1921 Mercury Red Stone Skill Lev (EST1921)

Recreate the excitement of the early days of NASA with the Mercury Red Stone Model Rocket Kit. This stunning 1:34 scale replica of Mercury Redstone (MR-4) and Gus Grissom’s Liberty Bell 7 stands nearly 29 inches tall and features laser-cut, layered balsa fins. The model is topped with a detailed plastic scale representation of the historic Mercury spacecraft.

When Gus Grissom climbed into the cockpit of his Mercury spacecraft on July 21, 1961, he embarked on an adventure as part of the second mission in the series. The sub-orbital flight saw the Redstone rocket take Grissom and his spacecraft, Liberty Bell 7, above the atmosphere. Although the launch and the brief period of weightlessness went flawlessly, the mission took a dramatic turn when the explosive hatch blew off during recovery, causing the spacecraft to fill with seawater and sink to the Atlantic Ocean's depths—making it the only NASA spacecraft ever lost at sea.

The Estes Mercury Redstone Model Rocket Kit is an advanced level kit that is essential for serious model rocketeers. It can reach altitudes of up to 200 feet when launched with an Estes C6-3 engine, and both the rocket and spacecraft return together under a colorful 15-inch parachute, allowing for repeated launches. The kit comes with a set of detailed water-slide decals, including the distinctive white “crack” that Gus painted on his spacecraft. Celebrate the historical significance of the U.S. space program with this remarkable model, which honors the legacy of Liberty Bell 7, now restored and displayed in a Kansas museum after being recovered from the ocean floor in 1999.