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Author
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Topic: Topping Mercury model w/broken espape tower
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capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 12-21-2015 09:29 PM
   
I know... shocking, isn't it? A Topping Mercury spacecraft model with a broken escape tower?I was deeply saddened, though, when I received the model which was in fine shape when I bought it at auction but had two of the three longitudinal beams broken when it arrived, along with several of the cross beams broken as well. I think it can be repaired, it looks like five drops of super glue would probably do the trick (the tower is still attached by the one remaining longitudinal beam). The thing is, I am an amateur modeler at best so I am concerned that I would dork it up. In addition, I am nervous that if I ship it to someone to be fixed it might get even more damaged enroute. I am awaiting a response from the seller regarding what to do next, but thought I would see if anyone has recommendations on who might be able to fix it and on how to best pack the darned thing for shipping. I may have to create a hand-made box with a foam rubber insert to protect it. Thoughts? |
Skythings
Member Posts: 243
From:
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 12-21-2015 11:43 PM
This fellow is a cS member. He may have a replacement part for you. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 12-22-2015 04:34 AM
That is Michael Key and he has built up a number of things for me. Take a look at this thread about half way down is a Mercury Capsule. It is a Topping and I built a base and Michael supplied the 3D printing of the tower that is fantastic. If you do not want to paint it yourself ask and he should be able to help with that as well, that is, after he is finished with my latest stuff.  |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 12-22-2015 07:58 AM
I'm afraid to mess with the model too much in its current state, so does anyone know if the escape tower was designed to be removed or is it permanently attached? If it is permanently attached, maybe I will be better off to try to fix the existing tower and if that ends up being impossible then I could get a replacement. |
keymichael1855
Member Posts: 176
From: Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 12-22-2015 08:28 AM
John, I'm not sure if the tower separates or not, because I don't have the model myself. However, should you decide that you would like a replacement tower, here is a link to the model that Fred purchased. You can order it and have it shipped to your door, or I'd be glad to order it and paint it for you. Just let me know. Thanks! |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 12-22-2015 09:10 AM
Michael, thanks, I will probably order one if for no other reason than to keep as a spare for when the original one gets too broken to use (hopefully not, but would be good to have a backup).So, it comes just molded in plastic and unpainted, correct? Also, how does it attach? Does it just hold in place or does it need to be glued on? |
keymichael1855
Member Posts: 176
From: Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 12-22-2015 09:31 AM
John, yes, the tower comes in plastic, and is in two pieces. The top of the tower and spike is separate so that the inside of the tank can be hollow (and therefore much cheaper). And yes, it comes unpainted. Should you order one, I'd be glad to give you a crash course on prep and painting. As for the fit, I'll have to let Fred chime in on that. It's my hope that it fits nice and snug without any glue, but I'm not 100% sure. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 12-22-2015 08:15 PM
The tower should be removable unless a previous owner glued it in. John do you have any photos of the current state and the damage done.The fit on Micheal's build is loose so I put a drop a glue to hold it in place. It is more detailed than the original but for me I want a reproduction to be slightly different so that no one could ever pass it off as an original. Don't get me wrong this is a fantastic replacement and well worth the investment. I have done the finishing and as it is just one color it was an easy paint. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 12-24-2015 03:00 PM
Here are a few photos of the damage, Fred. Incidentally, I don't want to mess with it too much for fear of making the damage worse, but it does not appear that the escape tower is removable. I could be wrong about that. As best as I can tell there are 10 "broken spots" where a beam or cross beam is broken and would need to be repaired.  
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capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 12-30-2015 09:48 AM
Any recommendations on what kind of glue to use to repair a Topping Mercury escape tower?I'm thinking model glue would be the wrong choice since it is designed for polystyrene plastic. Super glue, maybe? |
apolloprojeckt
Member Posts: 1447
From: Arnhem, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 12-30-2015 10:30 AM
Take size of the broken rod, drill both sides a hole 5 mm deep, place a brass rod and fix it so. Much stronger on this way, with some paint can mask the cracklines and seen nothing more of it. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 12-30-2015 12:21 PM
Interesting idea, although the longitudinal beam we are talking about (on the escape tower of the model) is around 1.5 mm thick. Too thin to drill a hole in the center of, I think. |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 01-04-2016 08:06 PM
I'm restoring three original towers for a friend, each had just one broken beam, I can see if he'll sell one. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 01-04-2016 08:43 PM
I still can't figure out if the tower can be removed without breaking it off. Is the tower on the Topping Mercury model designed to be removed or is it permanently attached? |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 01-06-2016 03:09 PM
It's supposed to be removable. The part it attaches to should come off the capsule, but it might be tight so it would need to be carefully removed. |
Skythings
Member Posts: 243
From:
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 01-06-2016 06:58 PM
I purchased one of these a couple of years ago which never had the tower on it. Here are a couple of images so you can gauge what it looks like without the tower. 
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capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 01-08-2016 05:13 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Skythings:
I purchased one of these a couple of years ago which never had the tower on it. Here are a couple of images so you can gauge what it looks like without the tower.
