Revell Gemini 4 - 1/24th questions

[PegasusUSA]

New here, first post. Decided I had to have a Mercury, or Command or one of the capsules from the US Nasa Space Race on the shelf - So I just got a Gemini kit off ebay. (Now I read they will be re-issuing this, ugh!!) but anyway, I am planning a spacewalk/ black background/earth diorama type setup, so you can see the rear gold foil cover, and White doing his walk. Some questions:

1.What are those blackish lines sticking up on this picture on the white parts, and are they accurate to the Revell 1/24th model? Are they dark colored ? Is that shadow?

4. Any close up pics of the Gemini 4 parts?

2. Where can I get some gold foil, what candy? Mylar balloon? Anyone have some (for the 1/24th scale?-size)

Not planning ultra detail cockpit, Ive seen a couple really good ones around though. Spacewalker, and the gold backing are what I want, over an earth/black sky diorama? (If it works) I may paint the earth or color copy it.

Any help would be nice. Pics if you have them please! Especially on the red dot details on the nose, not looking forward to that, may try hand painting with a mask of some sort.

Epoxy Modeling compound:

http://www.taxidermy.com/cat/16/epoxy.html

[umtutsut]

I think I can help. Let's take the questions one-by-one.

1.What are those blackish lines sticking up on this picture on the white parts, and are they accurate to the Revell 1/24th model? Are they dark colored ? Is that shadow?

A. Yes, they belong there. In fact, there should be more of them. See this pic of Gemini 7 (I think): http://gemini.eklapper.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Gemini_6_7.jpg

4. Any close up pics of the Gemini 4 parts?

A. If you mean the interior, Google is your friend. For example: http://www.nasm.si.edu/imagedetail.cfm?imageID=993

Just enter "Gemini 4" or "Gemini IV" and "interior" as your search terms.

2. Where can I get some gold foil, what candy? Mylar balloon? Anyone have some (for the 1/24th scale?-size)

A. I honestly can't remember where I got mine, but again, a Google search for "gold foil" or "gold aluminum foil" gets 100s of results.

Not planning ultra detail cockpit, Ive seen a couple really good ones around though. Spacewalker, and the gold backing are what I want, over an earth/black sky diorama? (If it works) I may paint the earth or color copy it.

Any help would be nice. Pics if you have them please! Especially on the red dot details on the nose, not looking forward to that, may try hand painting with a mask of some sort.

Depending on how much you want to sink into this project, there are several items you should consider buying.

RealSpace Models detail and correction set: http://realspacemodels.com/html/geminipg.html

Space Model Systems 1/24 & 1/48 bundle: http://www.spacemodelsystems.com/decals.html

New Ware "First Spacewalkers": http://mek.kosmo.cz/newware/nw045.htm

And if you don't mind using card model parts, or want to use them as templates for scratchbuilding plastic parts, the Gemini 4 included here has a full interior: http://www.delta7studios.com/project_gemini.htm

Delta 7 Studios: http://www.delta7studios.com/project_gemini.htm

Hope your build turns out most excellently!

Les (Friendly Airplane Asylum & ex-NASA flack)

[K2Pete]

A 1/24 Gemini eh? ... that's a great choice!

As part of a group build here on ARC, ( many many years ago! ), I did a 1/24 build, scratched interior and all, including the gold mylar insulation at the back, and rebuilt EVA astronaut.

But it depicted Gemini 9A, so the insulating stripes on the adapter section are different.

But take a look, it may help you with some aspects of your build.

http://s362974870.onlinehome.us/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=142181

Those black stripes on the adapter sections are a type of insulation, and Umtutsut's correct ... there should be many more of 'em. They were just black tape. Space Model Systems decals provide 'em.

Here's a pic of my Gemini 6 build, but it's in 1/48 ... just for some inspiration

Any other questions? ... just fire away!

You'll enjoy it here on ARC. Welcome!

Pete

[Otto]

Hello and welcome. What is getting re-released is the 1/48 Gemini/Mercury set, and not the 1/24 Gemini kit. I hope that this news makes you feel better about your eBay purchase.

