posted July 23, 2005 04:50 AM               

This great looking wall plaque is a replicated section of the "nose art" panel on the Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft. The specs on this panel section are exactly the same as the real spacecraft. The panel section measures roughly 18" x 10" inches and each one is hand stenciled to match the original spacecrafts onboard artwork.

The plaque measures 19" x 14" inches. This is a must have item for anyone interested in the Mercury program (or space history for that matter!)

The Friendship 7 panel wall plaque is $99.95 (plus $14.00 S&H. I take PayPal, check or MO.

This item will be available for ordering through my website tonight or you can contact me direct here if you would like to order one. Just shoot me an email.

Bare in mind that these are being made in groups of 20 and many of these are already pre-ordered, grab one while you can!

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Visit my Studios Website at http://www.GerathsDesign.com

posted July 23, 2005 04:51 PM               

Thank you everyone for your orders, the first lot of this plaque is going fast so if you want one quickly now would be the time to order it!
http://gerathsdesign.com/Products.htm

BTW, for those who are interested... a Freedom 7, Liberty Bell 7 and Sigma 7 version of this plaque are pending in the next week or so and I am accepting pre-orders on these. If you would like one of the upcomming designs please contact me and I will give you pre-order instructions. Thanks again, if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

All the best,

Dana

posted July 23, 2005 04:52 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by kyra:
Slightly off topic, but is the minature STS test flight suit seen below also for sale ?

---

That is not a miniature STS test flight suit. It is a U2 pilot figure and nope, he is not for sale... :^)

Dana

posted July 23, 2005 11:22 PM               

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Steve Hankow http://www.farthestreaches.com

[This message has been edited by farthestreaches (edited July 23, 2005).]

posted July 23, 2005 11:39 PM               

Faith 7 is a possibility but it will very probably be the last on the list. Freedom 7 and Liberty Bell 7 are first then Sigma 7 will be after that.

Dana

posted July 24, 2005 09:09 AM               

Keep up the good work!

posted July 24, 2005 01:04 PM               

Best,
Bruce

posted July 24, 2005 01:38 PM               

Dana

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Visit my Studios Website at http://www.GerathsDesign.com

posted July 25, 2005 02:52 AM               

Please note: The Liberty Bell version of the panel will have section of the white stripe "crack" on the very lower left hand corner of the panel.

Although the original panel did not have any of this stripe on it (although it was VERY close), I thought that it would make the panel more interesting and relevant to the historic original.

Thank you to all of you that have ordered one of these plaques, I appreciate your business and I look forward to hearing from you all when the plaques arrive. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask!

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Visit my Studios Website at http://www.GerathsDesign.com

posted July 25, 2005 03:52 PM               

My email has been swamped with people interested in getting a plaque done in the Sigma 7 and Aurora 7 design. Since there seems to be such intense interest in those two missions I have been working to finalize the paint design for the missions. Unfortunately, the Aurora 7 will not be done soon enough for anyone to take to the show.

The design is just to intricate and I do not want to throw something together cheaply and quickly just to make a buck. These are art pieces and I make each one myself, by hand. If you are still set on getting Aurora 7 it should be available soon, just not in time for the show. Sorry.

Now the good news for Wally fans...

I have worked my schedule so Sigma 7 is now available for order with at least the first 7 going out the door within 10 days or less. This should be in time for you to take it to the show if you like.

I am sorry that more could not be done in the time remaining but the schedule is just to tight. I could have more done in time and will send them out as they are completed so any orders after the first 7 have a pretty good chance.

Price is $99.95 plus $14.00 S&H.

If you would like to order one please contact me so I can get your order processed and your name on the list. Thanks to everyone and I hope to hear from you soon!

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Visit my Studios Website at http://www.GerathsDesign.com

posted July 26, 2005 04:14 AM               

The studio website has been updated. If you would like to order the Freedom 7, Liberty Bell 7 or Sigma 7 plaques, it can be done now with the click of the mouse. Follow the link below to the updated catalog page.

http://gerathsdesign.com/Products.htm

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

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Visit my Studios Website at http://www.GerathsDesign.com

posted July 27, 2005 01:34 AM               

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Steve Hankow http://www.farthestreaches.com

posted August 01, 2005 02:53 AM               

The logo on each plaque (Friendship 7, Sigma 7, Freedom 7 and Liberty Bell 7)are finished in a high quality enamel, no decals or vinyl stickers here.