Can you tell if that nose cone is removable, or is it affixed to the model? I'm afraid to try at the moment, but it would make the restoration and packing much simpler if it is removable. EDIT: It almost looks like the tower might fit into the channel around the nose-part of the spacecraft ... |
Skythings
Member Posts: 243
From:
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 01-09-2016 11:10 AM
I do not believe the nose cone was removable. It appears that the round base of the tower simply fits snuggly into the channel around the cone.I sold the model about a year ago and replaced it with a Danbury Mint metal model, so I don't have it here anymore to examine for you. In the pictures you can see what looks like tiny pry marks in a couple of spots around the channel (click the above picture to enlarge it). I would expect with the proper tool, that tower will simply pop out after you carefully get it started and worked around the cone. |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 01-09-2016 02:03 PM
That top piece is removable, the tower has a ring at the base which fits around it and in the grove of the capsule. This is all press fit, but if someone glued it, well thatd be a problem. I think my friend will let me have one of the original towers I fixed, it just needed one bar replaced. So if you cant get it off I'd have to carefully cut out the old then put on the replacement. Contact me if interested, I've restored several of these.
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capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 01-29-2016 12:41 PM
UPDATE: I really took my time, fixing just one or two breaks and then letting the super glue cure before continuing. Altogether, there were 3 crossbeam pieces that were completely broken off and 12 other breaks of main or crossbeams. The piece is not as valuable as it would be if the escape tower had not been broken and repaired, but it should display well!  |
Retro Rocket
Member Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 01-29-2016 01:28 PM
Good job! |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 01-29-2016 01:49 PM
Looks great! How much do you want for it. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 01-29-2016 03:47 PM
Thanks, guys... I ended up buying a large magnifying glass so I could see the escape tower better, and I used tweezers to position the small crossbeam pieces and held them in place until they set. I'm pretty happy with how it came out, but I'm planning to hold onto it. |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 01-29-2016 04:01 PM
Nice work John, sometimes patience pays off. |
Skythings
Member Posts: 243
From:
Registered: Jun 2014
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posted 01-30-2016 03:10 AM
Looks great! Now stop telling anybody about what it used to look like. Everyone who views it in your display will never notice the repair and will be awed by it's striking presence. |
PeterO
Member Posts: 399
From: North Carolina
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 01-30-2016 01:10 PM
Better yet, display it with a photo showing its original broken state - the worse-looking, the better. Then the viewer can not only appreciate the finished product, but also marvel at your skill in repairing it. |
Lunar Rover
New Member Posts: 5
From: Kelsey, Ca., USA
Registered: Sep 2012
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posted 02-08-2016 10:10 AM
In years past I restored a considerable number of spacecraft models. Mostly LM models, but over the years I did three restorations for clients' Topping Mercury models as well.Yes, super glue works well, as you have discovered. In addition, I'd suggest purchasing an orange ink highlighting sharpie to coat the repair joints with ink. It may be necessary to feather/blend the ink a ways down each damaged crossmember to fully accomplish this, but by coating the super glue joint with translucent orange, it will totally disappear. Indeed, the Mercury model in my own collection was restored in this fashion and the breaks in the tower are totally invisible. — Andy Lagomarsino |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1255
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 02-08-2016 05:39 PM
Andy knows his stuff. The man restored two LM models. How goes it out in wine country, Andy? |
Lunar Rover
New Member Posts: 5
From: Kelsey, Ca., USA
Registered: Sep 2012
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posted 02-08-2016 10:37 PM
Hiya Larry, wine country is warm. I spent the day pruning vines and olive trees. Spring is coming in Cali., but it seems like you are getting ready for more snow in Boston? Ah, about those TWO LM models... it was two for your collection. And probably at least 50 others, for collectors around the globe. Nice thing about advancing years and a youth spent as a Bay Area hippie is getting forgetful about exact numbers, and having a good excuse for it. But until I stopped taking model restoration commissions, it seemed like I was always doing at least one or two at a time. Hope you caught my comment about visiting Edgar Mitchell's place with my large moon map. The visit was during my trip to Florida, when you treated me to Astronaut Hall of Fame sponsor table seating, for which I am still most grateful! Thanks for your kind words about my modeling skills too. That orange sharpie trick really does work on those towers. If the original poster is interested in seeing scans of my restored escape tower, I can send them along. It was smashed, missing struts, etc, but now it looks virtually new. |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 02-09-2016 07:56 AM
That model looks awesome. Great restoration work, John. |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1255
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 02-09-2016 07:27 PM
Andy, there was some minor snow yesterday. February is always a pain here, but we will get through it. If you remember the 60's, then you weren't there. I do remember that induction even though it was a decade ago. Dick Gordon was our guest at the table. Robert Pearlman was at the table. My date was CeCe Bibby. Stood outside watching the last Titan heavy launch from the Saturn V center with Dick and Fred Haise when Dick turned to me and said, "Mine was bigger." And trying to get Edgar to sign your map, but he was constantly being hounded by autograph seekers. I was glad that you got down to his house to complete that beautiful map. John would probably like to see your secret tips on restoration of the escape tower. |
capoetc
Member Posts: 2169
From: McKinney TX (USA)
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 02-09-2016 10:08 PM
Sorry, I've been away on a trip with my airline. Andy, I'd love to see your work on the Mercury escape tower. I don't think I've seen the orange Sharpie ... do you get them at a hobby store? |
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