The Fiesler Fi103 was also know as the V-1, the ‘Buzz Bomb’ or several other names. It was perhaps the world’s first successful cruise-missile and used in large numbers late in World War II, but to little effect.

Development began as early as 1935 but the project languished until around 1944 when Germany’s leaders were desperately seeking weapons to strike back at the Allies.

The Fi103 (named Vergeltungswaffen or Vengeance Weapon 1) was ordered into production in large numbers.

They were fairly crude, relatively cheap to make and mostly manufactured by slave labour.

At least 29,000 were made and V-1 attacks on London began on 13 June 1944.

Only one in four V-1’s reached their target, the final one being launched on 2 March 1945.

At best they caused some destruction and public alarm and diverted some resources from the Allied war effort into defending against them.

This model represents a standard V-1.

Frog 1/72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in December 1998.