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Author
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Topic: Revell's 1967 1:1 Gemini sweepstakes
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Headshot
Member Posts: 885
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 03-26-2020 12:59 PM
   
I recently ran across an advertisement from Revell Models for a "Gemini Sweepstakes." The prize was a full-size replica of a Gemini spacecraft. The 19-foot prize would be delivered to an airport near the winner's home via a "Flying Guppy" Aero Spacelines plane. The full page ad appeared on the back front cover of a mid-1967 issue of The Brave and Bold DC comic book. Do any cSers remember the sweepstakes? Who won? Where did they live? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43494
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-26-2020 01:35 PM
The winner was Robbie Alan Hanshew, a 13-year-old from Portland, Oregon. It was delivered to him by rail (rather than the Super Guppy) and was donated to the Oregon Museum of Science Industry (OMSI) where it remains on display today.You can see it and read about its history here, as well as on The Rocketry Forum. And here is the aforementioned ad:  |
Guswastheman
Member Posts: 101
From: Gresham, OR
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 03-26-2020 01:53 PM
I entered this contest and when it was announced that someone in Portland, Oregon was the winner, I was so excited. As an 8 year old, I thought it had to be me, however I was wrong. When it was first put on display at OMSI, they invited all the kids who had entered to a special opening. My Mom took me and when they told us it was okay to climb in, I was in heaven. Have visited it several times and after three total knee replacements, the kids get mad at me because it takes me so long to get out. |
space1
Member Posts: 857
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 03-26-2020 02:55 PM
I was also competing for that treasure! I can just imagine the disappointment of getting so close — the same city! — and yet so far. |
india-mike
Member Posts: 83
From: Linnich, Northrine Westfalia, Germany
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 03-26-2020 03:12 PM
A wonderful story. As a kid I wanted to build my own 1:1 version of a Gemini capsule. I only had some photos from spaceflight books, a very small budget and my limited manual skills. After stopping my project because of too many obstacles, I knew that McDonald Douglas made a terrific good job. There are no photos, only memories. |
Headshot
Member Posts: 885
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 03-26-2020 03:34 PM
Thanks for the responses and memories. It sure was a blast from the past. When everything gets back to "normal," I am going to hightail it over to OMSI and check it out. |
p51
Member Posts: 1658
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 03-26-2020 04:14 PM
I had never even heard of this until now, as all of this stuff happened a couple of years before I was born. That said, reading into this further, it was actually kind of a rip-off for the winner. The kid didn't get the capsule at all, as the contest stipulated that it was to be donated to whatever museum with close by. I walked right by the capsule, I didn't have a clue about its origins. My wife and I went to the museum the Christmas before last to watch the Christmas laser show in the planetarium. The capsule is in the hallway as you approach the planetarium. A parade of kids were hopping in and out of it, and even in that pre-pandemic era, I didn't want to get sick off of whatever germs were festering inside that thing. |
SpaceCadet1983
Member Posts: 242
From: United States
Registered: May 2012
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posted 03-26-2020 07:11 PM
I remember this well. I wanted to win this so bad that I schemed of ways to keep it so I could sleep in it in my bedroom at night! Years later I got in it every time we took our kids to the OMSI. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4201
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 03-27-2020 06:09 AM
Wow. That is a cool bit of kit. Getting in to the replica reminds me of a letter I once wrote.In the UK back in the 70s and 80s a tv show entitled "Jim'll Fix It" was a smash hit. Jim being a well know DJ celebrity fixed it for people's dreams to come true. When the Apollo 10 Command Module arrived at the Science Museum in London, I wrote to Jim asking if I could be locked in Charlie Brown for 10 days! I thought it might make good tv.  With hindsight, perhaps it was just as well that my letter went unanswered Jimmy Saville is still well known in the UK long after his death.... but for all the wrong reasons. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1331
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 03-27-2020 07:25 AM
Ah yes! I recall a full size Mercury mock up was at the Hayden Planetarium here in New York City. You can imagine my disappointment when I learned it had been hauled off for scrap in the 1970's. |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1757
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03-27-2020 09:43 AM
I was hooked on space travel before the Shepard flight. The day after that flight, I was determined to make a model of the Redstone and carve the Mercury capsule out of wood.What could be better for the Redstone rocket than an 18" long, white, round, ASBESTOS hot water pipe liner I found in my father's garage! |
Space Cadet Carl
Member Posts: 218
From: Lake Orion, Michigan
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 03-29-2020 02:00 PM
I remember that Revell contest very well. A million kids must have entered that contest to win the Gemini. The 1950's and 1960's were truly the golden age of model kit building. |
Jonnyed
Member Posts: 408
From: Dumfries, VA, USA
Registered: Aug 2014
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posted 03-31-2020 07:25 AM
Built many, many Revell models as a kid. It was truly glorious as I reflect back on it now and probably all added up to my love of engineering (I'm a nuc. eng.) and science. Truly gold. |
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