Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 04-29-2011 08:52 AM
Dragon Wings 1:72 Gemini spacecraft...
space1 Member
Posts: 853 From: Danville, Ohio Registered: Dec 2002
posted 04-29-2011 09:03 AM
Not a bad looking model. But unfortunately it's a mix of modes. The horizon scanner fairing is still on (it would be jettisoned immediately after reaching orbit). And the HF recovery antenna near the left hatch is proudly deployed (it would only be used after splashdown).
quote:Originally posted by space1: And the HF recovery antenna near the left hatch is proudly deployed (it would only be used after splashdown).
I bet this will be an end user installed item that can be left off. Looks like a great model and better than what is out there now, keep them coming.
A Skylab OWS would be a wonderful item as there is nothing out there now.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-30-2011 08:16 AM
Dragon says that both the horizon scanner fairing and the HF recovery antenna are indeed user-installed items.
cspg Member
Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 04-30-2011 08:42 AM
The Flying Mule has it for $31.99.
cspg Member
Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 05-12-2011 01:54 PM
A picture of the model:
apolloprojeckt Member
Posts: 1447 From: Arnhem, Netherlands Registered: Feb 2009
posted 05-12-2011 03:36 PM
No details on the nose?
cycleroadie Member
Posts: 452 From: Apalachin, NY USA Registered: May 2011
posted 08-29-2011 07:02 AM
This one landed on the coast on Friday, so it should be available shortly.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-29-2011 07:30 AM
quote:Originally posted by apolloprojeckt: No details on the nose?
The model (as pictured above) ships with a nose cap that can be removed to reveal the detail.
Daugherty54 Member
Posts: 591 From: Cabot, Arkansas, USA Registered: Sep 2010
posted 08-29-2011 07:45 AM
Any details inside the service bay? Pretty nice looking model. I assume these are already painted and assembled?
I wish they were 1/48 instead. I like Dragon's detail, they are just a tad smaller than I would prefer.
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 08-29-2011 07:53 PM
Now we just need them to do a Gemini Agena and use the data to make an unbuilt kit version and I'll be set.
cycleroadie Member
Posts: 452 From: Apalachin, NY USA Registered: May 2011
posted 09-02-2011 07:28 AM
The Flying Mule has it on their website now with pics for those wondering about details.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-08-2011 06:08 AM
Dragon announced today a new version of their 1:72 Gemini spacecraft, this time with a spacewalker:
cspg Member
Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 09-08-2011 08:42 AM
How can I express politely frustration? Does "%#@°&*" work?
It seems to have a "see-through" section, no? (On edit: Ha-ha-ha. The hatch is open, of course.)
PeterO Member
Posts: 399 From: North Carolina Registered: Mar 2002
posted 09-08-2011 12:39 PM
That's an interesting release. The first release clearly has solid windows, judging by the Flying Mule photos. I sure hope the Gemini 4 version has transparent windows.
Maybe the first release has an interior too, if you can get the hatches open.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 09-08-2011 12:43 PM
The hatches are not separate pieces on the original release and the windows are indeed opaque.
cspg Member
Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 09-09-2011 07:24 AM
Although no glue required for this model, you will still have to use a...screwdriver to build the stand! Ok, it's only two tiny screws but...
So now we need the launchers for the Mercury and Gemini spacecrafts. Preferably in 1:72 because at 1:400 it will probably look ridiculously small (the Delta 2 is already really small). I'll be okay with the Saturn too even in plastic - as long as I don't have to start gluing things together.
PeterO Member
Posts: 399 From: North Carolina Registered: Mar 2002
posted 09-09-2011 09:20 AM
quote:Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: The hatches are not separate pieces on the original release and the windows are indeed opaque.
Thanks, Robert. I'll wait for the Gemini 4 version.
Since Gemini is getting an interior, it would be great to get an Apollo and Mercury with an interior too. That would make a good display to show just how small the Mercury and Gemini cabins were compared to the relatively roomy CM.
Ironman One Member
Posts: 73 From: Ormond Beach, FL USA Registered: Sep 2011
posted 12-05-2011 08:46 AM
I was going to purchase the Dragon 1/72 Gemini and noticed the "United States" lettering was way off. So for that reason alone I passed on this. It appears to be generic because there were several and they were all the same.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-05-2011 09:35 AM
You say the alignment of "United States" is "way off" but it doesn't look that way to me.
PeterO Member
Posts: 399 From: North Carolina Registered: Mar 2002
posted 12-05-2011 11:06 AM
From the side view photo on Flying Mule, the UNITED STATES lettering has apparently been printed on straight rows, so when applied to the capsule, it appears curved.
The UNITED, STATES and flag also are offset from one another, not centered.
Ironman One Member
Posts: 73 From: Ormond Beach, FL USA Registered: Sep 2011
posted 12-05-2011 12:50 PM
Thats right Peter, also the "STATES" is not centered under "UNITED".
dog320 Member
Posts: 49 From: West Sussex, United Kingdom Registered: Jul 2010
posted 12-05-2011 01:06 PM
quote:Originally posted by Ironman One: Thats right Peter, also the "STATES" is not centered under "UNITED".
All true, but to be fair to Robert, on the real thing the U of united is offset very slightly from the S of states (but no where near as much as Dragon have depicted.
More importantly, the second set of national markings on the starboard side are entirely missing.
