...And speaking of models....

[MikeKozlowski]

...1/128 SM-65 Atlas ICBM.

This is from the old Monogram US Space Missiles set, repopped by the wonderful folks at Atlantis Models late last year (They have purchased most if not all of the Revell/Monogram molds that were up for grabs after Revell crashed a couple years ago - please support 'em if you can). The big missiles are surprisingly nice, and the Titan II would be just about perfect if the second stage cutouts and some engine detail was there.

Took off most of the raised seam detail, and fit turned out to be...reasonable. The biggest problem was that the model is actually a mishmash of Atlas A, B, and C details, but ends up closest to an A. I added detail around the engine bells and the center engine bell (the Jupiter kit made that noble sacrifice; I'm building that one in an....unusual configuration that doesn't require the engine.) and also drilled out the vernier engine nozzles. It also needed a conduit up one side so that's been added courtesy of Plastruct. Paint is Rustoleum Chrome and Tamiya Flat Red, Semi-Gloss Black, and Flat Black. Decals actually belong to the Thor kit, but I'm building that one as an RAF bird so they were transferred. The decals, by the way, have been completely redone by Atlantis and they are excellent.

atlasfinished.jpeg

Mike

[Craiglxviii]

Wha… Revell went bust?!?

Superb work here Mikey. Now you just need the LCC to go with it!

Hmm. Unusual configuration. It doesn’t have a, say, warp capable MRV bus, does it?

[MikeKozlowski]

Wha… Revell went bust?!?

Superb work here Mikey. Now you just need the LCC to go with it!

Hmm. Unusual configuration. It doesn’t have a, say, warp capable MRV bus, does it?

Craig,

We lost the original company - which had merged with Monogram in '86 and then went through a bewildering series of buyouts and mergers - in 2018. In historical and sentimental terms, it was kind of a lobotomy of the hobby - not just the Revell/Monogram kits going back to the early 50s, but they had also acquired a LOT of the old Aurora molds after that pioneering company went under in the early 70s. (A surprising number of them have appeared from Atlantis already) Revell of Germany, which was a completely separate company, has survived quite nicely and is bringing out some excellent new kits, including a new tool 1/48 SR-71 and a 1/25 '64 Aston Martin DB5.

Yes, that one.

Anyways, Revell USA was stood back up a few months later and in 2019 Revell USA got back in business, though most of their catalog is cars, a few aircraft, and some of the great box-scale boats.

And I briefly contemplated doing an LCF for the Atlas, but following a sudden bout of sanity decided against it I have NOT ruled it out for the Titan - stay tuned. And if you think that this mod of the Atlas looks a bit odd, check out this Atlas B/C:

atlas c d.jpg

Mike