My Apollo CM is in the EAA Museum!

**Sakrison** · #1 06-07-2019, 10:37 PM

Early this spring, I completed Ken West's 1/12-scale Apollo Command Module (CM). I omitted the heat shield and mated it to a Service Module (SM) scaled up from 1/35. And I scratch built the SM's open instrument bay carried on Apollo 17, the last Apollo Moon landing.

In 2018, Frank Borman, commander of NASA’s Gemini 7 and Apollo 8 donated a huge collection of memorabilia to the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, WI USA. Borman, now 90, has been a long-time member of EAA.

In December, the museum opened a new exhibit honoring Borman’s life and aviation career. The exhibit holds just a fraction of what Borman donated.

I've worked off and on for EAA since 1989, on exhibits and publications. When I offered to lend my Apollo Command Module to the Borman display, the museum staff eagerly accepted it.

For the museum I built a foamboard base that tilts the model about 25 degrees away from viewers, making it easier to see the interior. The sign on the base identifies the capsule as a paper model.

For now, the capsule sits alone in a large display case next to a huge Apollo 8 photomural. Other artifacts related to Borman’s 1968 Apollo 8 lunar orbit will soon be added to the case and the capsule’s interior lights will be plugged in and lit.

My CM is on loan to the museum at least through September 1, which means it will be seen by the tens of thousands of people who visit the museum during the annual AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in in July.

I’m just a little bit excited.

--David

**southwestforests** · #2 06-07-2019, 10:54 PM

That is cool, congratulations!

**Sakrison** · #3 06-07-2019, 10:58 PM

Apollo purists will note an anachronism in the model:

Apollo 8 had no docking probe since no Lunar Module went on that ride. I offered to remove it from the model but the museum curator was impressed by its detail (Thank you, Ken West!) and said to leave it.

**missileer** · #4 06-07-2019, 11:09 PM

Congratulations on two counts. First, for a magnificent model build; second for acceptance in the EAA special collection display. Well deserved.

John

**jagolden01** · #5 06-08-2019, 03:43 AM

Congratulations! Beautiful build of that craft. Fine work that paid off.

**chicharrero** · #6 06-08-2019, 03:44 AM

Congratulations friend.
Incredible model

**SCEtoAUX** · #7 06-08-2019, 05:11 AM

That is great. Congratulations on the display.

**skyman00** · #8 06-08-2019, 05:21 AM

Congratulations, David. Beautiful work!
What paper did you use for the silver? -J

**umtutsut** · #9 06-08-2019, 06:36 AM

Outstanding craftsmanship. Congratulations!

Les (The Voice of Authority)

**bpgeygolpher** · #10 06-08-2019, 06:36 AM

I completely understand your excitement. A few years ago my Central Pacific no. 60 Jupiter model was accepted for permanent display in the Wilmington North Carolina Railroad Museum.

It is nice to know that your work will be enjoyed by so many people.

Congratulations and great work on the model.