Ima Penin Diaz Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 I picked up a pre-built Revell Gemini kit off of eBay a few years ago and wanted to build a Gemini spacecraft to accompany my scratchbuilt ATDA which was part of it's flight. I also used Real Space's update set as well as LVM's photo etch interior The date on the bottom. When I was a kid, I bought this as a new kit, put it together in an afternoon, and played with it in the tub that night ... The parts ... The AF parts from Real Space ... Replace the kit window cove with the AF piece ... dry fit ... Drilling out the RCS holes to be replaced with either brass or styrene tubing. The kit's nose needed to be cut off so that the Real Space radar piece would fit ... The hole for the kit's stand was plugged with a scrap of styrene and will be filed and sanded ... The kit's seats were removed to be replaced with PE from LVM Kit and AF thrusters for comparison Clamping the thrusters onto the adapter I've also added some access panels ... And a dry fit Still a lot of scratch built details to add. I l'll also be including a scratch built AMU tucked into the aft section with Capt. Gene Cernan back there too. 17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tzulscha Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 Nice. As I have one or two in the stash I will be watching intently. At least one of us is building the thing! Looks good so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ima Penin Diaz Posted February 17, 2020 Author Share Posted February 17, 2020 You know-w-w Tzulscha ... how about some company?? Adding some details in styrene ... and adding the styrene tube to mount the stand ... On orbit photo of another Gemini spacecraft. In order to add the PE to the interior much sanding and adjusting is needed ... The LVM PE is pretty thick stuff ... but here's an Ejection Seat back ... I don't use a lot of PE and this complex folding is ... interesting! I glued the seats ... I haven't soldered brass, but will give it a try later ... The hatch interiors will get some attention too ... That'll do ... for now. Till next post! IPD 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 Im a huge fan of real space equipment from the 1960’s & 1970’s. All credit to NASA and The Soviets for all of there accomplishments. Of the Main three U.S. types though the Gemini is my favorite. Im a bit jealous as this is a kit i would love to build someday. Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ima Penin Diaz Posted February 18, 2020 Author Share Posted February 18, 2020 Thanx lad ... the early US Space program is a fave of mine too! The Aft Adapter interior will be covered in gold foil and will also contain the AMU ( Astronaut Maneuvring Unit ) so I'll build up the structure with styrene ... the vac-formed item is from Real Space Models, but I'll just a wee portion of it. I started by cutting out the allowance for the installed AMU It'll look something like this Getting the sub-assy ready for the seats The ejection Seats just placed loosely to check the fit It doesn't look like it's going to fit well ... The Instrument Panel with some PE Cutting allowances in the overhead IP ... with some of the PE This will be Captain Cernan on EVA ... His limbs will be scratch built/carved from Milliput ... Handholds to be placed on the Adapter section Till next post IPD 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andre B Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Didn't knew that the Gemini's had ejection seats. Fantastic work! Cheers / André Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Yep - because it was designed in a bit of a rush (to squeeze in between Mercury and Apollo), there was no time to design, build and test a launch escape tower abort system. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ima Penin Diaz Posted February 19, 2020 Author Share Posted February 19, 2020 Getting onto those Ejection Seats ... I'm carving a Lumbar support out of styrene ... the Survival Kit ... ... a little filler ... The real thing ... I tried soldering the joints ... it sure ain't pretty, but it's holding ... Checking the fit and ... it looks quite tight! Almost done ... I cut out a few allowances in the bulkhead to make room for the Seats. ... and it's still tight ... Both seats are almost done. While the hatch will be open, the seated Astronaut and his seat will not be too visible, but I put in some detail because, well, that's just me! The looped copper wire are for handhold details on the seats. And with styrene bits and bobs on the seats, I'm going to have to remove more plastic from the bulkhead ... Two Astros, but one is from an unused kit and the other, with the amputated arm, will be seated. His arm will be raised as if flipping overhead switches. My sketch for the Astronaut on EVA And I'll have his head turned a bit as well ... That's enough of the surgical images ... IPD 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arild Moland Posted February 19, 2020 Share Posted February 19, 2020 Looking real good! About the soldering, I notice you get blobs of solder sitting on the parts. Are you using any kind of flux medium when soldering? I recommend applying a bit of liquid flux to the joint, as this will greatly improve the flow of the solder. I also use a gas torch for soldering. I apply a bit of flux to the joint, apply a flash of heat, then place a small lump of solder at the joint, and apply heat again. The solder will then melt and follow the joint by way of the capillary effect. Never got the hang of using a soldering iron for my PE. Arild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tzulscha Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 On 16/02/2020 at 19:32, Ima Penin Diaz said: You know-w-w Tzulscha ... how about some company?? Well ya know, I'd love to but, it is waaay down my list of projects. I also don't know exactly where in the potential avalanche of kits that I am currently hoarding it is. And I would not want to steal any of the thunder you are generating on this gorgeous build that you are providing us with. In short, I am content to live vicariously through you! Please your carry on with your build and continue to tantalize us with your photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tzulscha Posted February 20, 2020 Share Posted February 20, 2020 (edited) On 16/02/2020 at 19:32, Ima Penin Diaz said: Edited February 20, 2020 by Tzulscha double post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ima Penin Diaz Posted February 20, 2020 Author Share Posted February 20, 2020 (edited) Good answer ... uh ... "Q" ! I'm constantly test-fitting this PE assembly ... it's just a bit too snug. ... fitting the Centre Console ... The overhead piece was made from scraps of styrene and a couple strands of Copper wire Starting on the EVA Astronaut, Gene Cernan. This is a hand, carved from a block of styrene ... The limbs are Milliput and I'll file and carve 'em ... the feet will telescope into the 'legs' Captain Cernan simulating his EVA. I'll be building his Chest Pak, ELSS, too, Starting to file and carve ... There'll be a lotta steps with this figure ... but it's all coming together nicely! IPD Edited February 20, 2020 by Ima Penin Diaz 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kushan_Farsight Posted February 21, 2020 Share Posted February 21, 2020 Great work so far! Loving all the additional detail your injecting into it! I wasn't aware you could get the Gemini spacecraft in such a large scale! Full of anticipation, i fired up a new Ebay tab and thought id have a look ...... 