Display set in 1984, to 1/144th scale, which today is a much more common aircraft scale than 1/128th. There were 20 missiles in this set.

Thanks to Max from Max's Models for mentioning this great set.

The photo of the Atlantis set is from the Atlantis site, while the rest are from Worthpoint.

Paul Adams from New Zealand

Have you got a set like this?