Author
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Topic: Franklin Mint's Apollo Lunar Module model
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alexbaja Member Posts: 448 From: Naxxar, Malta Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 01-14-2011 03:01 AM
Does anybody know the exact year that the Franklin Mint issued its Apollo Lunar Module model? Was it for the 20th or the 25th anniversary of the lunar landing?Also, what was the quantity produced? |
apolloprojeckt Member Posts: 1485 From: Arnhem, Netherlands Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 01-14-2011 03:24 AM
I believed these were produced in 1994 for the 25th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing.The quantity produced I'm not sure or I believe 2500 for the Code 3 version with two astronauts and 500 for the Franklin Mint. |
alexbaja Member Posts: 448 From: Naxxar, Malta Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 01-14-2011 04:30 AM
The date of production then I hope I can conclude as the 25th anniversary.The quantity produced though is still in question, maybe somebody else may help us conclude. |
c11esh Member Posts: 34 From: UK Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 01-14-2011 05:28 AM
I was always under the impression there were 500 produced of this. |
328KF Member Posts: 1306 From: Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-14-2011 12:36 PM
I got one in '94 and it was irrepairably damaged. Franklin Mint generously replaced it at no cost to me. So that makes 499 |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4324 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-14-2011 01:12 PM
I had to return my first Franklin LM model too due to damage in transit... 498! |
alexbaja Member Posts: 448 From: Naxxar, Malta Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 01-14-2011 01:54 PM
Mine is intact, so I guess that makes it 497! |
apolloprojeckt Member Posts: 1485 From: Arnhem, Netherlands Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 01-14-2011 02:07 PM
Make that 494, I have 3, one broken and two 100% in condition... |
Charlie16 Member Posts: 534 From: Italy Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 01-14-2011 02:38 PM
There are two here in Italy. I have one intact and one with broken parts to be restored. Does anyone know the material of the legs? Where can I find pictures, that I can help in the restoration? Thanks! |
alexbaja Member Posts: 448 From: Naxxar, Malta Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 01-14-2011 02:49 PM
Charlie16 got it down to 492! |
Charlie16 Member Posts: 534 From: Italy Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 01-14-2011 05:05 PM
Is a pleasure to be entered in the list! |
alexbaja Member Posts: 448 From: Naxxar, Malta Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 01-16-2011 10:22 AM
It seems that lot's of these Franklin Mint LM are either hidden in vaults or are crippled or even worse still, ended up being recycled. Barely 10 are accounted for from the 500 produced. |
GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2686 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 01-16-2011 12:15 PM
I have one as well. |
Michael Ritter Member Posts: 48 From: Long Island, NY USA Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 01-16-2011 02:09 PM
You can add me to the list as I have one. Unfortunately it is still boxed but at least it is not damaged. |
backof Member Posts: 32 From: Katonah, NY USA Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 01-16-2011 03:37 PM
I have one, currently boxed in my "vault". |
c11esh Member Posts: 34 From: UK Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 01-16-2011 06:28 PM
I have one intact. A friend off mine has had a total of 3, but currently has 2 one intact and one damaged. |
alexbaja Member Posts: 448 From: Naxxar, Malta Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 01-17-2011 12:28 AM
486 and counting!!! |
Go4Launch Member Posts: 561 From: Seminole, Fla. Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 01-17-2011 03:31 PM
Well, somebody's gotta get a spreadsheet going, but I have one. It's one of my favorites. What a well-made model. 485. |
Peter Kemp Member Posts: 94 From: Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 01-18-2011 12:14 PM
I purchased an example from the USA via eBay in 2007. I also got a mirrored display case as part of the lot. Unfortunately although it arrived in the original box, the ascent stage had become detached from the shaped packaging causing a couple of the thrusters and aerials to break off. However, I got busy with the glue and forceps and managed to re-attach them with only a slight alignment problem with one of the aerial arrays to show that it had been repaired. Lovely model. |
Spacemac Member Posts: 63 From: Schererville, Indiana, united states Registered: May 2009
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posted 01-18-2011 01:19 PM
I have an intact Franklin Mint Lunar Module also. It is a little dusty but otherwise in excellent shape. |
Spacepsycho Member Posts: 872 From: Huntington Beach, Calif. Registered: Aug 2004
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posted 01-19-2011 04:39 PM
I have 3 new in box and a damaged one I use for school presentations. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 45898 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-19-2011 04:44 PM
For what it's worth, I've owned two: one still exists in pristine condition, the other met a wall traveling at about 25 mph (long story) and was discarded years ago. |
328KF Member Posts: 1306 From: Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-19-2011 04:47 PM
quote: Originally posted by Robert Pearlman: ...the other met a wall traveling at about 25 mph (long story) and was discarded years ago.
Wow! What did you say to her that made her THAT angry? |
fredtrav Member Posts: 1749 From: Birmingham AL Registered: Aug 2010
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posted 01-19-2011 04:52 PM
At least it missed you.
