1/24 Apollo/Saturn V (enlarged 1/48 Greelt et al version)

[Algebraist]

Dear all

Before assembling the ascent stage I first attached the "skirt" around the base of the descent stage



Next I added the radar etc to the middle of the ascent stage and then joined all the part of the middle section together, then glues the ascent stage together. (Wernher and Gunter show that it is not very big at all)



Then the ascent stage was attached to the descent stage



This then left the ladder, feet, leg "expanders" (I do not know what their proper name is) and descent engine which are shown being prepared.



Once added the LM was finished and here are some photos of the finished LM



And of course some with Gunter and Wernher checking it out



I really enjoyed making the LM at this enlarged scale. It has a nice "feel" to it. It is very stable too on it's legs.

I also liked the unusual shapes that make up the LM (but will not go on about the maths about them!).

It is a really interesting model to build I think.

For me the LM always looked "really space-age" because of it's unusual shape. However the most indelible memory I have of it is when I saw it liftoff from the moon live. It still looks fantastic to me. Here is what I am talking about



Finally before leaving the LM here is an interesting video (I think) by Nvidia which uses the power of mathematics to model light reflections to work something out, with a nice realization right at the end.



Regards

Kevin

[spacecraftcreator]

Nice seeing the LM in 1-24...good job

Bob

[Algebraist]

Thanks for the complement Bob, much appreciated.

Regards

Kevin

[Algebraist]

Dear all

I have been looking at what is left to do for the 1/24 model and taking a close look at a "Mobile Launch Platform".

I really want to have a go at making a 1/24 "Apollo Era" MPL to go with the model. The "stand" with the kit is nice and very good but not an Apollo MPL (nor is it claimed to be).

I have purchased the Apollo era MLP and LUT from EduCraft. Unfortunately it is not suitable to enlarge to 1/24 scale.

If anyone knows of an Apollo era MLP (no LUT required) that they think might enlarge to 1/24 scale I would much appreciate if you could let me know.

Many thanks

Kevin

[Algebraist]

Dear all

After finishing the 1/24 LM I then had no time for modelling until very recently. I decided the next thing I would do is finish the 6 J-2 engines.

Here is where they were at



Before showing my progress I though some people might like to see a drawing of the actual engines (and it helps me in trying to give the parts their correct names!). This drawing is from the NASA site https://history.nasa.gov/afj/ap16fj/01_Day1_Pt1.html



First to be made were the LOX and LH2 pipes from the turbo pumps. The LOX pipe comes in two parts which I joined using a "tab" on one half on the inside, so that the pipe could "flex" at the joint



I glued the pipes to the body of the engine at the bottom only (so not glued to the turbo pumps). This is because I have made the engines detachable from stages 2 and 3, in in attaching/detaching the engines get flexed and pushed so not being glued at the turbo pumps allows a degree of freedom. Here they are attached



Next is the wiring loom to the LOX feed (part 37)



In order to attached the part to the "top" of the engine in needed to "pry apart" the adhesive magnetic paper I had put on top of the model (which was the method of attachment of the engine to the stage) and the part of the engine. I used a knife (as shown) and then squeezed back together once the end of the wiring loom was inserted.



Finally here are all 6 engines at their current state



Regards

Kevin

[Algebraist]

Dear all

So I have made a bit more progress on the J-2 engines. So I have now added the wiring loom on the LH2 side of the engine (part 38)



And then the short wiring loom on the opposite side of the engine



Next I needed to make the primary flight instrument package, the electrical control package and the auxiliary flight instrumentation package (if I have interpreted the model and the diagram of the J-2 engine in the previous post correctly) which are then attached to the wiring looms.

These parts are cylinders which are made from rolling strips of paper and then adding two circular ends. In case yo have a go at this enlarged version of this engine (and if you like engines I an sure you would like doing this) just be aware that in the 1/48 model the "strip of paper" which makes the cylinder pretty much "fills" the cylinder. But because the enlarged (1/24) version is 8 times the volume of the 1/48 version but still uses the same thickness of paper this is not the case so you end up with a "coil" instead. Because if this you need to be accurate when gluing the end of the strip when making the cylinder.

Here are the parts in progress



And then a photo showing the "coil"



Now all the primary flight instrument package, the electrical control package and the auxiliary flight instrumentation package finished



And then added to the engines



I hope to finish off the J-2 engines for the next post

Regards

Kevin

[spacecraftcreator]

Very nice....

[Algebraist]

Originally Posted by spacecraftcreator

Very nice....

Cheers Bob

Kevin

[Algebraist]

Dear all

I have been able to carry on with the J-2 engines build.

The next parts to add were the "utilization valves" (I think) and then the high pressure LOX duct. Here they are in progress



And then attached to the body of the engines



Next up was the high pressure fuel duct (which I found rather delicate to make) and used a bamboo skewer to support inside to press against when gluing together. Again photos of in progress and then attached to engine.



The final printed part s form the turbine exhaust duct. I found it easiest to add tabs to one of the parts (as shown in the photo below) even though they are not included on the part



They here are the completed parts as well as on the body of an engine



To complete the engine the start tank is required. For this I used 25 mm diameter paper pulp balls (as used previously for the helium tanks on the base of stage 3, see earlier post for details where to get such things). I really like the fact they are paper. Here is a photo of some of then including one cut open so you can see what they are like inside



So here are the finished J-2 engines



They are a really great design and scale up really nice (I think) as this close up shows



Thought you might like a comparison between a 1/24 and 1/48 J-2 engine



And of course Gunter and Wernher inspect the final engines



I have really enjoyed making these J-2 engines

If you like rocket engines and are looking for a project you could try making one of each type from the Apollo/Saturn V in 1/24 scale. I think it would make a nice interesting display and fun to build.

So talking of that you might be interested in this video on all the rocket engines of the Apollo Saturn V



Hope you enjoyed the J-2's

Regards

Kevin

[rifleman]

theres just no stopping you great build all round well done