introduction

As the Cold War deepened, aerospace companies developed delivery systems for nukes that lessened hazards to pilots. Cruise missiles and "stand off" weapons were developed and deployed and model companies developed and delivered kits of them almost as fast as the military received the real things - or sooner, as in the case of the Bell GAM-63 Rascal!

Monogram Models, Inc created this amazing 1/48 model of the Bell GAM-63 Rascal, released in 1958, with the kit number PD42-98; "-98" was the recommended retail price of a whopping 98¢! More than just a model attack missile, this kit included a tractor with a transporter loader, and a trio of figures. It also boasted "action" features such as folding missile fins, and a positionable loader. Like many of the vintage Aurora models reviewed here at Kitmaker Network, this model was a surprise to me.

As amazing as this model is, it was only released by Monogram for a short time, perhaps because Strategic Air Command did not field the weapon. And whether my interest at the time made space and missile subjects invisible to me, or perhaps Monogram had already discontinued the kits, I do not recall Monogram's cruise missiles vying for shelf space at my hometown model outlets: City Cycle Hobby Shop, Bell or Davis Drug Stores, Value Village; nor at Kresge, Woolworths, Sears, or JC Pennys.

Thanks to OldModelKits.com we have this complete kit to examine at Nostalgia AFB.

the kit

Monogram packaged this model in a sturdy tray-lid box. Colorful box art depicts a GAM-63 being towed with jovial crewmen attending.

Inside the box are five sprues packed loose, not sealed in a clear plastic baggie. Also included are decals, an instruction sheet, and an accordion catalogue. (See the photos at the bottom of this review.)

The sprues are molded in black, red, white and yellow. I can not tell if the red missile half was attached to the red sprue or included separately. Molding is of good quality although suffers from what was acceptable in the era. While I can not find a hint of flash, and mold seam lines and sink holes are minimal, back then people didn't seem to be disgusted by visible ejector circles. While molding is crisp, except for the gaps between the airframe and control surfaces, all surface detail is raised, including rivets, some of which seem to be over scale.

Regardless, good clean edges make this a good clean model. I forgot to test-fit it yet if it is like other Monogram creations for the era, parts will join precisely.

Modelers of Monogram's 1970's-era 1/48 B-24J may notice the caterpillar tractor. The tractor in this kit is the exact same model. Monogram held onto the tools and dies. You will notice photographs with the yellow parts of this kit next to a black sprue from the B-24. It is the exact same model.

Sixty-eight parts assemble the four individual kits and three crewmwen:

Rascal
Seven red and white parts create the GAM-63. The rear dorsal and bottom fins snap into place to allow you to fold them.

High-speed tractor
This caterpillar mule is made up with 13 parts. Although it has a windshield frame, it has no clear plastic to simulate glass.

Chassis and Carriage
This neat little kit is built with 40 parts (41 if you count the technician)!

Crew
Three mechanic technicians are included. Two have ground bases.

Detail

Detail is sharp and convincing, and if not completely to-scale then it is close. Surface detail of the missile is sparse and mainly simulated with raised panel lines and rivets.

The tractor is toy-like. Monogram did not even mold air between the running gear and the frames. It does not look very good and I did not even build it with my B-24. Perhaps today there are aftermarket sets to improve it. Otherwise it will rely of the skill and patience of a model builder to cut those areas open.

The chassis and carriage are quite impressive! The only drawbacks I see are the big cog for raising the cradle and the thick safety railing. Monogram engineered "action features" into many models and carriage cradle can be raised and lowered.

The crewmen are not up to the quality of later Monogram figures yet they are far superior to what Aurora offered at the time.

I forgot to measure this quarterscale model.

Instructions, decals, painting

Monogram made the best instruction sheets of the time. One side featured a photograph of the assembled kit, an exploded grayscale illustration of the model(s) with each piece numbered and named, and "finishing" section, i.e., painting and decaling. A brief history was included, too. The other side featured an illustrated 21-step process of assembling the four subjects of this kit. Monogram supported the textual instructions with halftone photographs of the models during assembly. Superb!

Decals are less impressive. They were thicker and had more excess carrier film than what is accepted today. While stenciling is sharply printed the national insignia is sloppy and out of register. Only one missile choice was printed, USAF 1014. I would like to tape the sheet to a south facing window to determine how much yellowing will bleach out, and then try soaking a decal; would it work? Before doing so, it would be wise to refer to an article about saving old decals (linked below)!

Monogram did not produce their own brand of paint back then, but they did market their own tube cement. Painting guidance is general.

Conclusion

If Monogram was not the best model maker of the era, then they were tied for first place. Their classic Phantom Mustang is still considered to be one of the best P-51D models available. This smart set of the Bell GAM-63 Rascal shows why Monogram was so highly though of. Molding quality for the era is high. Detail is sharp and convincing, and if not completely to-scale then it is close. Monogram engineered "action features" into many models and carriage cradle can be raised and lowered.

Their authenticity did not carry into the high-speed tracked tractor. It suffers for toy-like components. Monogram's Regulus II and Snark missiles, with earlier kit numbers, both have this tractor; presumably the model was engineered before Monogram progressed towards more sophisticated models and they kept this tooling, thus company marketing rascals just kept amortizing the tooling by passing it along, as they did with the 1/48 B-24J.

While I have never personally seen this kit assembled, the instruction sheet images show what can be considered - except for the tractor - as an impressive set! If I can ever snare a Rascal you can bet I will build it! This 1/48 Strategic Air Command air-to-surface supersonic guided missile and ground equipment should make an amazing display!

We thank OldModelKits.com for providing this complete kit to examine! Please tell vendors and retailers that you saw this at Aeroscale!

BELL XGAM-63 RASCAL*

The Rascal, originally designated as the XB-63, was an air-to-surface supersonic guided missile armed with a nuclear warhead. Its development was inaugurated in April 1946. The Rascal was intended as a "stand off" weapon, to be launched from Strategic Air Command bombers as far away as 100 miles, thus reducing the manned bomber crew's exposure to enemy defenses in the immediate target area. Launched from its carrier aircraft, the missile would continue toward its predetermined target controlled by a self-contained inertial guidance system. The terminal dive began about 20 miles from the target. During this final phase of flight, the Rascal's course could be altered by signals from the launching "director" aircraft.

The first launch of a guided Rascal took place in October 1953 from a Boeing DB-47 director aircraft; various successful powered flights were demonstrated during later tests. The GAM-63 program was terminated in late 1958, shortly before the first Rascal-equipped SAC unit was to become operational, in favor of the more promising and longer range Hound Dog missile.

The Rascal on display was delivered to the museum in November 1958 from Bell Aircraft Corp., Buffalo, N.Y.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Span: 16 ft. 8 in.
Length: 32 ft.
Height: 12 ft. 6 in.
Weight: 18,200 lbs. maximum at launch
Armament: Nuclear warhead
Engines: Bell XLR-67 three-chamber liquid fuel rocket engine of 10,440 lbs. thrust
Crew: None
Cost: $2,262,000

PERFORMANCE:
Maximum speed: Approx. 1,950 mph
Maximum range: 100 miles
Maximum altitude: 65,000 ft.*

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Source
*"Factsheets : Bell XGAM-63 Rascal." Factsheets : Bell XGAM-63 Rascal. National Museum of the USAF, 13 Oct. 2013. Web. 15 Nov. 2014. .