SPACE: Review - Revell 1/48 Mercury/Gemini

[AMP...@aol.com]

Kit Review: Revell 1/48 scale Kit No. H-1834; Mercury/Gemini; 138
parts (137 in grey styrene, 1 clear acetate); price - currently OOP
but an early 2012 re-release

Advantages: nice, simple, accurate models of the two seminal American
spacecraft

Disadvantages: molds date from the 1960s

Rating: Recommended

Recommendation: for all American space fans

As I recently noted, I was a big fan of the US Space Program in the
1960s as it inspired me and many other kids as to what we and our
country could do when we got together. In 1964 I went into a drug
store to pick up a magazine and found the original version of this kit
sitting on their shelves (models were far more common in the 1960s
than they are today) for $1.29.

This was one of the most detailed kits to come out on spacecraft in
the mid 1960s and a really fascinating model as it also came with a
booklet about the Mercury and Gemini programs. As both programs were
relatively mature (Mercury was over and Gemini just starting) Revell
got top-notch cooperation on both of the spacecraft kits in the box
and even got some things that were never used, such as the landing
gear for the Gemini capsule (that was supposed to use a type of
parachute that looked like a big paper airplane and land on the
ground, not water).

I picked up this re-release in 1996 and have held on to it for 15
years, but now Revell is preparing to re-release it once again this
spring or summer. Alas, they no longer add the little booklet, but at
least in its 1996 version they DID keep the original directions. These
cover detailed assembly and painting directions as well as call out
the names of each of the components, which is a good thing with the
relatively complex Gemini capsule.

Both spacecraft come complete in their “launch” configurations with
the escape tower and rocket motors in place on the Mercury, as well as
both their retro rocket assemblies. While the Mercury capsule comes
with a loose-fitting hatch, those of the Gemini are hinged (as in real
life, as the Gemini capsules were used for the first US space walks
and the astronauts had to get out and in again).

Both spacecraft come with a short stand using a modified version of
the famous “Revelling Ball” mount which Revell offered on its aircraft
kit for many years. But these are grey plastic and only about two
inches high.

As none of the Gemini missions had flown before the kit was released,
it only comes with generic UNITED STATES and flag markings. The
Mercury capsule comes with markings for “Freedom 7", “Liberty Bell 7",
“Friendship 7", “Aurora 7" and “Sigma 7".

Overall, now that Revell has re-released the Apollo Lunar Spacecraft
kit (85-5090) in this same scale, modelers can now put the first three
American spacecraft projects together in one display.

Cookie Sewell

[Jessie_C]

In article <79005cc8-ba4f-438e...@i26g2000vbt.googlegroups.com>,
AMP...@aol.com says...

> Advantages: nice, simple, accurate models of the two seminal American
> spacecraft
>

If you believe Glenn Johnson, neither of those two kits is actually very
accurate:
http://www.realspacemodels.com/html/48merpg.html
http://www.realspacemodels.com/html/48gempg.html


And with the Appolo being the Block I that never flew, once again Revell denies
us the chance of modern, tuly accurate 1/48 kits of these spacecraft ever being
released.

[AMP...@aol.com]

On Jan 14, 12:16 am, <Jessie_C> wrote:
> In article <79005cc8-ba4f-438e-9b49-636584d6e...@i26g2000vbt.googlegroups.com>,
> AMPS...@aol.com says...> Advantages: nice, simple, accurate models of the two seminal American

> > spacecraft
>
> If you believe Glenn Johnson, neither of those two kits is actually very

> accurate:http://www.realspacemodels.com/html/48merpg.htmlhttp://www.realspacemodels.com/html/48gempg.html

>
> And with the Appolo being the Block I that never flew, once again Revell denies
> us the chance of modern, tuly accurate 1/48 kits of these spacecraft ever being
> released.

Other than the thermal shroud for the Gemini most modelers probably
couldn't tell the difference in the upgrades or not.

But re-pops rarely change anything in the molds, and here only the
directions have been changed (and not for the better).

