Vanguard 1

**umtutsut** · #1 08-30-2014, 02:58 PM

Here's my latest opus: a 1/2 scale (approximately) Vanguard 1 satellite based on Bryan Tan's (Rocketmantan) design. Launched in March 1958, it was the second U.S. satellite to orbit Earth, and first to feature solar cells. The actual spacecraft was only about 6 inches across!

The model is made from a plastic craft ball, plastic rod for the antennas, dozens of salami-sliced screw heads cut from smaller diameter plastic rod, and the kit solar cells printed on silver paper. I took Bryan's suggestion and added clear plastic over the cells themselves for a more realistic effect.

Now, on to New Horizons!

Les (The Voice of Authority -- VoiceofAuthority.net - The Voice Stylings of Les Dorr, Jr.)

**whulsey** · #2 08-30-2014, 03:36 PM

Looks great! Didn't realize the actual one was that small.

**umtutsut** · #3 08-30-2014, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whulsey

Looks great! Didn't realize the actual one was that small.

Here's a pic of the real thing.

Les (The Voice of Authority -- VoiceofAuthority.net - The Voice Stylings of Les Dorr, Jr.)

**Paper Kosmonaut** · #4 08-30-2014, 04:10 PM

Yeah, it really was a small satellite. Nikita Khrushchev jokingly called it the grapefruit satellite. Sputnik 1 was 58 cm (32 inch) in diameter. The (first) TV-3 version wasn't that lucky, when the rocket fell back on the pad and exploded, the little ball fell down and rolled through the flames and started sending signals, believing it was released in space. Poor thing. It became badly damaged and now is on display.

But unlike Sputnik 1 who came down a couple of months later, Vanguard 1 still orbits the earth. Your model looks really good, Les. Nicely displayed, too. It absolutely has a good metal feel over it.

**whulsey** · #5 08-30-2014, 04:25 PM

Ah, he says. I've seen that photo and always thought that whole barrel assembly was the satellite and that little thing on top was just some type of broadcast/antennae unit.

**luke strawwalker** · #6 08-30-2014, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whulsey

Ah, he says. I've seen that photo and always thought that whole barrel assembly was the satellite and that little thing on top was just some type of broadcast/antennae unit.

Nope, that's the top stage of the Vanguard rocket... nosecone was lowered/assembled over it...

We've come a long way...

OL JR

**dhanners** · #7 08-30-2014, 09:53 PM

Another fine model!

**eatcrow2** · #8 08-31-2014, 05:15 AM

Exceptional clean work, beautifully displayed!!