posted 09-10-2013 12:53 PM               

• 1:72 Mercury Redstone — 

  NASA modified a Redstone missile and created a 25.5m-long manned space launch vehicle designed to carry astronauts into space. Selected because of its good safety record, it used an upgraded Rocketdyne engine combined with a Mercury spacecraft.

  In late 1960, it only got four inches off the launch pad, but by 31 January 1961, with Ham the Chimp aboard, MR-2 completed a suborbital flight.

  Alan Shepard, the 1st American astronaut, traveled into space on the 3rd Mercury-Redstone mission (MR-3), just 3 weeks after the Russian cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, performed the world's first orbital spaceflight. Virgil Grissom aboard blasted off on 21 July later that year.

  The NEW limited edition Mercury Redstone model is the full rocket launch system with the Mercury spacecraft perched atop the launch vehicle. At 1:72 scale, this replica measures 14.38" tall from base to the tip of its escape tower — perfect for desktop display. It is produced from resin composites and hand finished from all new tooling. ($119.95 MSRP)

• 1:72 Mercury Atlas -

  Atlas, designed to launch payloads into orbit, was first launched by NASA in 1958. It launched the first communications satellite that transmitted President Eisenhower's pre-recorded Christmas speech around the world. For all three robotic lunar exploration programs, Atlas was used, as well as both Mariner and Pioneer planetary probes.

  NASA selected the U.S. Air Force Atlas D intercontinental ballistic missile to be modified into one of the launch vehicles for the first manned spaceflight program, designated the Mercury-Atlas. It was the launch vehicle for the four manned Mercury orbital flights in 1962-1963.

  This is a 1:72 scale model of the Mercury-Atlas launch vehicle, produced by Toys and Models Corporation from resin composites, stands an impressive 16.63" high. ($139.95 MSRP)

• 1:72 Gemini Titan -

  The Titan II GLV (Gemini Launch Vehicle), or Gemini-Titan II, was an American expendable launch system derived from the Titan II missile. It was the second human spaceflight program of NASA, used to launch twelve Gemini missions for NASA between 1964 and 1966. Two unmanned launches, followed by ten manned ones, were conducted from Launch Complex 19 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, starting with Gemini 1 on 8 April 1964.

  Its objective was to develop space travel techniques in support of Apollo, which had the goal of landing men on the Moon.

  This incredible precision model, at 1:72 scale, towers at 18.5." Crafted from resin composites by Toys and Models, the Gemini Titan Model is finely detailed and is certain to impress anyone who is privileged to own it or view it up close. ($139.95 MSRP)

• 1:144 Saturn IB -

  The Saturn IB was commissioned by NASA as a launch vehicle for the Apollo program, replacing the S-IV second stage of the Saturn I with more powerful S-IVB. Used for early flight tests (before the larger Saturn V needed for lunar flight was ready), the Saturn 1B was able to launch a partially fueled Apollo Command/Service Module (CSM) or a fully fueled Lunar Module (LM) into low Earth orbit. It launched 2 unmanned CSM suborbital flights, 1 unmanned LM orbital flight, and the first manned CSM orbital mission.

  In 1973, the year after the Apollo lunar program ended, three Apollo CSM/Saturn IBs ferried crews to the Skylab space station. In 1975, one last Apollo/Saturn IB launched the Apollo portion of the joint US-USSR Apollo Soyuz Test Project. A backup Apollo CSM/Saturn IB was assembled and made ready for a Skylab rescue mission but never flown.

  Be a part of history! Purchase this resin composite model, which stands, at 1:144 scale, a staggering 19.5” high, and re-imagine the powerful contribution the Saturn 1B has had on the American Space Program. ($139.95 MSRP)

posted 09-16-2013 07:28 PM               

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Originally posted by sobof62:
Could anyone steer me to any suppliers of these models? I live in the UK.

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posted 10-05-2013 03:46 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by bdipaolo:
I have been waiting and waiting for a really accurate 1:72 Titan. None of the kits gets it right.

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posted 01-28-2014 02:44 PM            

But what is the point of the larger scale model unless you get more detail. Is that not the point of having a larger scale. Yes, kitbashing and scratch building are a must if you want the larger scales and believe me you will spend as much time, if not more on the research. That is all part of the fun and you get to know the engineering so much better.

posted 01-28-2014 02:53 PM               

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Originally posted by modelhopper:
But what is the point of the larger scale model unless you get more detail.

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There are far many more people who are not model builders who would like to represent rockets such as the Gemini-Titan in their collections or desktop/bookshelf displays, even if the details are not spot-on.

posted 01-28-2014 03:12 PM            

Then you will just have to put up with what the manufacturer decides what to produce and this is dictated by profit linked to demand.

posted 01-28-2014 03:16 PM               

It's because of that reason that I appreciate any and all efforts by the likes of Dragon, Toys & Models and others to bring ready-to-display models to the market. I'd much rather a built model with flaws (that I can point out to anyone interested, but more often they just elicit enthusiasm) than a closet full of model kit boxes that I'll never be able to assemble, paint or display.

posted 01-28-2014 03:38 PM               

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
I'd much rather a built model with flaws (that I can point out to anyone interested, but more often they just elicit enthusiasm) than a closet full of model kit boxes that I'll never be able to assemble, paint or display.

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posted 01-28-2014 09:09 PM               

I collect and display models of spacecraft (and a few cars and airplanes I love), but I have neither the patience nor the confidence in my 20+ years dormant modelling skills — such as they ever were — to build something I'd be proud to show off, or would admire myself.

posted 01-29-2014 03:05 AM            

If you are still determined on the larger scales may I suggest looking at the paper model web sites. There is some extraordinary, amazing art work out there and with a very modest outlay (much of it is free) you could have 1/72 Titan (in paper and card) until a manufactured one comes on the market.

posted 03-15-2014 10:40 PM               

What I like about this company is the owner in charge of the kit design really wants the end product to be accurate. It doesn't have to be super detailed or have the surgical precision of a Fine Molds kit, but the outer mold line will right. This is done by doing a lot of research, using dimensioned blueprints versus drawings, lots of photos and even measuring the real thing if possible.

This is what it takes to make an accurate model and many times manufacturers can't put in the time, which is too bad. I'm trying to get them to do a 1/32 LEM, and one reason I think ours would be the best would be that I know a bunch of knowledgeable guys here and on other groups who are experts on the LEM, so anything produced would be checked, scrutinized and perfect.

Of course, this really applies to new model kits. The finished diecast/kit market is different in terms of how much fine detail and good quality you can get out of a given production scenario, like China vs. Phillipines vs. USA. Each has it's strengths and weaknesses.

Then there's the collectibles/art market where you'd find commissioned models like Steve's and Pascal's, companies that have an established track record and reputation like Nick Proach and PacMin. That's where you can find quality and accuracy within different price ranges.

I'm kind of rambling here, but what I was trying to say, it takes the same amount of time/money to make an accurate part as it does one that's not.