Vintage Revell(?) Atlas Rocket Model (~1959)

[Longhorn Al 440]

My dad got one of these when he was 12 from his older sister. His family was poor and he never had any cool toys. His dad made him leave it behind when they had to move, like they did all the time.

I'm searching for another one. All I know is that it was a "short, squatty rocket" (my dad's words). He doesn't remember it having the platform. It wasn't one that flew. It was just a model kit he put together.

Were there any other brands other than Revell?

[Armybrat 40814]

I had that same model. Don’t know if any other company offered one though.

The Atlas was our first ICBM,(a single stage) with three engines - two of which were boosters that slipped off after launch. The Atlas was used to put the Mercury astronauts in orbit. 

The two-stage Titan that came online soon after was used to launch the two man Gemini capsules.

Both rockets were used for years to launch satellites after they were retired from military service.

[AUinHsv 579]

Took a quick look at ebay and there are multiples out there

[Longhorn Al 440]

5 minutes ago, AUinHsv said:

Took a quick look at ebay and there are multiples out there

I looked last night. They are either repros from the 80s, or a different model than the one he described. But it's been years so maybe his memory is a little foggy.

[AUinHsv 579]

The Atlas was not "squat" which complicates the search.

Two links - 50's and 60's.  Maybe the Convair Atlas in 50's. If my Dad was still around I bet he knew that one since he worked there until moving to NASA in early 60's

https://fantastic-plastic.com/1950s_concept_spacecraft.htm

http://fantastic-plastic.com/1960s---spacecraft--missiles.html

[Scooter Monzingo 820]

Damn those things were fun. The first time I launched one as a kid left a hell of an impression.

As you got older you started learning how to hotrod them, which really got intense. Though we never really knew how high we were getting them.

[Longhorn Al 440]

7 hours ago, AUinHsv said:

The Atlas was not "squat" which complicates the search.

Two links - 50's and 60's.  Maybe the Convair Atlas in 50's. If my Dad was still around I bet he knew that one since he worked there until moving to NASA in early 60's

https://fantastic-plastic.com/1950s_concept_spacecraft.htm

http://fantastic-plastic.com/1960s---spacecraft--missiles.html

Very cool links. Thank you. I'll show them to him.