snichols Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 (edited) Here are some pictures of the beginning stages building Accurate Models 12th scale Gemini capsule, the mission has not yet been decided. Disregard the orientation of the hatch hydraulic in the picture, it’s just there to test and show placement . Going to be a challenging kit to complete not being a fan of resin kits anymore in general but this is quite beautifully molded and represented. Edited March 6 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rittic Posted January 29 Share Posted January 29 WOW! This will be fantastic once completed. Is this a kit or did you 3 model it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 (edited) 5 hours ago, Rittic said: WOW! This will be fantastic once completed. Is this a kit or did you 3 model it? No this is the kit recently offered by Accurate Models. Edited January 29 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted February 1 Author Share Posted February 1 (edited) Here are some images I should have posted from the beginning before the kit was started , seat parts are not present, rear bulkhead , heat shield etc. Edited February 2 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted February 3 Author Share Posted February 3 (edited) I was able to complete a little this week primarily the port and starboard cockpit walls, I was also able to luckily drill out the hinges that hold the thermal panels for the hatch hinges and got them to work , that was a major you know what😜. A little highlight and shadows in the pressure vessel really start to make things come to life. Edited March 6 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted February 8 Author Share Posted February 8 (edited) Able to accomplish a little more work on the interior, shoehorning the ejection seats was a tad difficult and next up is fitting the crew to their respective seats. I’ll post pictures of the seat construction next, at this moment they still require lots of work but I wanted to make sure everything fits before I start finish work on them. Edited February 8 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 (edited) Now I can start building and painting, both hatches assembled mostly with PVA glue for now to test their fit and they clear everything and operate smoothly attached to the hydraulics. All exposed hatchlocks are present but not the connecting rods for each because they will not interfere with anything inside the pressure vessel. Did I mention not a fan of resin kits anymore ?😜 What Jim has produced is nothing short of amazing. Edited February 10 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted February 13 Author Share Posted February 13 The real fun begins, everything was pre-shaded followed by the interior color.The flight directors were quite fun to build and look great. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted February 16 Author Share Posted February 16 (edited) Getting some work done on the control panel, I used Paynes gray oil paint for shadows, breaker markings and flight plan scroll that were not present with the decals . Edited February 16 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 That looks amazing and very realistic. I'm afraid to ask how much this kit sell for... 🤐 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted February 17 Author Share Posted February 17 (edited) 18 hours ago, habu2 said: That looks amazing and very realistic. I'm afraid to ask how much this kit sell for... 🤐 Thank you, On page 2 there is a conversation about the cost of this kit which is sadly expensive , it’s about what a 1/32d scale LM kit from Shapeways designed by Vincent would cost but that’s just for the capsule and figures with no retro or equipment sections😩. Commanders arm after several heat cycles including one that actually made the resin smoke has been mated to the hand controller. My only complaint so far is the lack of control panel markings which in this scale is absolutely necessary. Edited February 17 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 Finally able to start adding some color to McDivitt and White. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted February 20 Share Posted February 20 WOW! I mean....WOW! Not sure I could say more than WOW right now. Unbelievably nice kit and you're doing a great job with it. I'd love to get one of these one day but man it's hard to justify spending quite so much at this time. But who knows in the future. You're certainly doing it justice. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted February 20 Author Share Posted February 20 (edited) Bill that’s quite the endorsement and I really appreciate it! Yes it’s a very nice kit but the cost is kind of prohibitive although I was extremely lucky to be able to build one. Not really a fan of resin kits these days but as far as they go this one is flawlessly casted, yes the decals for the control panel should have been more comprehensive but it is what it is. Couple pictures of Ed and Jim with almost completed faces, both figures were sculpted with Ed White as a reference so I changed the shape of the mouth , obviously eye color, hair color with different shadows and highlights. Edited February 20 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted February 22 Author Share Posted February 22 (edited) Suit color on and visors are now operational, they need to be polished plus have the white decal applied to the outer edge. Edited February 22 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted February 26 Author Share Posted February 26 (edited) We have a completed crew, comms./bio-med connection will be established once they are secure in their seats. I’ll post some progress pictures and describe the painting process plus colors used in a later post. I kept Jim’s boots as they were rather than convert them , once inside the capsule not much of them can be seen if anything.I may give Ed’s gold visor a shot too. Edited February 27 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rittic Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 The crew looks great! This is really coming along well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted February 27 Author Share Posted February 27 On 2/26/2024 at 12:34 PM, Rittic said: The crew looks great! This is really coming along well. Thank you for your interest and comment ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted February 28 Author Share Posted February 28 (edited) Still lots of work on seats but everything fits after paint, anxious moments test fitting but it’s now time for the oils. Edited February 28 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted March 2 Author Share Posted March 2 (edited) We have an epoxied crew and what I can’t believe is how tight the inside of that pressure vessel actually was on the real vehicle. I couldn’t imagine spending the amount of time some missions required that cramped , a rare breed they were. Decals need to be placed on seats along with some dry brushing and additional details. Edited March 2 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 (edited) Hatch sills and gaskets on, both hatches up next. Edited March 4 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted March 6 Author Share Posted March 6 (edited) I’ve been able to get more accomplished, a couple thermal panel hinges need a build up of Mr. Surfacer yet. Edited March 6 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
janman Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 That's just a crazy kit, unbelievable! Awesome work, especially with the instrument panel. Figure painting is an area I can't master but yours look very gorgeous. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
snichols Posted March 6 Author Share Posted March 6 (edited) 17 hours ago, janman said: That's just a crazy kit, unbelievable! Awesome work, especially with the instrument panel. Figure painting is an area I can't master but yours look very gorgeous. Well thank you so much, Ed needed a little upgrade and while not physically correct the visor is now gold . Ed had two visors and a blue protective covering but the kit only provided the pressure suit visor and I don’t have a vacuform set anymore but probably should have made one. Edited March 7 by snichols Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.