Important Mercury MA-6 Friendship 7 Capsule Model with John Glenn Lettered on Helmet, and Inscribed Photo By Glenn to B Hohmann. Historic, museum quality, Mercury Capsule Model created in July 1961 in 1/6 scale by Aerospace Corp Model (16 x 13 x 13") as noted on plaque mounted to base. Half section profile of Friendship 7, once exterior panel removed, reveals a highly detailed view of the interior with control panels in view, porthole/observation windows and an astronaut seated. Along helmet of astronaut in stenciled letters reads "Lt. Col. J. Glenn" just above visor.
Outstanding 8 x 10" vintage double weight color photo of John Glenn in his silver flight suit inscribing his sincere thanks Ben Hohmann for the help during the MA-6 mission of Friendship 7 and singing boldly his name. One can clearly see the difference in Glenn's signature as he got older.
Condition of this model is outstanding with these minor notations. We note one small booster rocket missing on exterior retro rocket package. There is small separation of "struts" on the concave side of disc wall On the exterior and behind the cut-away, John Glenn has inscribed, signed and dated in black fountain pen ink. Decades past, someone tried to preserve the writing by placing clear tape over the text. The date and John Glenn's signature are all that remain legible.
In the Friendship 7 capsule, John H. Glenn Jr. became the first American to orbit the Earth. Glenn's flight was the third manned mission of Project Mercury, following two suborbital flights by astronauts in 1961. Glenn's three-orbit mission on February 20, 1962, was a great success, as he overcame problems with the automatic control system that would have ended an unmanned flight. But reentry was tense, as a faulty telemetry signal from the spacecraft indicated that the heat shield might be loose. But he successfully splashed down after his 4 hour and 55 minute flight.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 20,000
From the Estate of Bernard "Ben" Hohmann, WWII Luftwaffe German Test Pilot and Jet Engine Designer, Operation Paperclip, Decades Long Air Force and NASA Consultant.
Aerospace Models
