Von Braun "Baby Satellite"

[umtutsut]

Hot off the workbench! My interpretation of Joy Cohn's "Baby Satellite," a 1953 Wernher von Braun concept from the groundbreaking series of space articles in Collier's magazine.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/5129580401_984c5a7023.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/55385818@N08/5129580401/)
!cid__1030001921 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/55385818@N08/5129580401/) by sonofkong (http://www.flickr.com/people/55385818@N08/), on Flickr

The solar reflecting mirrors are printed on Red River metallic paper. The red structures are mercury boiler tubes made from coated wire. The base features a pic of the Collier's cover and a von Braun sketch of the mirror configuration.

Mucho thanx to Joy for designing a most excellent model! More pix tomorrow; stay tooned!

:cool: Les (Friendly Airplane Asylum & ex-NASA flack)

[Retired_for_now]

Really nice "might have been." It's always interesting to think in terms of the technology of the day ... no practical solar cells so a solar heat engine is called for. We seem to have chickened (ignoranced?) out on space nuclear so solar photovoltaic rules today - but what will tomorrow bring?

Yogi

BTW - Efficiency of a heat engine (Stirling Cycle at a practical 40% efficiency) exceeds that of solar cells (30% max theoretical for silicon based cells). Solar cells only win (so far) with a lighter overall system and no moving parts.

[Rocky]

Now that is the compleat package! model,display and history,brillant execuation.
Thats what it's all about! Bravo!

[Paperwarrior]

Excellent!
I really like the model, historical reference all in one.
Great work!

[umtutsut]

One more pic: A close-up of the solar collectors. Enjoy!

http://i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz154/umtutsut101/1031001444.jpg

:cool: Les (Friendly Airplane Asylum & ex-NASA flack)

[jparenti]

Nice! I especially like the mercury tubes and solar collectors. I have this model waiting in the "to-build" pile, and I never thought about how to represent them accurately. You've done a great job with it.

[Skycop 1]

So where can one get the Von Braun Baby Satellite?

[Diderick A. den Bakker]

Lovely model - would like to build it for my collection of early SF. In the meantime, would you allow me to put your pictures on my webpage - perhaps you have more? Of course with your name and link (See www.zeistbouwplaten.nl (http://www.zeistbouwplaten.nl), >Aviaion, >SF).

[umtutsut]

Diderick: You're welcome to use my model on your site.

Skycop: I thought it was in the files section of the space-paper-models Yahoo group, but hava-no. Also checked the archives with the same result.

Not sure whether I still have the original model sheet. I'll check.

:cool: Les (Friendly Airplane Asylum & ex-NASA flack)

[thorst]

Hello,

This model was designed by a member of the Yahoo-space-paper-modelers group, but he didn't release it yet as far as I know. He asked some time ago who wants to build a Beta and I jumped in, too. But if I understood him right, the model is not finished yet and should not be dispersed into the web until he does so.

Thorsten

[dhanners]

Fine build, and the display base really sets it off. Great work!

[ashevilleangler]

Very nice work Les! I love the obscurity of the subject and the quality of the presentation. Congratulations on a great model!

Curt

[Skycop 1]

Thanks much.

[Skycop 1]

Looks like we have to wait. It would look good on the book shelves.