Please excuse the quality of these shots. I did not have proper lighting on the plaque when these were taken.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Thanks again to everyone for your interest.

All the best,

Dana

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Visit my Studios Website at http://www.GerathsDesign.com

posted August 05, 2005 02:26 PM               

For those still thinking about ordering, now is the time! The first grouping of plaques have sold out and the second is going fast! If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

All the best for a happy and safe weekend!

Dana

posted August 21, 2005 07:59 AM               

I'd been waiting anxiously for Dana's Friendship 7 panel to arrive. Yesterday I made a special trip to the post office, and there it was.

As always, Dana has done an exceptional job on this item. The corrugations and coloring look authentic, and the artwork came out especially well - it's actually done with paint, not stick-ons.

If my budget (and wall space) could support it, I'd buy the whole line-up. This is an elegant piece, and it's well worth the price. Keep up the good work, Dana.

Dave

posted August 24, 2005 09:58 AM            

Dana was able to rush my order for a Sigma 7 panel to get it ready and shipped to me in time for the NJ show. It arrived in perfect shape, and is truly a stunning piece.

posted September 27, 2005 06:22 PM               

Even though he seemed a bit upset, Dana was kind enough to refund my money. I honestly appreciated that.

Then for some reason he sent me an e-mail asking me to post positive comments on his behalf here on Collectspace. No one has ever solicited a post from me like that before. Oh well...The best of luck to him anyway. I'm sure he's a fine fella.

posted September 27, 2005 08:56 PM               

I too received a Friendship 7 plaque from Dana, and I am very pleased with it. It came in a timely fashion, and is very good quality.

I have ordered the rest of the Mercury plaques from Dana and have no reason to believe he won't deliver.

posted October 07, 2005 07:28 AM               

While I wanted to order several of the panels discussed above, I placed a small order first (as I do with almost all internet and mail order vendors). I ordered the moon base surface astronaut doll stand in July. Since over a month passed and I had never received the item, I contacted Mr. Geraths several times via e-mail. Each time Mr. Gerath returned with an excuse for the lack of receipt and a promise that the item would go out in the next day or two.

It has now been over two months since my order was placed and over one month since I first contacted Mr. Geraths regarding non-delivery. I have never received the item. I would very much like to have the base. However, a week ago I requested that either the base be mailed as promised or a credit issued. Mr. Geraths assured me that the item would be in the mail in a day or two or a credit would be issued. A little over a week later I have neither.

Obviously from the above posts some people are receiving great items. I wanted to be among this group. Now I want others to know of my experence with the company.

(10/07/05 afternoon: It should be noted that Mr. Geraths has been in touch with me several times today and says he is working to immediately resolve the delivery problem.)

[This message has been edited by BNorton (edited October 07, 2005).]

posted October 07, 2005 12:02 PM               

I had left some packages with a friend to be mailed earlier this week in my absence, but apparently Mr. Norton's (which was among them) did not get to the post office on Monday as I had hoped. His package should be there no later than Tuesday.

For anyone else waiting for their orders, I ask that you please be patient. I am getting everything made and sent as fast as I can. A family health issue has forced me from the studio off and on for the past few weeks and that has contributed to the delays in manufacture and shipping. This was unavoidable.
Rest assured that your order will arrive; I ask that you just be patient and if you have any concerns, contact me directly.

All the best,

Dana

posted October 07, 2005 01:06 PM               

It all comes out in the wash.
Have a nice day.

Bob

[This message has been edited by RK (edited October 07, 2005).]

posted October 22, 2005 11:14 PM               

My ability to work full time on these was delayed due to a health issue involving my Mom. Anyone still waiting, please be patient while I finish them up and send them out. Everyone still currently waiting for their standard plaques should be recieving them in the next week or two.

Now that I am nearly caught up on plaque orders, I am accepting reservations on plaques for Christmas delivery. I will have 10 available for Christmas (Friendship or Sigma only, sorry). Rest assured that anyone still waiting for standard plaques will get them before any new orders are sent out.

