Atlantis 1/40 Bendix Talos Missile

Talos was the end product of Operation Bumblebee, the Navy's 16-year surface-to-air missile development program for protection against guided anti-ship missiles like Henschel Hs 293 glide bombs, Fritz X, and kamikaze aircraft. The Talos was the primary effort behind the Bumblebee project but was not the first missile the program developed; the RIM-2 Terrier was the first to enter service. The Talos was originally designated SAM-N-6 and was redesignated RIM-8 in 1963. The airframe was manufactured by McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis; final assembly was by Bendix Missile Systems in Mishawaka, Indiana. The first production versions of the missile cost about $155,000 in 1955 ($1,793,335 in 2022 dollars); however, the price would drop as Bendix increased production.

The initial SAM-N-6b/RIM-8A had an effective range of about 50 nmi and a conventional warhead. Several later variants added a nuclear warhead for use in the surface to surface version. The surface to air variant was used in Vietnam with four MiGs shot down by the USS Chicago and USS Long Beach. It was the first SAM victory fired from a ship. Thanks to its large size, it was limited regarding the ships that carried it. The last missiles were decommissioned in 1979. The missile had a solid propellant first stage with a ramjet second stage. 

Several years ago, Revell USA decided to sell off its non-car tooling. This included all the Monogram and Revell kits from the 50s and 60s. Revell AG bought all the more modern kits as they didn't want the odd scale classics. Atlantis made a bid for all those that Revell AG did not want and ended up with a lot of fairly old tooling. Many have been re-issued and Atlantis took the care to ensure the molds were in good shape. In other cases they updated the tooling, an example is the addition of clear parts to some of the older off scale car kits.

This kit was initially issued in 1955, and until this was re-issued last year, was a highly sought collectible as it was not something that had been re-released in the 70 years since its first go-around. Looking at the two sprues (one black and one white), the parts are remarkably free from flash and other glitches. Typical of the kits of that era, it includes a launcher, some test gear, and ground crewmen.

This is obviously a test setup as this was a ship-based missile. There is a well done tripod style launching platform with a launch rail that can be moved vertically. The missile has forward fins that can also be moved. The missile body is in three major sections. A nose cone, the second stage with most of the fins, and the booster stage. This is all slid onto the launch bar by a pair of guides on the missile body. Then it is a simple matter of painting the figures, placing them on their stands and putting them into your display.

Instructions are copies of the original from 1955. Each construction step has a written sequence. Generic color information is provided on each part as well as decal placement. The kit decals are well done and provide markings for one of the test missiles. There are images on the net if you want to do something a little different. Operational missiles were generally overall white.

I have built some of these '50s kits in the past and I can tell you that if you treat them as short run kits, they will go together with minimal fuss. Just don't play with them too much as the movable features tend to be their weakest part.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIM-8_Talos

June 2026