And that's without getting into the complete mess Dragon made of the RADAR and reaction control jets.
Ironman One Member
Posts: 73 From: Ormond Beach, FL USA Registered: Sep 2011
posted 12-05-2011 03:49 PM
Maybe this will be corrected. Anyway I'm pleased that they're producing these items.
randyc Member
Posts: 779 From: Chandler, AZ USA Registered: May 2003
posted 12-05-2011 07:48 PM
Frankly I don't understand why the companies that make spacecraft models don't take the time, and it doesn't require much time as there are plenty of photos to use, to correctly portray the spacecraft. And I'm not talking about the details either.
With the Gemini model a cursory research would have determined that there was no antenna deployed between the hatches until after splashdown (not to mention that the fairing over the horizon scanners was jettisoned for the orbital configuration).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-05-2011 08:04 PM
As already mentioned on this thread, the horizon scanner fairing and the HF recovery antenna are removable. You can choose to display the model with or without them installed.
Ironman One Member
Posts: 73 From: Ormond Beach, FL USA Registered: Sep 2011
posted 12-05-2011 08:11 PM
I take it the modules don't separate to simulate all phases of flight including splashdown.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42982 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 12-05-2011 08:22 PM
The modules do not separate.
randyc Member
Posts: 779 From: Chandler, AZ USA Registered: May 2003
posted 12-05-2011 08:59 PM
Although the HF antenna is removable it should never had been part of the model.
Since the model doesn't separate it can never be displayed in the recovery configuration (which is the only time that the antenna was deployed).
As stated earlier just a little research would have determined that the antenna is not needed.
cspg Member
Posts: 6210 From: Geneva, Switzerland Registered: May 2006
posted 12-06-2011 02:04 AM
quote:Originally posted by randyc: Since the model doesn't separate it can never be displayed in the recovery configuration...
Give them ideas to produce more versions of this model!
dog320 Member
Posts: 49 From: West Sussex, United Kingdom Registered: Jul 2010
posted 12-06-2011 02:27 AM
As for the suggestion that the horizon scanner fairing is user-installed, I think not. I've removed mine. It's not replaceable, and there are no horizon scanners underneath, at least not on this first release.
cycleroadie Member
Posts: 452 From: Apalachin, NY USA Registered: May 2011
posted 12-24-2011 06:41 PM
The Gemini Capsule with spacewalker hit the coast on 12/23 so you should see it at your local or online dealer after Xmas.
OLDIE Member
Posts: 268 From: Portsmouth, England Registered: Sep 2004
posted 02-01-2012 04:02 AM
The Gemini capsule with spacewalker is now available in the U.K. There are a couple of things to watch out for with this model (and I'm not going to get involved in the configurations arguments!). The attatchment of the umbilical (at both ends) is quite difficult and, for me, involved the judicious application of a hot needle and superglue. The hatch has VERY small and delicate hinges. Again, for me, the application of superglue (very sparingly) was eventually called for. I noticed, on the display model in my local hobby shop, that the hatch had been left off. I wondered why. Now I know!
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 03-03-2012 04:17 AM
The unbuilt kit version of the Gemini Spacecraft with Spacewalker in 1/72 hit the states this week. I picked mine up on Thursday. It is a pretty nice little kit and makes a good alternative for those of you looking to perhaps build a model as opposed to just collecting them.
I just uploaded a video review I shot of the kit. Its about 20 minutes long, but I go into pretty good detail about what I found that is accurate and maybe not entirely accurate. Take a look and you be the judge.
dog320 Member
Posts: 49 From: West Sussex, United Kingdom Registered: Jul 2010
posted 03-04-2012 05:12 AM
Thanks Jay. Where did you pick up this kit version? I can't find it anywhere.
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 03-04-2012 06:56 PM
I found mine at a local hobby shop as the US distributors have them (some don't quite have them yet, but give them a week or two as the supply chain trickles in). I imagine the UK suppliers will be getting theirs pretty quick as well.
But you could also order one from HLJ.com as well if you want to get one shipped in. Starshipmodeler.com has them for under $20 and can ship to the UK (of course, you might get zinged with import fees, but this is a pretty inexpensive model so it shouldn't be much).
But, you guys in Europe are lucky to have the Revell 1/24 Geminis available again. It looks like they are selling for slightly less than the Dragon kit.
Spacemac Member
Posts: 59 From: Schererville, Indiana, united states Registered: May 2009
posted 04-28-2012 07:00 PM
I bought the Dragon 1/72 Gemini with spacewalker model kit but the instructions are not very clear as to what colors the model should be painted.
Can anyone recommend the colors I should paint the model? Particularly the capsule (which looks like a steel blue on the cover) and the service module which looks white. Thanks.
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 04-28-2012 10:33 PM
The service module is indeed white. As for the capsule, the shingles are made out of an alloy called Rene 41 which is flat blueish black in color (it is not painted, although I believe some elements of the capsule's outer structure are). When a capsule goes through reentry, then it tends to look blacker in color.
As for colors, I would say typical flat black model paint is a bit too dark, but there are some other black shades you can use. In my case, I am going to do the capsule in Navy Blue and heavily overpaint with Tamiya smoke, then flat coat once the decals are applied. Floquil Grimy black is a good possible color as well (available in the Floquil rail road colors line).
posted 04-29-2011 08:52 AM
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