Author Topic: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale  (Read 4704 times)

Offline Alvis 3.1

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Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« on: February 16, 2019, 12:20:08 PM »
First, you start with this:


Then let the surgery begin! Balsa was used to create the heat shield.


Much putty was required.




A cockpit was scratch built.





Offline Alvis 3.1

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2019, 12:24:56 PM »
Fuzzy Dice were a necessity!


After the Aerodynamic Surfaces were attached, much sanding and puttying (repeat) was done, then basic paint was applied. Gloss white over Primer White, and NATO Black, all from Tamiya spray cans.


Did I mention much more putty and sanding was required?


Finally the primary painting was done!



Offline Alvis 3.1

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2019, 12:28:10 PM »
The completed vehicle!








The back story:
Bad Bobby, enfant terrible of the US Manned Space Flight Program, often used unconventional thinking to achieve a new ride into space. While having access to a wide variety of NASA, Air Force and experimental aircraft and spacecraft, Bobby often desired the even more exotic types of vehicles. His "Mercury 8" was a good example of "lateral budgetary thinking".
Bobby discovered that the original budget for the Mercury program was set up to fly 8 manned capsules, but only 6 wound up flying. One of the wonders of budgets is if you don't spend the money, it often cannot be reassigned to other areas without a great deal of paperwork, and the rapid pace of the US Space program in the early 60s meant the unspent funds were quickly forgotten about.
Having a genius in forensic budgetary tracking as a fishing buddy paid off when Carl, the NSA Spook, alerted Bobby to the unclaimed funds, and Bobby began his plan: to make an orbital vehicle from a 1949 Mercury.
The basic frame would require substantial reworking, with aerodynamic and thermodynamic improvements, and a flight control system adapted from the X-20 Program. Bobby knew a lot of aerodynamic designers and soon they had modified the basic '49 Mercury into an orbital spaceplane.
It was designed to be lifted aloft on a Titan III flown from Vandenberg Air Force base (without authorization from the USAF or the DoD). The sole flight took place on July 14, 1983, with Bobby piloting it. Initially, all went well, but shortly after achieving orbit Bobby began experiencing violent pitch and roll issues. It was later determined the fuzzy dice he'd hung from the mirror let debris fall into the flight computer. An emergency landing was made on the Bonneville Salt Flats, and while Bobby attempted to claim a new land speed record for a car, the FAI refused to allow it as it had only 3 wheels and didn't run the course twice. In fact, the brakes caught fire, the nose wheel tire blew, and Bobby wound up crashing the 49' Mercury Space Vehicle through a taco stand.

Offline Alvis 3.1

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #3 on: February 16, 2019, 12:30:09 PM »
Much thanks to Brian Da Basher as I was unable to work  image linking initially, but he gave me most excellent advice!

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #4 on: February 16, 2019, 12:36:30 PM »
Now that's truly unique.  I can believe it, too, those older cars were pretty solidly built.

Offline Alvis 3.1

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #5 on: February 16, 2019, 12:43:50 PM »
Some of the older Studebakers could take a direct hit from a tactical nuke and the worst that would happen would be the hubcaps might fall off.
Well, maybe.

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #6 on: February 16, 2019, 12:59:47 PM »
Parents had '49 and '53 Fords; from my experiences riding in those, I can believe it.

Offline finsrin

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #7 on: February 16, 2019, 01:08:57 PM »
Such a special concept/vehicle with such a special history such a fine build.   :-*  :-*  :-*

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #8 on: February 16, 2019, 02:46:57 PM »
 ;D :smiley:
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Robomog

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #9 on: February 16, 2019, 04:28:02 PM »
Love this build !!!

 :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*

Fantastic detail and impressive PSR

I applaud you sir

Mog
>^-.-^<
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Offline FAAMAN

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #10 on: February 16, 2019, 06:43:16 PM »
Insanely brilliant, super cool  8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
"Resistance is useless, prepare to be assembled!"

Offline Some Duck with an Ultimax

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #11 on: February 16, 2019, 09:05:03 PM »
Brilliant back story and a fitting end for such an idea. It looks amazing!
Never trust a man who tells you that you have too many paints, for he is obviously a liar and will most likely try to deceive you again in future.

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #12 on: February 16, 2019, 10:34:47 PM »
 :smiley: 8)
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #13 on: February 16, 2019, 11:14:34 PM »
One of your best yet, Alvis!

Brian da Basher

Offline LemonJello

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #14 on: February 17, 2019, 12:55:00 AM »
Awesome!

Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #15 on: February 17, 2019, 01:06:52 AM »
I am sure any of these these seven gentlemen would be more than happy to drive it.



Awesome build Al!
Work in progress ::

I am giving up listing them. They all end up on the shelf of procrastination anyways.

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Offline Kerick

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #16 on: February 17, 2019, 01:08:31 AM »
Great build and perfect story too! I love how so many of you guys can write these funny stories. It really fills out the project by giving it context. And makes my laugh. 🤣🤣

Offline andonio64

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #17 on: February 17, 2019, 04:56:18 PM »
It's beautiful!!!!
Great idea!!!

Offline arctic warrior

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #18 on: February 17, 2019, 05:51:19 PM »
I love it!  ;D
Brings up images of "Heavy Metal" - the movie and then some US guy made it all real by sending a Tesla towards Mars.  8)

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #19 on: February 18, 2019, 06:25:08 AM »
I am sure any of these these seven gentlemen would be more than happy to drive it.



Awesome build Al!
Given some of the stories I've heard about them and hot cars, I could well believe it.

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #20 on: February 18, 2019, 02:12:06 PM »
Glad to see you have been busy Alvis.  Another excellent example of your handiwork for your portfolio :)
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg

Offline Alvis 3.1

  • Self acknowledged "Bad Influence"…but probably less attractive than Pink
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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #21 on: February 18, 2019, 02:39:18 PM »
Thanks, building weird models is good to keep my mind off things like the impending closing of the hobby shop that I work at.

Offline finsrin

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #22 on: February 18, 2019, 03:39:13 PM »
" impending closing of the hobby shop that I work at".... crap  :icon_crap:
Hope other work is on horizon !

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #23 on: February 18, 2019, 05:23:19 PM »
Ouch! :o

Hope you roll straight into other employment if/when it does, mate!
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Antonio Sobral

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Re: Mercury Space Vehicle, 1/24 scale
« Reply #24 on: February 18, 2019, 11:58:44 PM »
Great concept!
Love the design and the back story.

And good luck with your job!