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I may just do this one first ... you know ... just to get back into the swing of things.

I'm thinking of doing Gene Cernan from Gemini 9A, but may do another astronaut ... wearing the later chest pack and the AMU ( Astronaut Maneuvering Unit )

This is the 6" kit.

AstroinSpacebox_zpscae35acf.jpg

And the sprue shot

AstroinSpace1sprueshot_zps7a67fbcb.jpg

Whew ... I may hafta retire after all of of these ... :doh:

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Got this one also in my stash... well I would be interested how you build it. Especially since you are the reason why I bought the Revell Apollo Astronaut after watching your build.

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Pete

Very Cool!!!! I take it that this is the 1/6 version of the Gemini astronaut rather than the smaller 1/12 kit? This will be a great addition to your Apollo Astronaut build. I have built the 1/12 Gemini kit a few years ago and the finished model does look good when finished. I'll have to dig up a photo or two to show.

Have fun modeling!

Mike

:cheers:/>

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This is the 6" kit, Mr Idacavage.

And I may put a little twist to the build. As I said, it's gonna have a scratchbuilt chest pack and AMU, but I may have him hovering over a reduced scale Agena ... just a thought as of now.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/gemini/gemini9/lores/s66-33167.jpg

The seams are average for a real space kit, but they are un-bee-leev-ably horrid. So just file and sand 'em down. Those Aircraft guys are so-o-o whiny about their seams :whistle:

I do have to say though, that the details in the kit are lovely ... the folds in the suit, the webbing of the belts, the leg pockets, the facial features are really nice ... old, old kit or not!

The torso

GB-GemAstro-bodyseam_zps9bd7976a.jpg

The boot soles

GB-GemAstro-legseam_zps2044893a.jpg

The Glove

GB-GemAstro-gloveseam_zpscce1273a.jpg

And after filing down the seams I run a file over the folds to reinforce them

GB-GemAstro-filingthefolds_zpsb1304e14.jpg

The arm looks a little long ... but after looking at a couple of pix, it is in proportion.

GB-GemAstro-armtoolong_zps83ce818b.jpg

The torso after a quick filing

GB-GemAstro-bodyseamwork_zpsa3cdc39c.jpg

Some surgery on the Glove to make it a little more ... lively.

GB-GemAstro-reworktheglove_zps9abf8e0e.jpg

And after

GB-GemAstro-gloveafterrework_zps338a7566.jpg

To move the fingers forward there was a gap at the knuckles and I just patched the gap with some styrene and they'll get filed and sanded.

GB-GemAstro-gloveseamfill_zps310af035.jpg

And some filler on the soles

GB-GemAstro-filleronsoles_zpsf0cea8bc.jpg

Thanx for the comments guys ... and for taking a peek!

Peet

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Yup, starting to look like a person in space. I'd say you're well on your way to a great build. I'm very impressed with what you've shown you can do with these figure kits. I may have to look for this one one day. I really like the Agena idea. More work = more fun right?

Keep it up sir.

Bill

Edited by niart17
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Nice work! Very clean and efficient. IF you get a chance it would be nice to see the kit part vs your beautiful scratch built work so we can see the improvement.

BTW, I like your machinist blocks, I need to get me a set of those one day. I'm still using the old Mk I eyeball unit and it's service life is getting a little questionable.

Keep it up, I look forward to seeing more.

Bill

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The Astronaut Maneuvering Unit.

The Aft is radiused so I'll build it with 1/2" tubing.

GBGeminiAMU1_zps35e740e8.jpg

I flattened the centre tube to allow for the back plate to be attached flush.

GBGeminiAMU3_zpsa376aaa3.jpg

The basic subassemblies.

To fill some small gaps I will use styrene rod instead of, and in addition to, filler putty

GBGeminiAMU5_zps1e4f2bd8.jpg

I don't concern myself at this stage with getting the fit perfect, I figure I'll trim and sand it all down later.

GBGeminiAMU6_zps0d5d2f6d.jpg

GBGeminiAMU7_zpsfc1f4cd0.jpg

With a photo of a model of the AMU

GBGeminiAMU8_zpsfab1e5ca.jpg

The shoulder rests were just segments from a styrene tube

GBGeminiAMU9_zpsc1333aec.jpg

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To make a solid rod, rounded at one end, I use a few diameters of rod and then sand it down

GBGeminiAMU10_zpsff19df6c.jpg

GBGeminiAMU11_zps37244696.jpg

I used a Dremel to bore a couple holes ... and the @%#$&!! thing wandered a bit right out the sides ... I'll slap another layer of styrene over it to patch it up ... but darn it all anyway!! :explode:

GBGeminiAMU12_zps06dea7fd.jpg

And the rod gap patch again ...

GBGeminiAMU13_zps7b17d1b6.jpg

There's a little way to go on this item ... it's fun!

Pete

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This is a part which, I think, is a bumper on the top of the AMU. I just wanted to show how many pieces I use to build it.

GBGeminiAMU14_zps9fd9a3ea.jpg

And a dry fit of the AMU/ You can see this part on the top of the AMU.

