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Kit Form Services presents its latest addition to its British Cold War Classics range.

The English Electric Thunderbird surface to air guided missile was adopted by the British army in 1959 as a highly mobile air defence weapon & served until 1977 before the last battery was re-equipped with the Rapier system. It ran for many years in direct competition with the similar looking Bloodhound system that was developed by Bristol & ordered for the RAF. At battery strength, the 4 missile transporter/launcher trailers (which were converted from the Bofors 40/70 carriage) would be towed by Bedford RL prime movers. The battery also consisted of AEC Militant prime movers & 6 generator trailers for power & hydraulics, 2 radar trailers & 4 missile re-supply trailers. The launcher could be re-loaded with another missile, complete with launcher cradle, from the re-supply trailer, without the aid of a crane.

Kit Form Services’ English Electric Thunderbird Mk2 SAM (TQ-225) is a 1/24th scale kit containing 59 resin parts, 41 in white metal, and 114 in brass etch in two thicknesses, waterslide decals and full pictorial build instructions.

TQ-225 features the complete missile system with its 4 wheel transporter / launcher trailer. Axles can be removed, and the launcher lowered to the ground. The launcher rotates 360 degrees and elevates from horizontal to 50 degrees for launch. It stands 11" tall in ground mount role with missile elevated to launch position.

Our thanks to Kit Form Services for this update.