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Mike Dixon Member Posts: 1529 From: Kew, Victoria, Australia Registered: May 2003
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posted 01-19-2011 05:30 PM
I have one... had a damaged US flag, returned it to the (Melbourne Aust) Franklin Mint shop and waited nine months to have it replaced.Franklin Mint called me when the new one had arrived and offered me a choice of five new models, four of which had varying faults, the fifth perfect. |
alexbaja Member Posts: 448 From: Naxxar, Malta Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 01-20-2011 12:41 AM
476... Robert has the record of a FLOWN piece but unfortunately did not survive it's descent. |
jerseyboy Member Posts: 49 From: Overland Park, Kansas U.S.A. Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 01-20-2011 10:20 AM
I also have the Franklin Mint Apollo Lunar Module, the only issue is the damaged American Flag.I had the base signed by one astronaut from every moon mission. I took it the base in 2005 to New Jersey where Buzz Aldrin (signed it Apollo Xll), Edgar Mitchell, Dave Scott and Alan Bean signed it. Than to the Kennedy Space Center in 2008 where Gene Cernan, Charlie Duke and Jim Lovell signed it. They all signed it in silver paint pen and added their missions. It's a great piece. |
Charlie16 Member Posts: 534 From: Italy Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 01-20-2011 05:46 PM
For long time a person has for sale a model on eBay ($2,300 USD). Asking price is high... This means that our models are worth a lot. I'm happy about that. One less from the list! |
Rick Mulheirn Member Posts: 4324 From: England Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 01-20-2011 06:35 PM
It would appear the Franklin Mint LM suffered quite an attrition rate due to intransit damage. I wonder what they did with all the models returned due to damage? |
328KF Member Posts: 1306 From: Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 01-20-2011 09:55 PM
Have any of or owners here had the base of the LM signed? I have always thought about doing it, but with only seven spaces I couldn't decide which moonwalkers to get.Apollo 11 crew was out of the question (although not at the time of issue). We have lost two of the CDR's, and one of the LMP's. So there are nine left and one will not sign. There was a long period of time when no one would have thought Dave Scott would ever sign, and some now are prohibitively expensive (especially when charging ridiculous additional fees for "3D" items and silver pens). Any successes to share? Pics? I have several signed model bases, including Apollo 13 and Friendship 7, but still haven't started the FM base for fear of not being able to complete a sensible grouping of signatures. |
GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2686 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 01-21-2011 05:24 AM
I have thought about signing as well. I would suggest that you have just the front two panels signed. Have Aldrin sign on the Lunar Module Pilot (LMP) side (left hand side if you look at the model, right hand side from the LMP view looking out the window of the LM), then have Cernan sign the Commander side. In that way you have the first and the last of the crews that have landed on the moon. Not cheap individually but as a group much cheaper than all panels signed. It also is easier to display. |
Space Cadet Carl Member Posts: 264 From: Lake Orion, MI Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 02-17-2011 11:53 AM
I picked up a Franklin Mint LM in 1994 at one of the Franklin Mint stores near Detroit. An S-band antenna got damaged, but I glued and re-painted it as carefully as I could. Great diecast. |
tornado1 New Member Posts: 1 From: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Registered: Sep 2012
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posted 09-12-2012 03:25 PM
I have a Franklin Mint Apollo 11 Lunar Module in "mint condition". I bought it in 1994 for the 25th Anniversary. It resides up here in Canada. |
Mike Dixon Member Posts: 1529 From: Kew, Victoria, Australia Registered: May 2003
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posted 05-17-2016 06:37 AM
In the process of moving house and the U.S. flag on my Franklin Mint lunar module just fell off (with a corner no longer there) from the descent stage.Others have experienced that I know. Grates as I haven't touched it for over a decade. Did anyone know of where you could get a replacement? |
Planetary Member Posts: 25 From: Huntington Beach, CA, USA Registered: May 2013
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posted 05-17-2016 09:29 PM
Although these decals are for the Revell, Monogram or Dragon 1/48 scale Lunar Module models, they are the right scale for the Frankin Mint LM as well. |
Mike Dixon Member Posts: 1529 From: Kew, Victoria, Australia Registered: May 2003
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posted 05-17-2016 11:13 PM
Thank you most kindly. I would have had no hope of finding that out without your assistance. |
Space Cadet Carl Member Posts: 264 From: Lake Orion, MI Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 05-20-2016 12:47 PM
I have a Franklin Mint LM inside a Lucite display case. It was dropped in 1999 while moving from one house to another, causing damage to an S-Band antenna. I very carefully repaired it myself. It sounds like an lot of these LMs were damaged in shipping or by neglect. Mine was originally purchased at a Franklin Mint store in the Detroit area. |
KAlexander New Member Posts: 5 From: Fullerton, CA, USA Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 06-01-2016 09:18 PM
I have a Franklin Mint LM on display in my office next to other space memorabilia. I also have a lucite display case. Fortunately after 5 moves it is intact in California. One of my treasures! |
denali414 Member Posts: 747 From: Raleigh, NC Registered: Aug 2017
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posted 05-10-2018 05:50 PM
Just got one of these diecast models and really like it. I like that the legs articulate and the gold foil, and also that it still has the American flag, which I guess many have lost. Mine did not come with an instruction book and it looks like the upper stage comes off, but I can't figure out how and I am afraid to damage anything. Any help on how to detach the stages would be a great help! |
328KF Member Posts: 1306 From: Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 05-10-2018 05:57 PM
You have to twist the engine bell on the descent stage to unlock the ascent stage. It's a two-handed operation that is better left undone. I suspect many Franklin Mint LMs have been damaged by dropping the top when it comes loose. If you absolutely have to do it, set the model down on a flat surface and twist the bell with two fingers. You'll feel it unlock. Then lift the ascent stage off. |