1/12 Apollo CM and SM

[luro1964]

Originally Posted by Sakrison

I installed brighter LEDs in my Ken West CM. They really make a difference!
--David

Beautiful work. I am planning on doing the kit when I can find a little more time.
Can you share more details about which LEDs you used and whether you used a different way of installing them compared to Billy?

[Sakrison]

The LEDs came from Evan Designs--great products, great price, very helpful people. I can power them off a 9-volt battery or a 12-volt converter that plugs into the wall, both external. The wires come out of the capsule through a tiny hole opposite the hatch and hidden by the stand. I didn't bother with a switch since the connection is a mini-plug from Evan Designs.

[Petestein]

Fantastic model, congratulations. One request, where can I buy the Ken West kit? Thanks

[rickstef]

Originally Posted by Petestein

Fantastic model, congratulations. One request, where can I buy the Ken West kit? Thanks

Once ecardmodels comes back online, you can purchase this, and Ken's other kits from there

[GunnerGreg]

WOW! Very impressive

[Algebraist]

Originally Posted by Sakrison

I just completed Ken West's 1/12 Apollo Command Module with Carl Hewlett's 1/32-scale service module scaled up to fit. The service module scaled up well with little loss of detail, though it took a lot of trial and error to scale it properly.

I scratch built the Scientific Instrument Module (SIM) used on Apollo 15-17 since Carl's kit has a 2-dimensional SIM Bay.

The CM interior is lit with LEDs but I need to swap them out for brighter ones.

The finished model is almost three feet long and about a foot in diameter. I actually don't know where I'm going to put it. I feel a bit like the guy who built a real airplane in his basement.

I worked on the model off and on for about two years, finishing it in a marathon push over the past two months. It will be on exhibit at the EAA Museum's annual "Family Flight Fest" on March 2, in Oshkosh, Wi.

If you're tackling Ken's CM kit and have questions, feel free to ask me. I'll help if I can. It's beautifully designed but it's a challenge.

--David

P.S. to Ken West: Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

What a model Sakrison! Tremendous. Would really like to see it "in the flesh".

If I could ask, how did you get the metallic outer for the CM?
Also, do you know where Carl Hewlett's SM is available?

Regards

Kevin

[mhvink]

Kevin,

All of Carl's models are located in the download section of the forum. The SM is at http://www.papermodelers.com/forum/v...ownloadid=2241

Mike

[shalmaneser3]

The LEDs really make a difference and make the while thing pop! A beautiful model.


One question: Did you have to line some of the walls with tin foil to avoid some of the light shining through the paper and the joins?


Sergio

[Algebraist]

Originally Posted by mhvink

Kevin,

All of Carl's models are located in the download section of the forum. The SM is at http://www.papermodelers.com/forum/v...ownloadid=2241

Mike

Many thanks Mike.

Kevin

[Sakrison]

Originally Posted by shalmaneser3

The LEDs really make a difference and make the while thing pop! A beautiful model.


One question: Did you have to line some of the walls with tin foil to avoid some of the light shining through the paper and the joins?


Sergio

No, I did not. The model, like the prototype, has several walls and I haven't seen any leakage of light from the LEDs. The first two were installed near the instrument panel in what is a light fixture on the real capsule. (See Billy Leliveld's posts on lighting the model.) The second, brighter pair of LEDs is mounted on either side of the main hatch, near the back wall--it was the only place accessible and out of line-of-sight from the windows.

The brighter LEDs are Evans Designs "Mega-LEDs"--5mm, flat, with a 180° beam. They come already wired with the required resistor and I ordered them with the longer (14-inch) wires. Installing them in the finished model was a challenge but it worked out well.

Using a soldering gun around a paper model is a little unnerving but if you're really careful . . . !