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Author
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Topic: Advice for collecting Apollo and shuttle models
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cecilmeyer
New Member Posts: 7
From: Westville, Indiana USA
Registered: Feb 2015
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posted 02-21-2015 12:47 PM
   
I am just starting to collect space models. I would like to start with the Apollo missions and space shuttles. I have been looking at different kits. Already assembled ones such as Bandai and Dragon. Now the Bandai kits look great but are very expensive. The Dragon ones look pretty good but seem to be rather small. Any advice on the best least expensive way to go? I also like building models so if any of the kits like Revell or Monogram are accurate and any good I can go that route. Also what about the Franklin or Danbury Mint ones too? |
Daugherty54
Member Posts: 591
From: Cabot, Arkansas, USA
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 02-21-2015 06:28 PM
Toys and Models Corporation's Apollo, Gemini and Mercury capsules are great to start, 1/24 scale and excellent detail. They are readily available on eBay and various websites. The Code 3 Collectibles models from the National Air and Space Museum collection are awesome but are getting fairly expensive.Finally I would recommend commissioning a build from someone like Pascal Hacker or Stephen Nichols who are incredible at the detail they provide. I know there are others but I can speak from experience regarding these two. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 02-21-2015 07:02 PM
If price is a driver, I suggest eBay and look for good deals on space model kits. They all have their issues but they do as well as most. 1/48 scale is nice for the Apollo, Gemini and Mercury. The 1/72 scale shuttle is a nice one as well. Atomic City 1/24 Mercury is a good one and priced right these days. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1211
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 02-21-2015 10:48 PM
For 1/144th scale kits, I would go with the Airfix. The shuttle, Saturn IB, Saturn V with Apollo and Skylab were recently re-released. Upgrade kits are now available for the Saturn kits to make them even more accurate. The shuttle is probably the most accurate kit and the new decals it comes with cover every variation of a shuttle. |
randy
Member Posts: 2176
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 02-22-2015 11:39 AM
I would suggest the Revell route. They are reasonably priced and fairly accurate. And I've had a lot of fun building them. |
cecilmeyer
New Member Posts: 7
From: Westville, Indiana USA
Registered: Feb 2015
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posted 02-22-2015 12:56 PM
Thank you for the information. I think I will go with the kits. I love to build models and it is the least expensive way to go. |
rlobinske
Member Posts: 148
From: Crawfordville, FL
Registered: Oct 2014
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posted 02-23-2015 12:17 PM
It really depends on what you are after. All of the plastic kits available have accuracy issues, so go with what you can live with or can adjust.The Revell 1/48 First Lunar Landing is probably the best out of box LM on the market. It works well out of box and can be easily upgraded. If you want to pull out the stops, New Ware has an upgrade set and MESA set, while Space Model Systems provides great decals, including a dual-layer commanders window with LPD. The Revell 1/32 CSM is also a good kit, though the cabin interior is a bit simple with decals for many of the panels. New Ware and RealSpace Models have upgrade sets for that kit. RealSpace as a resin and photoetch 1/48 CSM that is arguably the most accurate out of box kit currently on the market. The Dragon 1/72 Apollo kits are good starters, though each has some accuracy issues that many like to address. On the LM, the RCS quad Y and Z nozzles are 45 degrees off and need to be repositioned. On the CSM, the navigation optics are missing and need to be either painted on or sculpted. There are other issues, depending on the level of accuracy you are after. The Saturn V, while large, has numerous accuracy issues and requires a lot of work to correct. Martins Models has update parts for the S-I-C and S-II stages, and plans for S-IV-B parts. For out of box, I would consider the Airfix 1/144 Saturn V to be your best starter, with New Ware providing multiple update sets, decals and painting masks if you want to update that. |
cecilmeyer
New Member Posts: 7
From: Westville, Indiana USA
Registered: Feb 2015
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posted 02-28-2015 07:10 PM
Okay, thank you for replying. |
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