Travis, thanks for the great build. Your efforts to figure "things" out during the build has made it so much easier for me to build mine. Just like to share a few things with the rest of your viewers: 1. This kit is not for the beginner. As you mentioned, tons of flash on nearly every part. So go slow, go steady. 2. The instructions are terrible add that when combined with the fact some parts go together by "magic" meaning no pins or holes to align just hold in place and hope the glue holds adds to the complexity of this kit. 3. My kit has one sprue in yellow plastic, can anyone comment on which version this is? 4. Any future builders should do some research on LC-14 or LC-12. Looks like the kit is based on these 2. I say this because you will notice that the color of the pipes, the rocket support structure, the missiles launched and GSE all vary over time and may drive the way you paint your kit. 5. Parts of this LC-14 are concrete, it's not all metal. The ramp and some of the walls of the building are concrete as well. Because of the yellow sprues and the concrete issues, I am making many small sub-assemblies, priming and painting them, then gluing them all together. Just my approach as I am making a small diorama for this kit and I am going the extra length. Finally, this is a great topic to build, and will look great when done, but it is not for the beginner. And an extra shout out again Travis for solving so many assembly questions I had. Model On!
I'm glad that the video helped, I remember cleaning up parts for hours and then test fitting everything to make sure of where it went. The kit does look good when finished, I was able to get 3rd place at my local modeling competition with this build. Thanks for your comment, and I hope you keep watching and keep modeling.
Excellent build. Building this kit now, and found the info useful. Info on the launch platform is especially useful, because the platform accounts for most of the parts. It is important to dry fit the platform parts, because alignment and proper assembly is important. I found an early Revell kit of this model at the thrift store. Box art showed yellow vehicles but a white nitrogen tank, so that's how I built it. For a kit that first came out more than 50 years ago, this is still an impressive model. I remember when John Glenn was launched in Friendship 7 in 1962. Pretty exciting stuff at the time for an 8th grader.
Max, It would still be "tipsy" but it should stay in place if untouched! Thanks for watching and please subscribe if you haven't already to help us reach more modelers! -Doug
The actual Mercury capsule, of course, has a window. The model has a marker for the window, so with a little hand drill, go ahead and cut out the window, then once all your paint and decal work is done, fill in the window with Micro Krystal Klear (or any similar product). The placement works perfectly and you can see the astronaut in place. I painted my astronaut bright chrome to allow him to be seen more easily through the small window. It's apparent from the model construction that this was the original intent, but maybe Revell was just doing some cost-cutting by not including a clear plastic sprue for the window. For the rocket body, I went with Rustoleum Bright Coat metallic finish Chrome. This shiny finish looks quite comparable to some of the period photos that I reviewed of the original ship on the launch pad. Thanks for the walk-through! There were quite a few spots where the photos and discussion were necessary to figure out part placement.
I used Tamiya dark ghost gray XF-66 mixed with flat black XF-1 to make a darker gray to paint the roadways. I used a fine sable brush and carefully hand painted the pipes and conduits. Thanks for checking it out.
Travis, thanks for the great build. Your efforts to figure "things" out during the build has made it so much easier for me to build mine. Just like to share a few things with the rest of your viewers:
1. This kit is not for the beginner. As you mentioned, tons of flash on nearly every part. So go slow, go steady.
2. The instructions are terrible add that when combined with the fact some parts go together by "magic" meaning no pins or holes to align just hold in place and hope the glue holds adds to the complexity of this kit.
3. My kit has one sprue in yellow plastic, can anyone comment on which version this is?
4. Any future builders should do some research on LC-14 or LC-12. Looks like the kit is based on these 2. I say this because you will notice that the color of the pipes, the rocket support structure, the missiles launched and GSE all vary over time and may drive the way you paint your kit.
5. Parts of this LC-14 are concrete, it's not all metal. The ramp and some of the walls of the building are concrete as well. Because of the yellow sprues and the concrete issues, I am making many small sub-assemblies, priming and painting them, then gluing them all together. Just my approach as I am making a small diorama for this kit and I am going the extra length.
