Classic kits vol.2: U.S. Tactical Missiles Set: Little John & Dart "s" Kits

Subject: U.S. Tactical Missile Set: Little John and Dart

Scale: 1/40

Description: 1958 injection molded kit in two color plastic,with waterslide decals.

Price: US$100,00 in good conditions

Comments:This is the 'S' kit issue from 1958. Note that the the kit is called 'Tactical missile set' instead of the 'Tactical Rockets set' used in the last issue around 1963. These missile models are well detailed. The Dart includes four missiles, one launcher, three stands, decals, one optical guidance unit and a crew of three. The Little John includes a detailed launcher with elevating rails, movable support legs, decals and crew of three. Little John was a light-weight free-flight rocket that was highly mobile. It could be pulled on it's launcher or transported by helicopter. Length was 12 feet long and the warhead was atomic. The Dart was a very early 5-foot long wire guided anti-tank missile with a solid propellant rocket motor. An optical rangefinder was used for guidance. 

Military Landmarks vol.2: Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen

Subject: Ludendorff Bridge
Location: Remagen, Germany

Comments: The Ludendorff Bridge (also known as the Bridge at Remagen) was in early March 1945 one of two remaining bridges across the River Rhine in Germany when it was captured during the Battle of Remagen by United States Army forces during the closing weeks of the Second World War. Built in 1918 to help deliver reinforcements and supplies to the German troops on the front, it connected the villages of Remagenand Erpel between two hills flanking the river. The town of Remagen is located close to and south of the city of Bonn. At the end of Operation Lumberjack (1-7 March 1945), the troops of the American 1st Army approached Remagen and were surprised to find that the bridge was still standing. Its capture enabled the U.S. Army to more quickly establish a bridgehead on the eastern side of the Rhine. After the U.S. forces captured the bridge, Germany vainly tried to destroy it multiple times over the next two weeks. While it stood, the bridge enabled the U.S. Army to quickly get 25,000 troops, six Army divisions, and thousands of heavy tanks, artillery pieces and trucks across the Rhine. The bridge collapsed on 17 March 1945, ten days after it was captured, killing 18 U.S. Army Engineers. It was never rebuilt. The towers on the west bank were converted into a museum and the towers on the east bank are a performing art space. (Ref. Wikipedia).