Revell 1/110 Atlas-Mercury
Discussion
This is a model I've had in my stash since around 1984. The kit itself dates back to the early 1960s but Revell have re-released it a number of times over the intervening decades. This edition came out in 1982/83 under a series they called "History Makers". It comes from that era when a photograph of the assembled model was considered the right thing to put on a box rather than some inspiring box art. You might be able to make out the "Beatties" price sticker in the top right hand corner of the box.
In the early days of the plastic kit industry, not all models were manufactured to recognised scales. Revell often produced their models in scales that fitted whatever box size they intended to use for the final packaged product.
Nowadays, I expect that an Atlas would be produced in 1/144, as this has become a standard scale for rockets but this works out at 1/110. Their Redstone was also 1/110.
Being a rocket, the actual Atlas pieces are fairly simple. In order to "pad out" the kit, Revell also included the entire launch pad and ramp together with a number of fuel and oxidiser tankers. Sadly, they didn't include the actual launch tower.
As you can see, I've part assembled some of the vehicle pieces.
I'll leave the actual rocket and Mercury capsule to last.
In the early days of the plastic kit industry, not all models were manufactured to recognised scales. Revell often produced their models in scales that fitted whatever box size they intended to use for the final packaged product.
Nowadays, I expect that an Atlas would be produced in 1/144, as this has become a standard scale for rockets but this works out at 1/110. Their Redstone was also 1/110.
Being a rocket, the actual Atlas pieces are fairly simple. In order to "pad out" the kit, Revell also included the entire launch pad and ramp together with a number of fuel and oxidiser tankers. Sadly, they didn't include the actual launch tower.
As you can see, I've part assembled some of the vehicle pieces.
I'll leave the actual rocket and Mercury capsule to last.
Looks an interesting kit, I've had a couple of their space themed kits in the past although much more modern that this one.
A model shop near me has been selling a few of these "classic" kits, I picked up the Revell Vought Cutlass in 1/59 scale I think it was, which was from 1953 according to the date stamped inside the fuselage. The Martin B-57 was also there in a similar scale. The Cutlass was a very basic kit, but looked alright once completed.
A model shop near me has been selling a few of these "classic" kits, I picked up the Revell Vought Cutlass in 1/59 scale I think it was, which was from 1953 according to the date stamped inside the fuselage. The Martin B-57 was also there in a similar scale. The Cutlass was a very basic kit, but looked alright once completed.
Yes - some of the old rocket kits were re-released over the past few years in "Classic" boxes - featuring a facsimile of the original box art.
Reading reports of the more recent releases, it does seem that the moulds are a bit more tired now with quite a bit of flash needing to be removed.
This is a picture of the most recent version of the Atlas kit which was released about five years ago.
Reading reports of the more recent releases, it does seem that the moulds are a bit more tired now with quite a bit of flash needing to be removed.
This is a picture of the most recent version of the Atlas kit which was released about five years ago.
Eric Mc said:
Yes - some of the old rocket kits were re-released over the past few years in "Classic" boxes - featuring a facsimile of the original box art.
Reading reports of the more recent releases, it does seem that the moulds are a bit more tired now with quite a bit of flash needing to be removed.
This is a picture of the most recent version of the Atlas kit which was released about five years ago.
I have that kit in my stash. It was dated 1993. So it was a reissue. Good kit, though.Reading reports of the more recent releases, it does seem that the moulds are a bit more tired now with quite a bit of flash needing to be removed.
This is a picture of the most recent version of the Atlas kit which was released about five years ago.
Brigand said:
Is it as detailed as the multi-stage Saturn rocket that Revell do? My dad has that and its like a Russian Doll with all the sections coming apart. In fact, was it yourself or another poster on here that recently did a build of that rocket?
I wouldn't think it is as detailed a rocket kit as the Revell Saturn V. The Atlas part of the kit itself is very simple, with only about 20 parts. The launch pad and accessories makes up the bulk of the kit.I built the AIRFIX Saturn V not that long ago. The Airfix Saturn V, whilst by no means perfect, is probably the most accurate Saturn V kit out there - especially after Airfix fixed some of the more glaring inaccuracies when the kit was reissued in 2009.