I have often stated (at peril considering the snarls I get back) there
are kit builders and there are modelers. Nothing wrong with being one
or the other, but the former accept the kits as they are and build
them.

Cookie Sewell

[Jessie_C]

In article <eaf21cca-c201-486d...@y10g2000vbn.googlegroups.com>,
AMP...@aol.com says...

> I have often stated (at peril considering the snarls I get back) there
> are kit builders and there are modelers. Nothing wrong with being one
> or the other, but the former accept the kits as they are and build
> them.
>

There's nothing wrong with that, it's just that Revell threw away a priceless
opportunity to produce truly modern versions. Did the world really need a
fantastically detailed but ultimately inaccurate Lancaster? Revell gave us one
anyway. Does the world really need another B-17? Revell gave us one anyway.

Revell (especially Revell Germany) is being incredibly adventurous and
ludicrously conservative at the same time. The same people who gave us the 1/32
Ju-88 and He-111 are giving us warmed-over space kits from 45 years ago. You
really have to wonder if their Executive Decision Generator is a dart board...

[Val Kraut]

> And with the Appolo being the Block I that never flew, once again Revell
> denies
> us the chance of modern, tuly accurate 1/48 kits of these spacecraft ever
> being
> released.

Block I didn't fly to the moon - it was designed for Earth Orbital
Development test of the CSM. - But they did fly during the early tests.

[Val Kraut]

. The same people who gave us the 1/32
> Ju-88 and He-111 are giving us warmed-over space kits from 45 years ago.

If they really want to do some warmed over stuff from 45 years ago - why not
the XSL and the Space Station kits.They're both concept kits - so as
accurate now as then. The Buzz Aldren kits seem to be targeting the young
modelers who aren't that particular. I can remember two series back in the
80s. If the roket kit molds were in good shape - part of history makers, If
the molds were shot - Young Astronaut series.


Now let's look at executive decisions - back in the late 60s Revell did a
much anticipated Dolittle Raid B-25. It was cheap - and horrible. Tamiya did
a Lanc (same scale) It was expensive and a work of art. When the llocal
hobby shop owner asked the Revell rep why they couldn't have done the same -
The answer - the cheap crappy kit fit their marketing. The Lancs sold like
crazy - even the 5 & 10 had trouble selling the B-25.

Val Kraut

[GordonD]

"Val Kraut" <mar...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:4f11cc56$0$2398$607e...@cv.net...

But never manned. Apollo 1 would have been a manned Block I flight but of
course it never got off the ground.
--
Gordon Davie
Edinburgh, Scotland

"Slipped the surly bonds of Earth...to touch the face of God."

[willshak]

Val Kraut wrote the following:

>> And with the Appolo being the Block I that never flew, once again Revell
>> denies
>> us the chance of modern, tuly accurate 1/48 kits of these spacecraft ever
>> being
>> released.
>
> Block I didn't fly to the moon

Block, I didn't fly to the moon either!
Who is Block?
Sorry, I couldn't help it. It was just there and I couldn't let it slip
by. :-)

- it was designed for Earth Orbital
> Development test of the CSM. - But they did fly during the early tests.

--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeros after @

[AMP...@aol.com]

> If they really want to do some warmed over stuff from 45 years ago - why not
> the XSL and the Space Station kits.They're both concept kits - so as
> accurate now as then. The Buzz Aldren kits seem to be targeting the young
> modelers who aren't that particular. I can remember two series back in the
> 80s. If the roket kit molds were in good shape - part of history makers, If
> the molds were shot - Young Astronaut series.
>
> Now let's look at executive decisions - back in the late 60s Revell did a
> much anticipated Dolittle Raid B-25. It was cheap - and horrible. Tamiya did
> a Lanc (same scale) It was expensive and a work of art. When the llocal
> hobby shop owner asked the Revell rep why they couldn't have done the same -
> The answer - the cheap crappy kit fit their marketing. The Lancs sold like
> crazy - even the 5 & 10 had trouble selling the B-25.
>
>                                                     Val Kraut

Agreed, I always like the XSL-01 (which made it to a TV show - "Man in
Space" or something like that starring William Lundigan) but as noted
Revell said the Space Station molds were either lost or broken by
Lodela. Sigh.