The "RealSpace Models" detailing set http://www.realspacemodels.com/html/geminipg.html and the "Space Model Systems" #GS24 http://ninfinger.org/models/spacemodelsystems/24gemdecals.html http://www.spacemodelsystems.com/decals.html decals are a must to make an accurate project of a flying model, and not just of a static mock-up prototype. And I agree with the previous post. The stripes on the adapter section were just Aluminium Tape which was painted black. This was placed on the spacecraft just prior to launch. It was placed over the positions of the radiator lines that were on the inside of the housing to allow for better heat transfer. These stripes were not perfectly straight because they were applied by hand and over-painted by hand also. This will make them very from craft to craft. Also, the spacecraft was not "black" it was " bare "Titanium Oxide" This can be done with a "burnt exhaust" or a "mat gunmetal" color.

Edited December 18, 2011 by Otto

[PegasusUSA]

Exellent! Thanks all, got the model for $38.00 shipped,so I think its a good deal, still sealed but the box was bad so no one bid on it.

I think I will try to square off a toothpick for those little red squares on the nose, and hand stamp them. Sounds sadistic, but it will take a few days. I can see spraypainting scotch tape black or masking tape and cutting it for the black stripes, I'll have to see how wide they are on the model. All other parts can be sculpted using epoxy putty.

Does gunmetal come in a spray can?

Edited December 18, 2011 by PegasusUSA

[Otto]

If you buy the decal sheet from Space Model Systems, those come on a decal sheet in strips. That will all be provided for you.

Edited December 18, 2011 by Otto

[PegasusUSA]

Are those red dots backed by clear decal? I would rather stamp those on if so. I'm trying out stamping right now. :) Wow, all the foil I have been looking at shows up in the top adds. Saw that Japanese guy painted on his United States, that looked really good.Thinking about doing it that way.

Whats the best glue for this? I remember they got rid of the 'good' Testors glue a looooong time ago. Any favorite online stores? Not sure anyone has paint around here.

Also, is there a favorite way to mix paint and spray it (without airbrush)? Like, make your own spray paint colors?

[Otto]

The best glue is any of the Chlorinated solvents, such as Carbo-Chlor or CarbonTetraChloride. That is what I use. It chemically welds the parts together without bubbling the plastic. The best commercially available cement is WeldOn #3

Edited December 19, 2011 by Otto

[Jay Chladek]

Actually, Revell of Germany IS reissuing the 1/24 Gemini early in 2012. Revell USA is reissuing the 1/48 kit also. So both Geminis should be out at the same time. Plus, $38 sounds like a fair price to me as I expect the Revell of Germany kit to sell for about the mid-30s anyway.

If you plan to do Gemini 4 or any of the later Geminis, I highly recommend getting the Realspace accurizing kit as it contains several items to whip the Revell kit into shape. The Revell kit is more accurate to Gemini 3 as that vehicle had the original configuration thrusters. They were apparently prone to leaking, but left on for the Gemini 3 mission since the flight was relatively short duration anyway.

Edited December 19, 2011 by Jay Chladek

[PegasusUSA]

Well, I will think about the kit, I'll have to see what the model looks like. Really, most of that stuff can be sculpted pretty easy with epoxy putty. Looks like if I want a spacewalker, that will have to be done using epoxy putty to sculpt the arms and legs anyways.

You guys have seen this one, right? Look at the Air Force Dry Dock one, unreal real! :

http://www.ninfinger.org/models/dwgemini/gemini_b.html

/

Edited December 19, 2011 by PegasusUSA

[Otto]

On my 1/48 kit I built the nose out of paper because the kit one is very bad.

[PegasusUSA]

On my 1/48 kit I built the nose out of paper because the kit one is very bad.

That is sad, why don't they hire a real modeler to redo this stuff? Do molds really cost that much?

[Otto]

The 1/48 scale molds are in sad shape. They weren't really that good when they first came out. My estimate is that if those dyes would be made in the US, they would cost around $60-$70K today. If they were made in China, they would probably cost about $10K but they would charge Revell about $80K, with what I have noticed with Chinese models intended for the US (western) market. Did you see the new kits that have just been released by a new company called "Great Wall Models"? 1/48? scale kits for $100US here in the states. They will most likely be even more in Europe with the VAT people have to pay in the EU. Things are really getting out of hand in this hobby with the price of kits. The Chinese are doing a good job exploiting where they can. I know it is not a space craft, but I used to be in the mold making industry and I follow this stuff closely. My estimate is that the duel set as released by Revell in 1/48 would cost about $50-$65 if released today. The 1/24 kit would be about the same or a bit more. Plus, this still will not guarantee accuracy, which you will still have to buy kits to correct.

http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/gwh/kit_gwh_4802.shtml