Progress report -
You've got to build this kit with a kind of modular approach. The assembly can be broken down into -
Atlas Booster and Mercury Spacecraft
The launch pad and ramp
The rocket support truss
The support vehicles and equipment
Ancilliary bits and pieces that embellish the launch pad - ladders, stairs, railings, light poles, pipes and plumbing
I am at varying degrees of of completion on different components.
As you can see, the support truss is essentially completed and painted. The rocket body has been assembled and primed in preparation of a coat of Alclad polished aluminium. At the moment it is sporting a coat of Halfords matt black which I have rubbed down to a semi-matt sheen. Next on will be a coat of Alclad's own gloss black underlay which is required for their polished aluminium finish. I have not tried this technique before so it will be interesting to see how it turns out.
If it works, it may appear again on some of the all metal finish aircraft kits I've been reluctant to attempt up to now.
The main structure of the pad is complete and primed.
There's still a lot of work to do on this.
When checking through the components I discovered a date stamp which shows the moulds actually originated in 1959 - so almost as old as me. I have to say I am pretty impressed with the work the Revell tool makers did 56 years ago. Looking at pictures of the actual pad used for the Mercury flights (Launch Complex 14), they got it mostly right. The only thing wrong I can spot is the colour scheme they give for the pad which shows the piping being yellow and red. In reality, everything was painted various shades of (probably salt resistant) greys.
You've got to build this kit with a kind of modular approach. The assembly can be broken down into -
Atlas Booster and Mercury Spacecraft
The launch pad and ramp
The rocket support truss
The support vehicles and equipment
Ancilliary bits and pieces that embellish the launch pad - ladders, stairs, railings, light poles, pipes and plumbing
I am at varying degrees of of completion on different components.
As you can see, the support truss is essentially completed and painted. The rocket body has been assembled and primed in preparation of a coat of Alclad polished aluminium. At the moment it is sporting a coat of Halfords matt black which I have rubbed down to a semi-matt sheen. Next on will be a coat of Alclad's own gloss black underlay which is required for their polished aluminium finish. I have not tried this technique before so it will be interesting to see how it turns out.
If it works, it may appear again on some of the all metal finish aircraft kits I've been reluctant to attempt up to now.
The main structure of the pad is complete and primed.
There's still a lot of work to do on this.
When checking through the components I discovered a date stamp which shows the moulds actually originated in 1959 - so almost as old as me. I have to say I am pretty impressed with the work the Revell tool makers did 56 years ago. Looking at pictures of the actual pad used for the Mercury flights (Launch Complex 14), they got it mostly right. The only thing wrong I can spot is the colour scheme they give for the pad which shows the piping being yellow and red. In reality, everything was painted various shades of (probably salt resistant) greys.
Back to this project after a few weeks' break.
I decided the Mercury capsule was not quite accurate. The top of the capsule did not really feature a funny little spike as shown on the model. It actually had a rather more substantial cylinder that contained the parachute and radio location beacon. I've fashioned a small cylinder from a piece of brass tubing and will pop it on the top of the capsule and attach it using super glue.
I decided the Mercury capsule was not quite accurate. The top of the capsule did not really feature a funny little spike as shown on the model. It actually had a rather more substantial cylinder that contained the parachute and radio location beacon. I've fashioned a small cylinder from a piece of brass tubing and will pop it on the top of the capsule and attach it using super glue.
OK - scratch that.
There was a reason Revell didn't provide a full diameter cylinder for the top of the spacecraft. The lattice work of the launch escape tower is too thick to fit around anything larger than the little "spike" provided. This is probably down to moulding limitations back in 1959. Discretion rather than valour so I've decided to stick with what Revell provided.
There was a reason Revell didn't provide a full diameter cylinder for the top of the spacecraft. The lattice work of the launch escape tower is too thick to fit around anything larger than the little "spike" provided. This is probably down to moulding limitations back in 1959. Discretion rather than valour so I've decided to stick with what Revell provided.
Eric Mc said:
I wouldn't think it is as detailed a rocket kit as the Revell Saturn V. The Atlas part of the kit itself is very simple, with only about 20 parts. The launch pad and accessories makes up the bulk of the kit.