Cookie Sewell

[The Old Man]

On Saturday, January 14, 2012 10:08:52 PM UTC-5, AMP...@aol.com wrote:

> Agreed, I always like the XSL-01 (which made it to a TV show - "Man in
> Space" or something like that starring William Lundigan) but as noted
> Revell said the Space Station molds were either lost or broken by
> Lodela. Sigh.
> Cookie Sewell

According to what I was told, the only molds lost were the ones for the clear plastic portholes and stand. The real reason that Revell isn't interested in renewing the kit is because when they did anything in the History Makers or whatever, the spacecraft stuff didn't sell enough to make a substantial profit.
And profit IS the bottom line. Just because a few old farts like us want a particular kit (and I do want it, I do!), if they can't guarentee selling a couple of hundred thousand units, they won't make it.
That being said, Fantastic Plastic has made a 1:72 (as opposed to the 1:96 original) XSL-01 with the full stack.

Regards,
John Braungart

[Val Kraut]

"According to what I was told, the only molds lost were the ones for the
clear plastic portholes and stand. The real reason that Revell isn't
interested in renewing the kit is because when they did anything in the
History Makers or whatever, the spacecraft stuff didn't sell enough to make
a substantial profit.
And profit IS the bottom line. Just because a few old farts like us want a
particular kit (and I do want it, I do!), if they can't guarentee selling a
couple of hundred thousand units, they won't make it.
That being said, Fantastic Plastic has made a 1:72 (as opposed to the 1:96
original) XSL-01 with the full stack."

Regards,
John Braungart

I've heard the same from folks who were trying to push Revell into a new
release over the years. Sales is really what it's all about and I have to
believe the Buzz Aldren hype is worth more than the kit subject or quality,
although in a more perfect world, a space hero would have wanted the kids to
get an accurate model and used some influence to get the molds corrected.
Although when I think about all the crap my heros in the space patrol etc.
got me to buy for 25 cents and a box top, not to mention having to eat the
box top product for breakfast, maybe things haven't changed that much.

The same seems true in the military vehicles - mainly Renwal re-pops -
they're concentrating on things with movings parts, working suspensions etc
all at the expense of accurate detail.

On a positive note - the Fantastic plastic ship, plus some plastruct beams
amd hopefully available plastic pipe - four after market Saturn engines -
and you could have a great 1/72 model or diorama with vehicles and ground
crew.

Val
Kraut

[som...@some.domain]

In article <eaf21cca-c201-486d...@y10g2000vbn.googlegroups.com>, AMP...@aol.com wrote:
>On Jan 14, 12:16=A0am, <Jessie_C> wrote:
>> In article <79005cc8-ba4f-438e-9b49-636584d6e...@i26g2000vbt.googlegroups=
>..com>,
>> AMPS...@aol.com says...> Advantages: nice, simple, accurate models of the=

> two seminal American
>> > spacecraft
>>
>> If you believe Glenn Johnson, neither of those two kits is actually very

>> accurate:http://www.realspacemodels.com/html/48merpg.htmlhttp://www.reals=
>pacemodels.com/html/48gempg.html
>>
>> And with the Appolo being the Block I that never flew, once again Revell =
>denies
>> us the chance of modern, tuly accurate 1/48 kits of these spacecraft ever=

> being
>> released.
>
>Other than the thermal shroud for the Gemini most modelers probably
>couldn't tell the difference in the upgrades or not.
>
>But re-pops rarely change anything in the molds, and here only the
>directions have been changed (and not for the better).
>
>I have often stated (at peril considering the snarls I get back) there
>are kit builders and there are modelers. Nothing wrong with being one
>or the other, but the former accept the kits as they are and build
>them.
>
>Cookie Sewell

amen cookie!

[som...@some.domain]

crystal ball with a budget committe.