Saturn V big scale scratch build idea

Doesn't sound half baked to me. Sounds like a pretty cool idea. 7 1/2 feet tall huh? Yeah, make a good bird house or outdoor light post? Planning on doing the launching pad too? "willing to work on it long term - in stages of course" Ha Ha...you funny.-(line from Elvis Presley movie) Detailed one would be cool! MG

At first...I was going to express doubts that you would ever get it off the ground, with so much made of PVC...but I then realized I was on rec.models.scale; and not rec.models.rockets....lol.

But...if you have been able to find the compatibly-sized PVC tubing, and in such a good scale...GO FOR IT! It sounds like a very cool project.

Have you decided on which particular vehicle you are going to model; seeing as each one had its own unique eccentricities?

If you need decals (I assume you will...lol) check out the following sites:

These fine gents do ALPS-printed decal sheets for model rockets; including upscaled sheets for the classic Estes and Centuri kits of yesteryear. I am sure they could print you some Saturn V decals to the appropriate scale.

Oh...and if you need to find a way to align fins; and make some transitions between the different tube diameters...

Awhile back, I discovered these very useful scripts, for generating body tube "fin guide wraps"; and for generating paper/cardboard,sheet-styrene transitions.  Simply edit these  Post Script files (in your favorite simple text editor), to give them the desired dimensions; and print the new .ps file on your printer.  These scripts are very well documented, and  very self explanatory.

Now, I did not create them; but I also do not have the original web address from where I discovered them; so I have uploaded them to my own webspace.  A fine gentleman by the name of Matthew Stum is the creator of them.

But, anyways...here they be:

Yeah, that'd be a brick.

A11 is an obvious choice, but to be different I'm thinking maybe A1 , A13 or the last call on the moon with A17. I believe A1 used a Saturn I so I'll have to double check the measurements.

I'm certainly open to suggestions.

Thanks for the links. I'll definitely be using decals and painting on a lot of the details that I would otherwise model. Sooner than later too, as once the stages are turned and assembled I'm not anticipating a lot of detail work assembly ahead. Most of the work is going to be deciding on how to brace it internally and mount it so it doesn't sway in the breeze too much. Kind of curious how I'm going to come up with the engine exhaust nozzles. While this first one is kind of a throw away test bed thing, I do want it to be fairly accurate in external dims. But, I will resort to upside down plastic flower pots in the approx. size and shape in a pinch. ;-)

You know - that approach honestly hadn't occured to me but that would work too. Thanks for the advice and tips. Now I just got to get on the phone and call in a few favors and get this thing rolling. I've been busting my arse on some much neglected landscaping work the last couple of months and I'm looking to have a little fun with it if I'm going to be out there so much.

It suddenly occured to me that for this testbed model I might as well skip turning the ODs of the pipe to get down to the dead nuts correct diameters. They're close enough as they are. I'll focus instead on turning and relieving the ends to mate and run true with the transitions - and then get busy on the transitions and the other major pieces to pull this thing together ready for paint and decals.

Oh My God - did I just win a round against AMS! ;-)

WmB

Lights - hey I like that. I thought about some orange subdued glowing ones in the tail nozzles, but maybe a little something up top is called for too. I was thinking that if go the full novelty approach here I could also make the CM free spinning and rig up a weather vane indicator too. that might be getting a little too goofy though. Again, I'm certainly open to suggestions.

That would be boss, but way out of my league if the idea was to do it with any amount of realistic detail. The problem being my skills and the availability of ref. material - in that order. I could see fixing up something simple with pressure treated 2x2 and such that has a semblance of a rocket gantry and launch pad. I've been building and rebuilding gates and fences outside so I've gotten handy enough in that respect now.

That's the one with the Lincoln Futura at the World's Fair, right. Hey wait a minute - wasn't that line from the kid wailing after Peter-san in "The Green Berets"? Even then, Hollywood couldn't come up with anything original.

Yeah that's the one I've got my eye on, but studying up on the Apollo program and the series FTETTM has caused me to understand - I gotta learn to drool first before I can crawl. Which means a V-2 is probably what I ought to be modelling, but I want the big daddy - I want the Saturn V. ;-)

And... just for grins, like... does anyone have the overall dims on a V-2 before I put in my PVC order?

WmB

Back around 1995, an airline pilot in Denver built a 1/48 (?) scale Saturn V that was featured in FineScale Modeler. It believe it is now in the Smithsonian.

Martin

wait a minute - wasn't that line from the kid wailing after Peter-san in "The Green Berets"? Even then, Hollywood couldn't come up with anything original.

I think (if memory serves) it was a line one of the little girls used in ...Oh shoot! Can't remember the title.....show where he is a tuna fisherman....rich girl buys the sail boat. I'd have to see it again to be sure. But you're right it was used in "The Green Berets"

Nope, sorry, how about BIG!....lol. MG

Yeah...I got a bug to do a 1/12 scale Redstone using the new capsule kit. That one would be about 7 feet tall as well.

Go for it, I say!

Be sure to check these guys out for reference drawings:

Look what Google bestowed upon me. Is this it? Pretty damn cool.

Now, to just keep from getting intimidated by this guy's work. ;-(

WmB

Thanks. Lots of good things being said online about the Weeks' drawings. I suspect that's going to be my Saturn V bible. I see they have your 1/12 Merc plans.

WmB

I saw someplace(I'll look it up) a paper/card model of a Saturn V in 1/48. Might give you some ideas/help. I'll pass on the site, once I find it again....Eric

Yeah - that's got my attention. I don't know why I've got the itch, but I got it bad. I like big models, but a 1/12 Redstone?..I must be going over the edge...

Actually, I've been considering building some space probes myself. Problem is, where to get scale drawings. I'd like to do a modern Delta and an Atlas II. Anyone know of a source for scale drawings of launch vehicles?

Along the same space theme ... Check out this guys work in progress of a scratch built Shuttle Launch Complex in 1/72, some superb modelling here, be sure to check out all the links on each progress report.

OK, found the site. It's

then go to Models for Download. There's a mini Saturn V 1/500 that stands about 7 feet tall, and a Museum quality Saturn V in 1/96 that stands over four feet tall.

Then there's various downloads for the Apollo Capsule, Service Module, *two LEMS (one in 1/44), 3rd stage, 2nd stage, and 1st stage, all in 1/48 scale.

There is also a Saturn V blueprint poster. There are other card/paper models as well, sci-fi, proposed, and real. (How about both a 1/96 and 1/48 scale Gemini-TitanII.)

If you're Googling,it's the Lower Hudson Valley Paper Model E-gift shop. These are free downloads. I'm not associated. Found itmyself while googling....Eric

Welcome to the edge:

-and-

John Pursley's flying (yes, flying) model rocket won the Best of Show award at the 2002 Austin IPMS Show.

I used his capsule kit in 2001 to build a 1/12-scale Little Joe:

Yes, rocket people are nuts.

James

_______________________ James Duffy snipped-for-privacy@mac.com

Correction, that was the 2000 Austin show:

James _______________________ James Duffy snipped-for-privacy@mac.com

Well....the "scale" subset of the flying-rocket hobby; has standards just as high as that found in our static-model hobby. There are a *lot* of *very* nice scale (flying) model rocket kits out there. Even the classic Estes scale-ish kits, on twenty years ago....can be made into fantastic scale models.

Very nice! And thanks for the idea on 1/64 ply to roll-your-own for the tube.