Finally, this is a great topic to build, and will look great when done, but it is not for the beginner. And an extra shout out again Travis for solving so many assembly questions I had. Model On!
I'm glad that the video helped, I remember cleaning up parts for hours and then test fitting everything to make sure of where it went. The kit does look good when finished, I was able to get 3rd place at my local modeling competition with this build. Thanks for your comment, and I hope you keep watching and keep modeling.
Bubba, That is excellent information! Thanks for watching and please subscribe if you haven't already to help us reach more modelers! -Doug
Excellent build. Building this kit now, and found the info useful. Info on the launch platform is especially useful, because the platform accounts for most of the parts. It is important to dry fit the platform parts, because alignment and proper assembly is important. I found an early Revell kit of this model at the thrift store. Box art showed yellow vehicles but a white nitrogen tank, so that's how I built it. For a kit that first came out more than 50 years ago, this is still an impressive model. I remember when John Glenn was launched in Friendship 7 in 1962. Pretty exciting stuff at the time for an 8th grader.
Pat, You're right - that moment galvanized the nation. It is a cool kit. Thanks for the feedback! -Doug
Great build Travis. One of the nicest builds I have seen of this kit
TFS, Glad you like it! -Doug
neat one , my Wife would luv it too...Thanx
Robert
Robert, Way cool! -Doug
LOL...I get it.
Good video Doug!! 👍👍
Looks like an interesting and fun kit............. 😉
Well thanks TP 👍 -Doug
Impressive! Here I was just expecting to see a rocket! Amazing kit given the era in which it came out and it still seems to go together well.
DH, That's right. Pretty cool kit! PS, please subscribe if you haven't already to help us reach more modelers. -Doug
Thank you.
One of the coolest kits I made 50 years ago.
PB, It's nice kit and very reasonable too! PS, please subscribe if you haven't already to help us reach more modelers. -Doug
Great review, and I will buy one. I wonder if adding some weights inside the rocket might lend it stability, and forego the need to glue it down?
Max, It would still be "tipsy" but it should stay in place if untouched! Thanks for watching and please subscribe if you haven't already to help us reach more modelers! -Doug
The actual Mercury capsule, of course, has a window. The model has a marker for the window, so with a little hand drill, go ahead and cut out the window, then once all your paint and decal work is done, fill in the window with Micro Krystal Klear (or any similar product). The placement works perfectly and you can see the astronaut in place. I painted my astronaut bright chrome to allow him to be seen more easily through the small window. It's apparent from the model construction that this was the original intent, but maybe Revell was just doing some cost-cutting by not including a clear plastic sprue for the window. For the rocket body, I went with Rustoleum Bright Coat metallic finish Chrome. This shiny finish looks quite comparable to some of the period photos that I reviewed of the original ship on the launch pad.
Thanks for the walk-through! There were quite a few spots where the photos and discussion were necessary to figure out part placement.
Stuart, That's great information! Thanks for sharing and please subscribe if you haven't already to help us reach more modelers! -Doug
Built the Atlas ICBM version....only difference is the ballistic nose cap and decals.
Hertz, Thanks for the information! PS, please subscribe if you haven't already to help us reach more modelers. -Doug
@@RightOnReplicas been subbed for a while. You do a nice job.
Hertz, Thanks man! -Doug
Once the President said 'Go', how long did it take to fuel and launch the ICBM version?
Some person at Atlantis or somewhere must have reworked the molds, because the one I bought from Amazon is pristine, not a speck of flash.
MW, Thanks for the info! -Doug
What color is the road? How did you paint the pipes after they were assembled?
I used Tamiya dark ghost gray XF-66 mixed with flat black XF-1 to make a darker gray to paint the roadways. I used a fine sable brush and carefully hand painted the pipes and conduits. Thanks for checking it out.
Color of ramp?
I used Tamiya dark ghost gray XF66 mixed with flat black XF1 to make a darker gray to paint the roadways. Thanks for looking.
Thanks for the tip Travis! -Doug