posted November 18, 2006 11:41 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Owen Miller:
I would also be interested in a set of Project Mercury patches. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

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Keep in mind, if you didn't already know, that the Mercury "mission patches" are commemoratives that were designed well after the fact and weren't actually worn in flight by the astronauts on their Mercury missions.

Hope this helps

posted January 14, 2007 07:24 PM            

I am also excited about reproductions of the Gemini crew patches as worn on their suits. I'm glad to see that much effort has gone into researching the original designs, even down to the direction of the stitching.

But what about color? As any photographer knows, differences in lighting and image processing (film or digital) can change the original colors and/or shades.

posted January 14, 2007 08:25 PM               

Any volunteers? Referrals?

I would suggest limiting production to AB Emblem, as they would insure that these replica patterns are not abused, mistakenly or otherwise.

It might be easier to proceed patch by patch in succession rather than as a set. I would suggest beginning with Gemini 5 — as it is both the first flight patch and also one of the more complicated, if the consensus is to recreate the cloth covering over "8 Day or Bust".

posted March 05, 2007 03:57 AM               

In this regard, producing the patch through the manufacturer I have been working with for a decade, could be a viable alternative to AB, I think.

I am busy finishing a course right now, but will have more time towards the end of the month.

So, Robert, all others, any opinions?

posted March 20, 2007 11:48 AM               

Since I have minimal computer graphics experience, my assistance would be minimal but if I can help you in any way, let me know.

posted March 20, 2007 03:45 PM               

Good luck!

posted March 22, 2007 03:16 PM               

Bill Hunt: can I take you up on your offer of providing hi-res scans of the Gemini 3, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12 patches? It would be very helpful if you could include a ruler in the scans, so that I can determine the exact dimensions.

That's what I would need on the remaining patches too. Anyone? I would greatly appreciate your scans Bill, as I do not have a single high-quality picture of Gemini 7 yet.

Anyone else who might have high-res pics is encouraged to send them in as well to me at l.van.den.abeelen@chello.nl, the more pics there are, the better the reproductions will turn out.

The Gemini 5 patch is perhaps the most challenging to reproduce. How is it made up? It looks like a piece of white felt with a brighter white textile sewn onto it. But at what point? Is is at the brown border?

And what causes the wrinkly effect? Is the top piece of textile too big? And do we want to this reproduce effect? Or do we go for the look the patch had while still on the suits?

Has anyone ever seen a pic of an original Gemini 5 without the covering sewn-on piece of cloth? How do we know for sure the '8 days or bust' is really underneath?

The other patches which will be a challenge are Gemini 9 and 10. They are the only ones displaying full embroidery and have an irregular stitching pattern in their backgrounds. That aspect might be difficult to reproduce on modern machines. I will find out is my regular manufacturer is able to to this. If not, I will look elsewhere.

If we do select my regular supplier, I could send Bill my card with samples of yarns. As you own a number of originals, you could select the colours that best match the original yarns.

What about the backs of the patches? No pictures showing that in my collection. Do we want cloth or plastic?

I am confident we will be able to pool enough photo's/drawings to enable good reproductions to be made. The way I envisage the process is: upon selection of a manufacturer, I would need firm orders from all who would like a set, including full payment.

At that point, we could go ahead and have prototypes made. I would post high-res scans of those here for everyone to check.

After adaptations, a second set of prototypes should be produced and checked before we give the go-ahead for the full run.

Judging by the responses here, I think 50 sets should cover our requirements. That might turn out to be the minimum anyway.

Looking forward to your assistance! Lets create some nice Christmas presents for space patch buffs!

posted April 04, 2007 01:55 PM               

Anyone have the rest available?

posted April 05, 2007 02:53 AM               

What I could really use is a close-up photo or scan of a (no-names) Gemini 7, as the 'group picture' of Gemini patches that Gene provided is the only one I have.

This picture, combined with Bill's scans, will yield the sizes of all patches; I would love additional data/pics on Gemini 5 and 7 though.

posted April 09, 2007 03:14 AM               

Dick Lattimer in his 'All We Did Was Fly To The Moon' has something nice on page 24: the well-known Gemini 5 patch closeup by NASA and a photo of a Gemini 5 showing the '8 days or bust' motto and also a picture of Conrad with the patch clearly visible.

It really looks like the patch is the same thing Conrad's wearing, but do we know for sure?