I built the AIRFIX Saturn V not that long ago. The Airfix Saturn V, whilst by no means perfect, is probably the most accurate Saturn V kit out there - especially after Airfix fixed some of the more glaring inaccuracies when the kit was reissued in 2009.
Thats what I want the corner of my lounge to look like. My original plan was to start with with the Revell shuttle plus boosters and fuel tank kit, ut its been a while since I've done any modelling, so I've decided to start with the Revell's Saturn 5 as that's meant to be a bit easier as a starter kit. I built the AIRFIX Saturn V not that long ago. The Airfix Saturn V, whilst by no means perfect, is probably the most accurate Saturn V kit out there - especially after Airfix fixed some of the more glaring inaccuracies when the kit was reissued in 2009.
I appreciate what you are saying regarding accuracy of the Airfix kit, but I don't want to go mad on the spend. The Airfix kit is consideraby more money than the Revel kit. I also quite like the launcher base on the Revell kit.
Ordered my knife kit, mat and glue last night. Does anyone have any recommendations for glue? I've ordered Revell's standard glue, but I was thinking a brush type might be easier as you won't have issues with the nozzle blocking up.
Revell's Contacta Professional in the applicator bottle is perfectly fine for most general gluing. As long as you remember to place the blue cap onto the applicator after each use the applicator won't get clogged. I always clean up the applicator every so often as well just to remove any residue that my have built up.
If it DOES get clogged, I usually find that the insertion of an micro drill bit into the end of the nozzle will clear any blockage.
I still use old fashioned tube cement now and then. I squirt it out into a small receptacle (a beer bottle top usually
) and then apply it to the part using a cocktail stick. The modern tube glues are less stringy than they used to be. I find the "freebie" yellow tube Humbrol variety you get with some Airfix starter packs quite good - being very thin and not gloopy.
Brush applied liquid cement is useful for certain applications but I prefer to use the applicator types for more general use.
Revell do the Saturn V in two scales, 1/144 and 1/96. The 1/96 version is impressive (if not that accurate).
If it DOES get clogged, I usually find that the insertion of an micro drill bit into the end of the nozzle will clear any blockage.
I still use old fashioned tube cement now and then. I squirt it out into a small receptacle (a beer bottle top usually
) and then apply it to the part using a cocktail stick. The modern tube glues are less stringy than they used to be. I find the "freebie" yellow tube Humbrol variety you get with some Airfix starter packs quite good - being very thin and not gloopy.Brush applied liquid cement is useful for certain applications but I prefer to use the applicator types for more general use.
Revell do the Saturn V in two scales, 1/144 and 1/96. The 1/96 version is impressive (if not that accurate).
Still plugging away at my Atlas. Currently, I'm adding all the little "bits and bobs" to the launch platform. To be honest, I don't know what half these are suppose to represent, but they look to me like workstations for pad crew and automatic fire and water hydrants for coping with fuel spillages and fires on the pad - which were not unheard of with Atlas launches.
It's all rather tedious and unphotogenic, but will add to the overall look of the final display, I'm sure.
It's all rather tedious and unphotogenic, but will add to the overall look of the final display, I'm sure.
I've been watching this quietly Eric (here but I also found it on Britmodeller) and am enjoying it by proxy.
In a generation where people see technology symbalised by smart phones, I was seemingly born in the wrong era and am very much taken with subjects which symbalise physics. Your collection of rockets looks great but I can't help but wonder how my grand parents' generation of engineers and scientists might be disappointed that we developed so far in such a short space of time then lost interest. Perhaps we had achieved all we were ever going to without some substantial breakthroughs in peripheral technologies and mathematics though?
In a generation where people see technology symbalised by smart phones, I was seemingly born in the wrong era and am very much taken with subjects which symbalise physics. Your collection of rockets looks great but I can't help but wonder how my grand parents' generation of engineers and scientists might be disappointed that we developed so far in such a short space of time then lost interest. Perhaps we had achieved all we were ever going to without some substantial breakthroughs in peripheral technologies and mathematics though?
I'm not so pessimistic about rockets and space. A lot of work has gone on in the 50 plus years since Atlas first flew and rockets have matured quite a bit. Indeed, the Atlas family is still going strong in much developed form and ironically, will be used as a manned launcher once again when the Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft starts being used.
Gassing Station | Scale Models | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff