Just picked up the Dragon Gemeni Capsule in 1/72 scale and I am thinking (fantasizing) of building a diorama as it touches down on the carrier deck with a helicopter above. I'd have to motorize the rotors of the chopper, but I think it can be done.

I've tried to search online for photos of the capsule being recovered, but all I get are the astronauts being lifted out of the capsule.

Any information is greatly appreciated.

Here are photos of the Dragon kit. An open hatch will require a lot of work in the cockpit. The astronauts are molded in a smelly vinyl material. Yuck. The hatches don't have windows. Darn. Looks like a good basis for a lot of detail to be added to the cockpit.



















For those interested, here's my photo studio. My desk at work with two velvet covered jewelry boards, a camera with a remote control, a 30 year old lamp with a 13watt 5000K natural balanced light and drafting bean bags as a camera support.


Cheers,
Val

all, it appears, taking place in 1965. Based on one photo in a number of NASA web pages on Gemini, I would bet on SH-3a, and if from Intrepid (as one of them was), HS-3 was the squadron.

You might check all the missions listed here:

http://www.kscvisit.com/gemini-project.html

I was on the secondary recovery ship for V/VI USS Neosho (AO-143) for V/VI, operating near the Canary Is.

Joe



Average Modeler and Builder of legacy kits Beyond the Pale. Proud builder of 3' "shelf" models for over half a century; 4' for Spits.

After Liberty Bell 7 where the capsule took on a great deal of water, the practice of recovering the capsule by helo was discontinued.  That's why you can't find any photos of helos recovering Gemini capsules.  After the UDTs attached flotation collars and the crew was recovered, ships recovered them with hoist gear. 

 

HTH,

 

Chris

I may be wrong, but I believe most, if not all, Gemini spacecraft were recovered from the water by support surface ships.

Kevin

I'm a day late and a dollar short!

But do see:

http://www.kscvisit.com/gemini-viii.html

Now I know where to go to look for more photos of the Gemeni craft.

Cheers,
Val

Hasegawa, i think, released a 1/72 model SH-3D aboard USS Hornet recovering two capsules. Decals show huge 66 and HS-4 markings. Best of luck with your project, George

as I'm sitting here looking at it.
Steve Sliger
Greenwell Springs, LA

Thanks for sharing them. Also, thanks for the look at your photo setup.



Don McIntyre
Clarksville, TN


"In this modern world of ours that spins as fast as these propellers do, if a man can cook, or fly, or play the guitar, he will be happy and never go hungry." "Where's Joe Merchant" Jimmy Buffet ©1992

I served aboard USS Wasp for several Gemini recovery's. The Helicopter usually did not recover the capsule (too heavy). The SH3 Sea king brought swimmers to the capsule in the water. They attached a floatation collar to the capsule. Once that was secure the swimmers assisted the astronauts into slings to be hoisted into the chopper.
The ship using its boats manuevered to the capsule and the aircraft crane hoisted the capsule aboard the recovery ship (i.e.Wasp,Hornet etc) and into a wheeled cradle.

which is a publication that covers modeling aspects of Project Gemini plus has drawings of the Gemini Capsule in the recovery mode of flight to include a drawing of floatation collar. Check out this website:

http://www.spaceinminiature.com/books/sim2.html

Hope this helps,
Steve Sliger
Greenwell Springs, LA

... except for GT-VIII which dropped USAF frogmen from a HC-54 "Rescuemaster" out of Okinawa.

I can send you some stills if you like.

js