Detail for Pershing 1A

[stantonjtroy]

I'm in the middle of a scratch build of the Pershing 1A. It,s built around a BT101 and cardstock for all but the upper nose cone. I downloaded the drawings from Peter Always site and they're great for the overall dimentions but I'm trying to find some details. Pics or drawings are doable. Any help or links would be appriciated. Thanks in advance.

Troy

 

[dedleytedley]

Here are some pics I used when building my TLP Pershing 1A. I found the pic of the rusty? one the most revealing. Ted

 

[foose4string]

The rusty one sits at the ordinance museum at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds here in Aberdeen, Maryland. Here is one of me standing in front of that 'ol, neglected, rust bucket. There is a Nike Hercules there that is probably in worse shape!

 

[dedleytedley]

I came across an interesting story while researching the Pershing 1A... So the story went, in 1983 NATO was conducting a nuclear readiness exercise. Unbeknownst to the NATO leaders the Soviets had changed their response policy from fire on launch of NATO weapons to one of fire on SUSPICION of launch due to the fact that Pershing 1A's based in Germany would reach command centres in Moscow about the same time they had confirmation of a launch. Accordingly the Soviets stepped up their espionage in the U.S.
Originally both Reagan and Bush Sr. were to participate in the exercise but officials felt that this would be "provocative" and the exercise went ahead without their direct participation. As the exercise began the Soviets raised their readiness to the highest level as they could not be sure that this wasn't a cover for a first strike by NATO. The earliest indication of an actual launch by NATO would be a burst of radio traffic but the standing down of the NATO nuclear forces would also generate a similar burst of radio traffic.
The Soviets were panicked, many argued if they didn't launch now they'd never have a chance to do it. They consulted their agents in Washington and they reported that Reagan was at a public function and the Doves argued that the U.S. would have Reagan in a shelter if they were going to launch a first strike. American officials had a similar problem as they were aware of the Soviets readiness to launch and were afraid to stand down their forces. It seems kind of like two gunfighters waiting for the twitch that the other was about to draw.
Reagan was hustled from the banquet back to the White house and got on the hotline with Gorbachev. They negotiated the stand down of the nukes and the crisis was over. We can only speculate about what else they said but it is revealing that not long afterward talks were scheduled on reducing nuclear weapons and the first to go were the Pershing missiles. Ted

 

[stantonjtroy]

Thanks to all. I had no idea there was one in Aberdeen. I'm in Baltimore so I guess I need to get my butt up there.

Troy

 

[foose4string]

Thanks to all. I had no idea there was one in Aberdeen. I'm in Baltimore so I guess I need to get my butt up there.

Troy

Oh, you're not far at all then. Not much there in the way of missiles, mostly tanks...and LOTS of them...from numerous origins. I have a friend who is big time into modeling tanks. I'm sure he would get a kick out of the Aberdeen museum and I'm pretty certain he's never been.

The indoor part of the museum is a great resource for anyone interested in all things lock, stock, and barrel. A ton of rifles and related weaponry there. Only three missiles as I recall- the Pershing, Nike Herc, and a Corporal. The Corporal is in the worst condition of the three. Pretty sad how they have been neglected but being outside takes a toll, I'm sure.

The Pershing there will yield quite a bit of info despite the weathered appearance.

 

[Gus]

I'm in the middle of a scratch build of the Pershing 1A. It,s built around a BT101 and cardstock for all but the upper nose cone. I downloaded the drawings from Peter Always site and they're great for the overall dimentions but I'm trying to find some details. Pics or drawings are doable. Any help or links would be appriciated. Thanks in advance.

Troy

Troy,

Just be aware that your Pershing will need a lot of nose weight to be stable and I'm not sure a paper cone on a BT-101 sized model will be strong enough to hold that much nose weight.

The fins are miniscule and once you put a motor in the back The Pershing is really aft-heavy. I know how much noseweight Sandman puts in his BT-70 kit to make it stable and I can't imagine a paper cone holding up to that much weight. A BT-101 version would be even more difficult.

 

[stantonjtroy]

Troy,

Just be aware that your Pershing will need a lot of nose weight to be stable and I'm not sure a paper cone on a BT-101 sized model will be strong enough to hold that much nose weight.

The fins are miniscule and once you put a motor in the back The Pershing is really aft-heavy. I know how much noseweight Sandman puts in his BT-70 kit to make it stable and I can't imagine a paper cone holding up to that much weight. A BT-101 version would be even more difficult.

I agree. I've got a BT-50 extending up through the lower paper portion of the tube. the upper cone is turned from a resin/micro bubble mix that's been hollowed out to accept an epoxy/shot mix for weight. This keeps the load on the paper portion virtually nil and makes it more of a transition than an actual nose cone, much like the upper conical transition on the Saturn S-IVB only the upper cone on top instead of a CSM.

 

[MaxQ]

Oh, you're not far at all then. Not much there in the way of missiles, mostly tanks...and LOTS of them...from numerous origins. I have a friend who is big time into modeling tanks. I'm sure he would get a kick out of the Aberdeen museum and I'm pretty certain he's never been.

The indoor part of the museum is a great resource for anyone interested in all things lock, stock, and barrel. A ton of rifles and related weaponry there. Only three missiles as I recall- the Pershing, Nike Herc, and a Corporal. The Corporal is in the worst condition of the three. Pretty sad how they have been neglected but being outside takes a toll, I'm sure.

The Pershing there will yield quite a bit of info despite the weathered appearance.

Enjoy Aberdeen while you can....I heard much of the museum will be relocated.

 

[powderburner]

If anyone is looking for old armor, or a firearms museum, or some old artillery specimens, check the Rock Island Armory. It is located between Davenport (and Bettendorf) Iowa on one side of the Mississippi and Moline and E Moline on the Illinois side of the river.

They have a bunch of interesting stuff. If I can find their brochure I'll post a list for any tank nuts that want to know. They also have a very good indoor museum that follows the development of small arms.

And out in a little park near the east/north end of the installation they have a Little John hanging in a weird little launcher that I hadn't seen before. The next time I get back there I will remember to BRING A CAMERA (duh!).

OK, resume the "real" thread-