If anyone would like one of the plaques for Christmas, please contact me if you would like one held. Payment will be due upon shipment (on or before Dec. 12).

Thanks.

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Visit my Studios Website at http://www.GerathsDesign.com

posted October 23, 2005 10:18 PM               

Since announcing that I will have 10 plaques available for Christmas delivery, 5 of them have already been reserved. Your faith in me and my work is wonderful and I cannot thank you enough for your support. There are 5 left in the reserve list, if you would like one, please contact me right away.

(Again, these reserved plaques will not be sent until all of the standard orders are filled. Payment on reserved plaques will be due the day of shipment.)

I would also like to send out a very big thank you to all of you for a more important reason.

I have received many wonderful emails from CS members wishing my Mom well. Such emails are appreciated more than you will ever know, I cannot thank you all enough for your concern. She (my Mom) is home from the hospital now and although she is still having respiratory problems related to her asthma; with the help of some in home medical services she is doing much better. We are hopeful for a complete recovery.

Thank you so much for your support and well wishes. It is very much appreciated.

All the best,

Dana

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Visit my Studios Website at http://www.GerathsDesign.com

posted October 24, 2006 03:40 PM               

Dana is out of business. He has stolen a tremendous amount of money from several people. We even had a little convention of customers that were screwed by Dana during the San Antonio show. They came from as far as New Zealand.

Last known situation was he was being evicted out of his rental property. He offered various clients the vacuform machine that produced the Mercury shingles, so that project is done.

The word is out. Dana is no longer producing models due to his inability to fulfil a contract. He failed to fulfil a contract for a museum in Alaska, so the word it out to various museums up and down the West Coast.

Dana is finished in this hobby. He should get a job at Denny's. Then maybe he can pay back all the people he owes money too.

posted October 24, 2006 04:37 PM               

I ordered a model of an Apollo Command Module and LEM back in December of 2004. I had ordered from Dana before and was very happy with the job he did. When I ordered the model, I was told that it was not going to be that difficult to do as it was basically a “kit” modified model and that I should get it in about three months. I promptly sent Dana a check for $695 and waited patiently for my model. A few months went by, still no model, but Dana said it was coming together and that I should have it very soon. I didn’t receive any pictures however as it seemed he was always having trouble with his camera (warning bell #1). But I wasn’t too concerned as I had found Dana to be an honest person. Time passed and the number of emails from Dana started to decrease (warning bell #2). Again, I was not concerned and waited patiently for my modified kit model. I finally received an email from Dana on the first of September titled “delivery date”. I was hopeful that my model would be done soon and be on it’s way (10 months after ordering it). Again, this is “art” not science and I didn’t want to rush or pressure Dana into finishing it any earlier than he required time wise.

Well, it was around this time that “problems” began with 1. other collector’s models (warning bell #3) and 2. My model. Things like the foil on the CM, the legs on the LEM, etc. Again, I assured Dana that I would rather have done right (the way he is capable of doing it) then to just slap it together and ship it. I did, however, let him know that other collector’s had begun to email me with their tales of woe. From that point, I started getting emails titled “Model Shipping, Model Delivery Date and Update”. However as the months passed (it was now March of 2006) I received pretty much the same song and dance from Dana (warning bell #4). I did however finally get some pics of my model (in April of 2006). I’m no model builder, but I was able to tell that my model certainly had a long way to go before it was ready to be shipped.

From that point on, the emails I received from Dana were more about his troubles and tales of woe than about my model. I truly felt bad for Dana and told him that in the scheme of things, my model was probably not high on his list of priorities. But, I was always assured that he was working on it and that I would soon get it. At this point, I was just hoping he would send it in whatever state of completion it was in. I received my last email from Dana last month and was told that he is basically homeless and penny less.

I ultimately feel bad for Dana and his situation. But, he obviously knew all along that he was cheating me out of my $695 and did nothing to try to rectify the situation. Maybe I should have come out earlier to other buyers of Dana’s, but I was hoping for the best and blind to all the warning signs and the dozens of emails I received from other collectors. I don’t believe that there is anything I can do legally to get my money back, however I am exploring that possibility (one advantage of being able to fly anywhere on a moment’s notice).

[Edited by 767FO (October 24, 2006).]