Is Lattimer still alive? If so, anyone have contact details? Or does anyone where the motto-patch picture comes from? Anyone know the photo number of Conrad's pic?

posted April 12, 2007 02:30 AM               

Thanks,

posted April 12, 2007 08:25 AM               

Does it help to look at the images of patches in the book "LIFE in Space" put out by LIFE sometime around 1984?

posted April 12, 2007 12:37 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by lucspace:
Is this correct or is it the way the light reflects off the yarn that is stitched in a different direction?

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posted April 12, 2007 12:39 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by astroborg:
Does it help to look at the images of patches in the book "LIFE in Space" put out by LIFE sometime around 1984?

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posted April 12, 2007 03:04 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by Bill Hunt:
I haven't seen these images. Are they available online?

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The images in the book are not better then Luc already have...

------------------
Jacques :)

posted April 17, 2007 02:18 PM               

Still searching the web though for good Gemini photography. This seller on eBay has some great pictures. Is there an online equivalent to apolloarchive.com that covers Gemini?

posted May 16, 2007 04:03 AM               

Watch this space!

posted May 23, 2007 01:54 PM               

As I am no HTML wizard yet, it's an infant site, so bear with me till I fix legible links and downloadable hi-res versions of the photos.

Meanwhile, let me know what you think!

posted May 24, 2007 01:49 AM               

It's always good to put those things into one hand to have it well organized.

And thanks to all contributors as this sums up to a great step forward into the right direction.

posted May 24, 2007 02:24 PM            

For the naysayers I say look to the pics. If the Gemini 6 crew had a patch design and it was on their suit and then it had to change to be, say GTA-6 or GT-6A, then do both! It's theirs- get over it!

This was their design(s) and we are lucky that we can make these repros before they are lost to history.

I almost cry when I see Wally Schirra's(?) Mercury suit with that lousy incorrect patch on it in San Diego's museum. Somebody there just thought it should be put on and did it!

Thanks and good collecting,

posted May 25, 2007 12:30 PM               

I may be a little late, but thank you so much for keeping this going. I look forward to the conclusion of the effort to make available accurate Gemini reproductions. It looks like it's in great hands!

posted May 26, 2007 11:08 PM               

There was an earlier reference to the Life in Space book. My copy of this book was destroyed many years ago in a flood. However, before mold had completely attacked it, I saved the corner pictures of the Gemini patches. The upper corners were the only part that didn't get wet. I can lay them on my scanner and send a copy to you, I believe they are fairly good resolution !

All the Best,

posted June 25, 2007 11:09 AM               

Any news on this project?

BTW, for all interested parties, I just picked up Apogee Books' Pocket Space Guides to Project Mercury and Project Gemini, and they illustrated the currently available "commemorative" mission patches for each flight. I love this series of books, but Apogee should have either dug up the authentic insignia or specified that the patches illustrated were not worn on the actual missions.

Just sayin'.

posted August 04, 2007 01:10 PM               

There will a hallmark added to the design - a CS if you guys like as has been discussed, or perhaps a 'G' for Gusmobile... Obviously, I'll be selling them to y'all at essentially cost+shipping - I'll be happy if I can break even.

Can someone send along a high-rez scan of an original Molly Brown patch? Thanks.

posted August 05, 2007 03:31 PM               

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. I've e-mailed you high-rez scans of all my Gemini patches. If for some reason you can't get the e-mail, just let me know and I'll find another way to get them to you.

Best!

posted August 06, 2007 06:20 AM               

I don't want to claim any rights to reproductions of Gemini patches - but I was planning to include both Gemini 3 and 4 into our set. And I think it would be more cost effective to have the entire set produced with one manufacturer.

So, I don't want to stop your effort ina any way, but I would be sorry to see duplication of effort, especially since your aim to offer the repro to the collectSpacecommunity too.

By the way; the link to the Molly Brown on Bahneman.com shows a reproduction Molly Brown, not the original.

posted August 09, 2007 09:24 PM            

I've been watching this thread with interest for the past few months and am excited about the project so put me down for a set as well!

However, I've lost track of what is planned to be included in the set. It is my current understanding that the plan is to include (reproductions of) the Molly Brown and Gemini 4 McDivitt museum patches; flown versions of Gemini 5 through 12; and the Gemini era meatball. Is this correct?