Revell 1/24 Gemini Space Capsule

I want one... Never had it back in the day, and the eBay gouges charged to much... Hurrah!

Just got one.  The price is so reasonable.  Revell is really putting out some nice stuff at reasonable prices- the new mold, very excellent PT-17 Stearman is even cheaper than the Gemini.

I will start my Gemini soon, as soon as I figure out a good way to do the multi-layer gold insulation film not included in the Revell kit. I want to have that figured out as I am not sure what step in construction I will need to make arrangements for it.

I must admit that I've had this kit sitting in a box for over 40 years now waiting for the day that I will "re-do" it.

May pick up another just so I can do a Gemini 6 & 7 rendezvous scene, and they're so cheap.  But I would rather have an Agena target vehicle. 

I also have this for accessories:

http://www.realspacemodels.com/html/geminipg.html

Gary

If you like this kit you might also like the Revell 1/48 Mercury-Gemini combo kit.

I had both of these "back in the day" and was elated when Revell reissued them several years ago.

There are instructions out there to kit bash the 1/48 Mercury with 2 Glencoe Jupiter C kits to make a Mercury/Redstone launch vehicle. There is also a resin Jupiter C add on but back when I bought mine it was cheaper to go with two of the Glencoe kits.

Bearcat57

I just wish Revell could have made the thermal covering for this one. There's no way I'm spending the $ just to have the aftermarket one. I too will fabricate my own....can't be that difficult.

Would have been easier if Revell had done just as you say.  Meanwhile, I've read where people have used plastic bag material, mylar, or gold candy wrappers for the heat blanket.  I would just get some aluminum foil and fashion one, then spray it gold.

Meanwhile, since I already had the 1:24 Gemini kit, I bought the AM kit.  I will use it as a guide to fashion some scratch parts for a second kit.

Gary

The problem, however, is that the shield was a conical shape. It is very hard to make a cone out of very flexible material and still get realistic wrinkles. In fact, I have long ago lost the knowledge of how to lay out a cone regardless of material  :-(

Foil would seem to be the ideal medium to make the blanket from. Once you form it around something it is pretty good at holding its shape if you dont bang it up afterwards. Something like a Slurpee cup lid might do the job as a shape master.

Could you use gold leaf?  Michaels has bags of it.

John

Either gold leaf or gold Alclad.  My worry is forming the base of what you put the leaf or Alclad on.

Some kind of wire framework might not be a bad idea. I have been okking at photos of the Gemini craft and it looks like that they had some kind of framework in there.

I remember doing that kit back in elementary school.  I created a diorama, and think I got a pretty good grade for it.  All this talk about the extra bits has me yearning to do another.  

Gene Beaird,

Pearland, Texas

Well, there may be a couple of ways to do the thermal blanket, though I haven't tried completing any of them.

One is just to find the right sized conical bowl or saucer and press the aluminum foil inside.  Since I have the AM parts for the Gemini capsule, I will probably press some foil over it and make a reasonable facsimile of the part.

Another is to take a plastic bag and place it over the rear equipment bay of the model, then place a coin or heavy round object (preferably flat) in the center so it droops.  Tape if required.  I've actually tried this and it does make a pretty good representation of the blanket.  However, the plastic is too soft to retain its shape so you need something to spray over it to stiffen it up.  Future, thinned white glue, etc.  Once that's done, you can cut to suit.

I'm not sure about gold leaf.  Seems like it would be too thin, unless you're going to make a solid part and coat it with the leaf.  I bet that would look great!

Just a couple of ideas.

Gary

Wow, does this bring back memories.  I built this back in 1966 and used it in a 4th grade school project.  Like Gene, I don’t recall my grade either.  Built it again in the 80’s before all the aftermarket goodies showed up and did a decent job on detailing it.  Remember we did not have the internet back then so it was the library or nothing for research material.  Just acquired my third try in the mail last week.  My only grip is that Revell did not rework the figures (they are still very cheesy), correct the minor detail discrepancies to make it a block II craft and include the gold foil to cover the equipment module as per the Real Space models aftermarket kit.  I want to incorporate the LVM Studios super detail kit and have the hatch open on the starboard side (that’s right hand for all you land lubbers) so you can see inside and allow a space walking astronaut figure.  Hey REVELL!  Maybe you can rework one of the seated figures and make the other a suspended space walker?  

Radarider

Saw this. It shouldn't be too hard to make just a little time cutting the  conical bowl  made of thin cardboard like a paper cup. Then use gold foil or paint it gold.

i90.photobucket.com/.../th_zps16862d28.jpg

I built one in the 60's, and another in the 80's.  My primary interest in this model was that a friend of my parents flew a number of Gemini missions.

Once I've worked thru the stash a little, I believe I'll get the current release and give it a go as well.

Hi,

I also bought the 1/24. From research, it was based on a mockup of the Gemini, before any of the actual vehicles were presented.

However, I really want an accurate Gemini so I did plunk down the bucks, got the RealSpace kits and the photoetch for the kit. The kit is good, but there are tons of inaccuracies. Might be worth getting the aftermarket.

The photoetch kit is pretty awesome. It comes with a CD that includes comprehensive instruction and plenty of photo references. I thought it was worth the money.

Surely, someone must remember how to lay out a cone of a given base radius and height. I can remember how to find the radius of the cone from the base radius and height, but do not remember how to find the degrees of the circumference to cut at.  Anyone?  Or a reference to how to lay it out?

jwilson.coe.uga.edu/.../Solution.html

This is a pretty basic solution to help you out...or just get the aftermarket kit from Real Space!

Yes!  That is just what I was looking for.  Thanks!

Here's a handy online tool that may help. Just input your measurements and it will draw the shape for you. Print it out and voila!

rocketry.newcenturycomputers.net/shroudcalc.html

Don -

The engineer in you is showing.

Curt

Don,

After seeing the work you did on the Coast Guard helicopter in the July issue, I'm sure you won't have any trouble! 

Gary

Looks like the shield it's not exactly a cone.  It has been attempted with a gold-colored plastic bag and rubber cement:

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal9/8101-8200/gal8150-Gemini-Malaguti/00.shtm

And it looks like it may be available as a vacuum-formed piece:

http://www.realspacemodels.com/html/geminipg.html

And there's an interior detail kit from LVM.  It looks like Cult-TV Man sells the detail kit and decals but the detail kit is out of stock at the moment.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

Ooh, I did forget that I DO have this in my stash:

llrvbox.html

I haven't started on it yet, but have certainly gathered pictures of details.  Should be fun.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

I certainly want to pick one up!

And it won't cost you an arm and a leg.  What with the prices some companies are charging for models these days, Revell's Gemini is a real bargain!

Its a pretty straightforward build with a lot of detail.  However, the internet is full of information on the actual vehicle and there is a better decal set (3rd party) on the market.  Have fun!!!

I was thrilled to see it back again, as I missed out on it when it was first released. A friend of mine built one, and did some detailing of the cockpit, long before aftermarket parts were available. I plan on buying the aftermarket kit that Real Space models sells. Unfortunately, they have nothing to spruce up the cockpit, but they do have plans available. Add that to their Agena docking target model in the same scale, and it could be awesome!