BY BILL ENGAR

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ATLANTIS MODELS RE-RELEASES REVELL'S CLASSIC 1/40 X-17 MISSILE KIT!  THIS MODEL HAS NOT BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE ITS FIRST ISSUE IN 1958.  IT WAS A HIGHLY COLLECTIBLE AND DESIRABLE KIT RESURRECTED BY ATLANTIS AT A LOW, LOW PRICE!

ATLANTIS MODELS #H1810 -- PLASTIC ASSEMBLY KIT -- GLUE AND PAINT NEEDED FOR ASSEMBLY (NOT INCLUDED) -- 36 PARTS MOLDED IN POLYSTYRENE PLASTIC -- RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 14 AND UP -- COMPLETED MODEL 13.25 INCHES TALL -- MSRP $US24.99 (2026)

The X-17 played a significant role in the development and testing of nuclear weaponry during the 1950's.  Data from X-17 flights played a major role in the development of reentry heat shielding for American ICBM warheads.  After the Revell kit of the X-17 was released, the rocket was re-engineered to loft an actual nuclear device three times during atomic testing.

In 1957-8, Revell Models released a trio of historic space/missile kits in 1/40.  They were never reissued by Revell and became highly collectible and sought after during the years since.  Atlantis Models has brought back all three kits!  The subjects depicted played important roles in the development of Cold War weaponry.

Atlantis' Lockheed X-17 uses vintage Revell artwork.  We're so excited to see this amazing Collector Kit available again!

Atlantis' X-17 Research Missile has 36 parts molded in dark green and white plastic.

Atlantis has included a beautifully rendered decal sheet which includes two options for the missile! 

While the X-17 was not a weapon system, it was a research rocket that played a significant role in the development of early ICBM re-entry systems.  Early versions of the U.S. Navy's Polaris Missile used the same-shaped nose cone depicted in the X-17.  Early nose shapes for the Titan I program and Atlas were developed from X-17 data.

Instructions are printed on glossy high-grade paper using vintage Revell artwork.

A color diagram includes two colorful schemes for the X-17.

The back of the box includes a contemporary build by Jeff Smedley.

This is a vintage model kit.  The builder can expect to remove some flash and sinkholes.  Assembly of the rocket is straightforward; most effort in construction and painting will be the launch stand.  Three figures (1/40) are included along with what appears to be a tracking camera.

One side of the box includes a brief history and paint list.

The rocket has fine raised details including maintenance panels with restrained rivets.  It appears pretty accurate to me with a simulated warhead shape which resembles that seen on the Atlas, Titan and Polaris Missiles.  The second stage consisted of three clustered Thiokol Recruit solid rocket motors.  This stage had flat panels between motors as a drag-reduction measure which gives it a rounded triangle shape.

The other side includes skill level info and licensing info.  The X-17 was built by Lockheed; Atlantis obtained licensing to release the kit.

The model has a very detailed launch stand that has many decals.  It'll make a cool display for the rocket.  The "spin motor" slides over the rocket without glue so you can display on or off the finished  rocket as you wish.

This sinkhole on the third stage adapter is the worst one we can find on the model.  It should be a breeze to fill using your favorite putty.  We like epoxy because it doesn't shrink over time.

The spin-motor ring is designed to drop away from the rocket soon after launch.  This part simply slips over the completed rocket and you can display it on or off the rocket as you wish.

Atlantis has been printing a number of instruction sheets in their recent kits on a high-grade paper.  It will have a very long shelf life--Atlantis kits are collector-grade.

Three 1/40-scale figures wearing military-style garb are included.  The model is a diorama in a box!

Inside the box immediately after opening.  Order one of these on Amazon and see this view for yourself!

We're delighted to see what was formerly an extremely rare, high-priced collector kit return thanks to Atlantis Models.  They did a great job with its re-release!

Military modelers, history collectors, rocketry / space enthusiasts, old kit collectors, and even parents looking for a good science project for their kids should enjoy this model kit.

Anyone who has built a glue kit or two successfully shouldn't have any trouble with this model.  The 2Modeler guys give it two enthusiastic thumbs up!

SPECIAL THANKS TO ATLANTIS MODELS FOR PROVIDING THIS MODEL KIT FOR US TO ENJOY AND REVIEW!

