Real Space Models 1/72 Gemini & Agena
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KIT #: |
? |
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PRICE: |
$25.00 |
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DECALS: |
Generic options |
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REVIEWER: |
Richard F |
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NOTES: |
Resin kit with two metal parts |
Gemini was a very successful space program in the mid-1960s. It took the
US a long way ahead of the early, basic achievements of Mercury, and
really set NASA up for the Apollo moon program. It demonstrated
basically all the techniques needed for the moon landing short or
orbiting the moon and actually landing. It proved that astronauts could:
. survive in space for a fortnight, more than enough time to get
there and back
. survive and work outside the craft, in their space suits
. rendezvous with another craft in a different orbit
. find, with instruments and visually, another spacecraft and dock
with it
There were ten crewed Gemini missions, and
four of them docked with the Agena target vehicle. Two missions then used
the Agena to boost them into a higher orbit. Sixteen astronauts filled the
20 seats on Gemini, four of them twice (Young, Lovell, Stafford and Conrad).
Two were killed in the Apollo 1 fire (Gus Grissom and Ed White) and one
never flew again. The remaining 13 all flew on Apollo. Six of those walked
on the Moon, five orbited it without landing, and two flew missions in earth
orbit.
This is a very simple kit. You get a Gemini spacecraft, moulded in two
pieces. The crew compartment has a good rendition of the characteristic
surface texture (I saw the real thing at the Smithsonian on my business trip
to DC when I got this kit).
The other parts are a single piece for the Agena, and another piece
for the docking shroud. There is a metal rod for the characteristic antenna
on Agena, and a little metal piece to go on the end of it. You need to make
your own windy cable on that mast.
Decals are very basic and the smaller American flags aren't as crisp
as maybe they could be. There is also a sheet of gold foil which you use on
the rear of the spacecraft.
The resin itself seems to be nicely moulded and although I have not
examined it in extreme detail, it appears free of any significant
blemishes.
You will need to make your own display stand.
A simple kit which could easily be your first resin kit.
The Dragon 1/72 injection moulded Gemini that
came out a couple of years ago (reviewed
here on MM) is probably a better choice, but as far as
I know this is the only kit that gives you the Agena docking target.
Richard F
March 2017Copyright ModelingMadness.com
Thanks to me for the preview kit.
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This is a very simple kit. You get a Gemini spacecraft, moulded in two
pieces. The crew compartment has a good rendition of the characteristic
surface texture (I saw the real thing at the Smithsonian on my business trip
to DC when I got this kit).