😲.... might be out of my price range for quite some time! So will just have to follow your build log instead 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ima Penin Diaz Posted February 22, 2020 Author Share Posted February 22, 2020 Thanx Kushan ... for a kit that's been outta production for a few years, the prices aren't all THAT high! But it Is a popular kit, to add to a stash! IIRC about 9 years ago Revell ran off 5,000 kits to use their molds and they all sold! ... the kits, not the molds! Sanding the Milliput ... long way to go on this figure ... Added the hands and will need to file and sand the wrists ... Meantime, I'll start on the AMU ... ... and Cernan's ELSS, Emergency Life Support System or Chest Pack. The Oxygen hoses for the Ejection Seat ... ... and installed. Adding 'switches' to the Instrument Panels. And that'll do it for now ... IPD 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonD Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 On 2/18/2020 at 2:55 PM, Andre B said: Didn't knew that the Gemini's had ejection seats. Fantastic work! Cheers / André On 2/18/2020 at 5:06 PM, Eric Mc said: Yep - because it was designed in a bit of a rush (to squeeze in between Mercury and Apollo), there was no time to design, build and test a launch escape tower abort system. Also because the Titan II was designed as a missile, it might have to be launched in a hurry so didn't use cryogenic fuel, but instead the type of propellant that could be left in the tanks for relatively long periods. (Like petrol in a car.) This stuff wouldn't instantaneously create a huge fireball if something went wrong, so ejection seats could be used. Though in one ground test the hatch failed to open and the seat blasted straight through it. John Young was observing the test and quipped, "One hell of a headache - but a short one!" 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HL-10 Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 Great work! I started the same project for Gemini 4 but its on hold. This make give me the motivation to get it going again! Love the work you'r doing, very impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 Marvelous work! I will be keeping up with this build! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dnl42 Posted February 22, 2020 Share Posted February 22, 2020 Excellent work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ima Penin Diaz Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 HL-10, Troffa, dnl42 ... many thanx ! The AMU got some paint on it ... Drilling holes to place styrene rod for 'switches' First coat of primer on the Adapter section For the interior PE I'm adding some styrene for some dimensionality ... To represent the quilting on the sides of the interior, I'm scribing some lines ... most of these details won't be seen ... Attaching seat belts. They're made from First Aid tape and styrene bits for the buckles. To make them look weightless, I coated the belts with CA glue and held them in position with a clamp till they dried Dry fit Test fit with seated Astronaut. When building this I can't help but put myself in the position of these Test Pilots who spent up to 2 weeks in these cramped quarters ... yikes! This hatch will be open ... the window will get installed and then some paint ... And the AMU fits in there nicely! The foot restraint is below it. Interior painted ... And a little comparison between the kit's interior and with the Aftermarket goodies till next posting IPD 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev The Modeller Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Some excellent modelling skills going on here on a very interesting subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tomohawk Kid Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Some steller work going on in this thread. What the World needs now is a state of the art 1/18 Gemini to go with the Atomic City/MRC 1/18 Mercury. But, I aint holding my breath given that was a financial disaster. Tommo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Good grief! 14 Days in that can? I have a passable knowledge of Apollo, and the highlights of Mercury, but I had no idea that Gemini set those endurance limits- makes sense in hindsight I suppose. Brilliant work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonD Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 20 hours ago, The Tomohawk Kid said: Some steller work going on in this thread. What the World needs now is a state of the art 1/18 Gemini to go with the Atomic City/MRC 1/18 Mercury. But, I aint holding my breath given that was a financial disaster. Tommo. The Mercury is 1/12, not 1/18, so even less chance of seeing a Gemini in that scale. Though I do recall seeing photos of a prototype model that (like Gemini VI first time round) never got off the ground. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tomohawk Kid Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 1 hour ago, GordonD said: The Mercury is 1/12, not 1/18, so even less chance of seeing a Gemini in that scale. Though I do recall seeing photos of a prototype model that (like Gemini VI first time round) never got off the ground. Well spotted sir, yes it was indeed 1/12. Scott Alexander is on record as saying after Mercury there would be a Gemini in the same scale. I don't recall how far he got with pre-production of Gemini, but the Mercury was a financial disaster from the get go and the Gemini was killed stone dead in its tracks. Its still possible to obtain the Mercury at below the original retail, but most are in the US and because the size of the kit the post is nearly as much as the kit. and makes it less attractive proposition. It still does not stop me wanting a 1/12 Gemini tho'. Tommo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonD Posted February 25, 2020 Share Posted February 25, 2020 Oh, I have a 1/12 Mercury - I even built it! But I too would have loved a Gemini. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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