Collier’s Ferry Rocket (1952)

[nando]

Thanks mhvink.

Originally Posted by BARX2

Nando, I'm just seeing this thread for the first time today. I'm amazed at your work on the model. Years ago I was planning to build Mike's model. I downloaded the 1/72 scale version, but then I stopped building models for years. I recently came back to the hobby and I hope to see your model completed. Good luck and keep up the great work!

Thanks BARX2, i'm glade that you are back at the hobby: I've missed your work for a long time.

Originally Posted by southwestforests

Oh ya gotta love the designs from that era.

Originally Posted by beckychestney

Isn't it also fascinating how many of the early designs featured large and/or multiple winged stages?

I think that those wings in the early projects were influenced by the design of the first german rockets that went to the space (A4, A4b,A9/A10 the last one flew only on the drawing board)



Von Braun was the father of all these projects.

The wings are necessary at this stage for compensate the weakness of the control devices in the early stages of the flight ( many A4 fallen at the take off for engine failure but also for the lack of control). In the last part of the flight, when the engine was off and couldn't give any correction, the wings/rudder could give aerodynamic stability and lift to extend the range.

I think that in the Ferry Rocket design the wings on the first stage are the mean to compensate aerodynamically the big wings on the shuttle portion of the rocket.

Then, better control devices and the absence of wings in the upper portion of the rockets made unnecessary the big wings on the lower portion, ... and we lost the beauty of these forms.

Originally Posted by beckychestney

Then came the Titans and fins were passe.

before there was the Atlas booster which led to the orbit John Glenn without wings.



Best, Nando

[nando]

The mirror has come, only a dry fit.




The result is good for me! All the work I did on the engines of the first stage is clearly visible.

But there is another problem: now you can see the bottom of the MLP with the useful part number.

I have to draw a cover to put under and mask the bottom.

Best, Nando

[Paper Kosmonaut]

Oh wow, Nando, that looks awesome. The mirror is a great addition. I really like the look of the platform, too. Great work!

Originally Posted by beckychestney

Then came the Titans and fins were passé.

And after the Titans came the Saturn V's and wahey, back they were. (Although not so large. Let's not forget the early Arianes either. And the Soyuz launcher also has those little wings.)

[nando]

Originally Posted by Paper Kosmonaut

And after the Titans came the Saturn V's and wahey, back they were. (Although not so large. Let's not forget the early Arianes either. And the Soyuz launcher also has those little wings.)

Oh yeah. All the members of the Saturn family had little wings

Saturn I

http://historicspacecraft.com/Photos...2007_RK_13.jpg
Saturn Ib

http://historicspacecraft.com/Photos...2008_RK_12.jpg
Saturn V

http://historicspacecraft.com/Photos...2008_RK_08.jpg

But they all are von Braun's sons. Aren't they?

There is another story about the wings and Titan, which could have been.
During the development of the Dynasoar project, the booster design evolved from Titan I to Titan IIIC following the increase of the weight of the glider. But the first two have the wings!
I think that the reason is the same for the Ferry Rocket, they have to compensate the surface on top of the stack.
In the third version the compensation isn't necessary, given the size of the three cylinders of the launcher.


https://i2.wp.com/www.defensemediane...r_boosters.jpg

Best, Nando

[mhvink]

Nando,

All very good information, nice to read about.

Now, build, BUILD

Mike

[nando]

Since I do not want to rebuild the base, I thought I would apply an image to the bottom that could simulate the weathered bottom of the MLP.
I have designed, cut and applied the covers of the four sectors.





But I have also corrected the files of the model so that those who will build it in the future will have the correct version.



Here is the comparison "before and after".



@Mhvink: I hope the hurry you put on me (Build, Build, BUILD) is due to the irrepressible desire to build my model.

Best, Nando

[southwestforests]

Those covers are a grand idea.

[mhvink]

"@Mhvink: I hope the hurry you put on me (Build, Build, BUILD) is due to the irrepressible desire to build my model.

Best, Nando "

Yes, absolutely. This is looking great!

Mike

[nando]

A few steps ahead on the second stage




Ready for a test buid.

Best, Nando

[nando]

Hi to all, some news.

The last week was very productive, but the previous one was very terrible and i was very discouraged and a step away from abandon the model.
I fell in a dangerous loop when i started build, mistake, rectify, build again many times.
All started well, but any time I discovered something wrong and i had to correct and try again. Some error was very imbarassing. It seemed that I wasn't able to design, build this model.

Here the first steps and some of the build i tried.







But then this week all worked fine.


A lot of engines again.





And here where i am.




Next the third stage.

Best, Nando