Thorsten, it definitely isn't going to be a diorama, it just is a static model to join my rocket garden. The fact it is demonstrable in opening its shroud and having a Soyuz inside is good enough for me. The next one is going to be more of the same. Either Yogi's Atlas 551 with Juno as its payload or Mark Cable's Titan IIIe with Voyager on board. The order is not yet decided, that they're bound to be made is definite.
Also, that there will be several kinds of paper involved and, most probable, some magnets.
Gideon, Building the Soyuz like this really is not that hard. You just need to believe you're crazy enough to do it. It's only paper. Failure? Recycle!
For most of the rocket I used 200 gram paper. That's quite on the heavy side. The shroud is made from much lighter silk gloss photo paper, which I coated with 300 gram green cardboard. it's what I had and it was the right colour. That's why. Also because it is sturdy stuff so it kept its shape well after glueing.
The Soyuz also is 200 gram paper. I used some metal stuff in the upper parts, magnets, the little rings, the dowel, but in the bottom of all the engine compartmenst I already glued 5 BB gun pellets while assembling the parts. There were more added when I inserted the engines. So yes, the rocket is quite heavily weighted. But yet it still feels quite light. The bulk of the weight is in the lower parts and because of its wide underside, the rocket stands reasonably firmly.
Oh and about Juno as a payload for the Atlas: I have been haunted by this idea all evening and I am going to try this. Just for the craziness of it. I hardly dare to say it out loud.
foldable solar panels!
