Nike Ajax (MIM-3) surface-to-air missile

This is a reasonable eyeball approximation of the Nike Ajax (MIM-3) surface-to-air missile — America’s first line of "please-don’t-fly-here" defense during the Cold War. It was part of the Nike missile system, a network of bunkers, radars, and launchers scattered around U.S. cities to scare off incoming bombers.

This model was crafted using a delicate combination of conjecture, patriotic nostalgia, and a generous dose of Cold War-era optimism. While it’s not perfect, it captures the iconic look of the missile that once stood tall in missile pits from Jersey to San Francisco. The sustainer (main rocket body minus booster) design (Creative Commons - Attribution - Non-Commercial license) is credited to Gary A. Crowell Sr

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