GBGeminiAMU15_zps1ceb5ca9.jpg

GBGeminiAMU16_zpsdf0f21ff.jpg

More details showing how I just slap plastic on and then trim and file and sand to fit.

GBGeminiAMU17_zps37dd5e7c.jpg

And after all that trimming, this is about 50% of what WAS there ...

GBGeminiAMU18_zps3157c371.jpg

And almost done. The cables and wires and "seat belts" need to be assembled yet.

GBGeminiAMU19_zps8fa086f7.jpg

GBGeminiAMU20_zps67f99a44.jpg

So all the subassemblies are built, now back to the Astro and put it all together. I'm pleased at how quickly this is proceeding!

Thanx fer lookin' in!

Pete

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Great work as always Pete. I am always fascinated and enlightened when I see your approach to scratch building shapes. Typically I get that "why didn't I think of that?" feeling. Dare I say sometimes you design like a 3d cad modeler would... :thumbsup:

Keep it up!

Bill

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Gee thanx Mike! I don't know about great though ... middle of the road will be good enuff fer me. :rolleyes:

The other kit glove was attached to the little maneuvering unit and I had to cut it off

DGemini-kitglove_zps390e147d.jpg

dGemini-kitgloveremoved_zpsf757773a.jpg

DGemini-glovepalm_zps92f6b7d0.jpg

The Bezel around the outside of the visor needed to be installed too. It's just a strip of thin styrene. I thought I would have to carve it into an arc or a chord, but straight was perfect!

DGemini-visorbezel_zps3262d616.jpg

And the body is getting some attention too in that Milliput was added to the shoulder joints.

DGeminishouldersMilliput_zps5c1dac69.jpg

Thanx for the comments lads!

Pete

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The faceplate needed a couple of styrene patches on the sides ... filed and sanded.

Efaceplatedone_zps566ba50b.jpg

I drilled in some holes to represent rivets

EAMUrivetted_zps2ae83e0b.jpg

And after a coat of Aluminum paint, I found a few flaws, sanded and repainted a couple of times.

And there was a handle or something on the lower aft portion of the AMU and I finally figured out that it was a fuel line or vent line, but it was some kind of line. So I carved out a passage to allow for the line and attaching hardware.

EAMUcarved1_zps5f1b69f1.jpg

An overall view. I still need to sand a couple places and apply some more paint and add the final details

EAMUpaintandcarved_zpsbb68da3e.jpg

A funnel ... it'll be the docking collar of the Agena

EAgenafunnel_zps2a9a9226.jpg

Locating pins for the ELSS to the Astronaut

EAstrolocatingpins_zps8c519f0d.jpg

The first stage of the Agena. It won't be to scale, it'll be about 2/3 of the proper size, but it'll work in this situation.

EAgenastart_zps35f0bfc5.jpg

Onward and upward ...

Pete

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Thanx Bill! That funnel may not work because the plastic doesn't accept styrene cement ... so I may get another one.

The AMU is just about complete

FAMUnoflash1_zpsf3f17588.jpg

FAMUnoflash2_zpsdcfc8640.jpg

FAMUnoflash3_zpsb6d5c1cb.jpg

FAMUnoflash4_zps3fc24b55.jpg

The Astronaut is getting its mounting rod installed. It'll be attached to the ABS pipe representing the Agena.

FAstromounting_zps510a2437.jpg

And its first coat of paint. I've seen photos where the suit is a cool White colour ... White with just a touch of Blue added. I've also seen images wherein the suit is a warm White, with a touch of Tan mixed in. I'm gonna do the warm white

Fastro1stcoatpaint_zps4314c3ee.jpg

I would guess I'm about 60% done on this build.

Pete

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  • 4 weeks later...

For the past 3 weeks or so I've been under the weather ... so progress is pretty slow. But, I'm on the mend ... I hope!

The Agena is taking shape. This is just gonna be a partial build of this vehicle as it'll be used just to mount the Astro figure. And I'll make my own decals for this.

GAgenatubeandfunnel_zps5cc6eeed.jpg

GAgenaandastro_zps36db657d.jpg

Here's a picture of the Agena and the portion that I'll represent

GAgenaphoto_zps81e377f8.jpg

And I wanted to tint the Astro's visor the 'gold' colour, but am trying using Tamiya Translucent Orange. It may pass, but I may just paint the visor black on the inside.

Gtintedvisor_zpsaae5182e.jpg

Later

Pete

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i put some paint on the figure and to secure the Astro figure to the AMU I installed a peg which will fit thru a hole in the Astro's back.

HAMUpegmount_zps1209e41d.jpg

And here's a couple pix of the model, in various stages of assembly, dry fit.

HAstrodryfit1_zpsdec38fb3.jpg

HAstrodryfit2_zps81a0ff93.jpg

HAstrodryfit3_zpsd4d77f2a.jpg

There's some paint tweaks and then some generic decals on the astro and the AMU. Then I can give the Agena mounting some attention.

I think I'm having fun again ... :rolleyes:

Pete

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