BONUS FEATURES

REVELL'S CLASSIC 1/40 MISSILE KIT TRIO RE-RELEASED BY ATLANTIS MODELS

In 1957-58, Revell released a trio of 1/40 missile kits, the Talos, X-17 and Little John/Dart Tactical Missiles Set.  Revell made the engineering decision to tool the three subjects on the same tooling, allowing three kits to be made in one kit run.  These were only released once.  In particular the X-17 became a rare and valued collector kit.  In 2025, Atlantis Models made the decision to re-release all three kits.

Atlantis' 1/128 U.S. Space Missiles includes smaller versions of the Talos, Dart and Little John missiles!

These three kits were released in 1957 and 1958 by Revell.  At the time, they were considered state-of-the-art in weapons design.  While the X-17 was a research vehicle, the Talos, Little John and Dart were early test versions of missiles designed for the US Army and US Navy.  Lessons learned from each of them are seen in today's weaponry.  These are historic kits of historic subjects!

Atlantis Models also offers the 1/128 U.S. Space Missiles set.  This former Monogram kit has small-scale versions of the Talos, Little John, and Dart missiles displayed with much larger rockets and missiles such as the Atlas and Titan ICBM's. 

U.S. Missiles that launched with live nuclear devices for testing purposes include the Polaris, Redstone, Thor, and Genie.  All these are included in the Space Missiles set!  Adding Atlantis' 1/40 X-17 rounds out a collection in miniature of all U.S. missiles used to fire nuclear devices during atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons.

The Space Missiles set makes a great companion to the Atlantis 1/40 missile trio!  This has been a very successful kit for Atlantis.  Order yours today!

THE X-17:  THE SPEED DEMON

Most rockets are designed to carry payloads or weaponry as high or as far as possible.  The X-17 was designed for speed, namely the ability to simulate the operational velocity of a nuclear warhead reentry vehicle.  Lockheed's Missile Systems Division built the X-17.  To save time and expense, it was developed from existing rockets, all made by Thiokol.  

The first stage was derived from the Sergeant MGM-39 missile with a diameter of 31 inches.  The second stage was a trio of Thiokol's Recruit rockets.  This cluster actually had more thrust than the first stage although firing duration was much shorter.  The top stage was a single Recruit with a nozzle modified for an even shorter thrust duration at higher thrust than a standard Recruit.

The net result was that after the first stage fired, the rocket would coast to an apogee of 100 miles.  After nosing earthward once there was enough air to act on the fins, the second and third stages were ignited in rapid succession.  Since the rocket was already pointing downward and falling at mach-speed, this resulted in a very high velocity for the payload, a simulated, scaled-down nuclear warhead reentry vehicle.  Maximum speed obtained was Mach 14.5 which corresponded to the terminal phase of a nuclear ballistic missile warhead.

A Project Argus X-17 carrying a live nuclear warhead with a 1.7kt yield.  Note the larger nose.  While small, it was a live nuclear warhead.

This photo shows a scheme for the X-17 that is included on the decal sheet for Atlantis' X-17.

For the sake of streamlining, the space between the three Recruits of the second stage was faired over, giving the cross-section a rounded triangular appearance.  While the rocket resembles a Nike booster, it has no relation (Nike was a Bell project).  The clipped-isoceles fins resemble some Nike rockets but at 31 inches in diameter, the X-17 is much larger.

X-17:  THE UNLIKELY NUKE MISSILE

The X-17 turned out to be a reliable rocket during its warhead nose fairing research program.

For Project Argus, the X-17 received some reengineering to deliver live nuclear warheads to altitudes of approximately 100-500 miles.  The purpose was to test whether or not the electron cloud created by a high-altitude nuclear explosion could jam inbound enemy nuclear weapons.

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To carry a nuclear warhead to space (over 100 miles), the X-17 needed a redesigned staging controller.  Instead of second and third stages with delayed firing that accelerated the rocket toward earth at high reentry speeds, staging was resequenced like a conventional booster rocket to deliver a payload to a desired altitude.  

Three X-17 flights each with a small-yield warhead were fired from the USS Norton Sound, a former late-WWII seaplane tender that was converted to launch shipborne missiles.  Results of the tests confirmed theories about the electronics jamming capabilities of high-altitude nuclear detonations but the effect was too localized for it to be considered as part of a viable antimissile system.

Your Atlantis X-17 represents a forgotten but very important contribution to the defense of the United States during the Cold War.  Of note, the rocket was reengineered to loft an actual live nuclear test device after it was first released as a Revell kit.

(STAY TUNED -- STILL ADDING CONTENT TO THIS PAGE!!!)

We're going to actually fly a 1/40 Atlantis X-17.  The rocketry guys call it a "PMC."  We'll show you what that means and how we do it.