The Apollo Historical Series in 1/480th scale released!

[Nando]

Hi Guys,
my mini-crawler finally moved the SA-209 at the Rocket Garden



Werner seems proud on the green



I just added the rocket engines that I made from a cotton stick and I cut away the filler in the support forward.



The model is easy and the graphic is wonderful (my compliments George and Mike). I choosed to built this one first, because I saw it last summer at KSC, and I thought in this way to renew my emotion.

Now I have to return at my never-ending crawler .....

Best Nando

[WeeVikes]

Bravo!

Way better than my prototype!

Nice work, Nando. Now, get back to work on that Crawler!


Mike

[Bengt Fredén]

Hi Mike,

I haven´t been able to keep my hands and scissors away from the 'old' Saturn V model. I am nearly finished with all the parts and I am going to start to assemble them any day now.
Are the Saturn V updates just 'around the corner' or should I assemble this one and make a new one later? What might the differences be, pray tell?

Best,
Bengt

[WeeVikes]

Bengt,

Basically, the graphics have been updated and made much more accurate. There were a lot of details of the LUT/MLP I was unaware of when I designed the original model, so, to put it bluntly, some things are just wrong. Close, but wrong. I got the dimensions and a lot of the gross details correct, but there were things I missed that George has fixed with the "paint job" as much as humanly possible in order to recreate all the variations of the LUTs over the history of the program. Also, the Saturn V's were all slightly different, and George's paint jobs will capture them as well, in addition to details I couldn't easily create in PowerPoint, the software I did all the design with. We've also added some parts, as you can see with the "Milkstool" version, that weren't part of the original model, like the MLP railing, the crane hook, and the platforms on the mounting pedestals.

Basically, it was a really good collaboration. I'm an engineer, so digging into all the dimensions and laying out basic models was my strength. George is a photographer, so working with graphics software and adjusting the "look" of the models was his strength (but he's also every bit as good at "mechanical" design as I am, probably far better. He could have done this without my input. He designed all the new parts of the Saturn V version of the model.) In turn, I learned how to do some of the "artistic" stuff he did, and I was actually able to apply it to some of the later 1st draft models, thus reducing his workload.

We haven't figured out when we're releasing the next round. Shoot, we haven't even decided which part of the series we're going to release next. I've been swamped with "real" work, so that's holding me back a little bit. George has had some stuff come up recently as well. Basically, as far as the SVs go, I think George has most of the paint jobs updated, or will in fairly short order. I need to do the "cover sheets". Once we do that, we'll be ready with the Saturn Vs, I think. All of the models in the series have been designed, it's just a matter of documenting, packaging, and getting them out. However, the documenting and packaging is not always as fun as the model design, so we've slowed down a little. We'll try to get them out as soon as we can. Believe me, I want to see them out, too!.

Does this help?


Mike

[Bengt Fredén]

Hi Mike,

Thank you so much for your thorough reply. I can see that you have all put some very hard work into these model designs, and it really shows.
Given their minute scale, they are nevertheless extremely detailed and utterly realistic.

I will continue with the present model build. It will be fun to compare it to the updated versions when they eventually are released.
I printed out all the sheets yesterday for the complete LUT and launch platform. The signal red color of the tower came out a bit too pinkish-red on my Epson R1800 printer, so I altered the color slightly towards a more orange-red color and decreased the saturation/intensity somewhat. I also gave the launch platform, the Apollo SM and the Saturn stage 1 F-1 engine bells a slightly 'cooler' and more neutral gray color.

I will post a photo when I have something more assembled to show.
Thank you for a very fine model.

All the best from Stockholm,
Bengt

Apollo 4 being prepared on the launch pad back in 1967:

[paulhbell]

Hows the project going, no updates for a while.

[the mole]

How is things coming along on the saturn V side of this project? Hope to here something soon.

[Bengt Fredén]

Hi Mike,

I am glad to report that I have made some intitial progress on your fine original Mini-Saturn V model:

I started out by building the tower and MLP from the 'old' Saturn V model. Then I had a look at the new Saturn 1B models and I quickly realized how much that had been improved in the detailing (great work, George B!) - so, I started over and printed out the sheets for the new platform and tower and began building that one, too. Once erected, it really shows that the extra detailing has proven to be very effective and realistic (please compare the 'old' tower at the back with the new in front of it!). For my Saturn V 'kitbash' or trial model, I have also added some detailing around the opening on the MLP and cut out (folded in) the area on the lower front side (Side 1) that is marked with black in the original sheet. Furthermore, I am experimenting with some extra layers of paper to try to make the launcher appear a little more 'three-dimensional' - I have not yet decided how far this will take me but I am thinking of cutting out thin halves of tubes for stringers, fuel pipes and the like. I might even draw some fuel lines to ground level, if it looks OK.
Just as you did on your original build, Mike, I have started to make the Apollo CM launch escape tower out of a square bottom part and a round, thinner top part and I will try to cut a very small white thruster 'skirt', to connect the two. If I can find suitable material, I might also try to do the attitude thrusters of The Apollo SM - we´ll see.



As you can see to left side in the photo above, I have made TWO cranes. One of them is made in a thinner card stock and I think I will try to cut out all the openings in that one, for a more 'airy' look of the top crane assembly. As you probably can spot from the scale cube on the right, I have enlarged the whole model slightly (A3 size sheets - 297 x 420 mm), so I think it could be done with a really sharp scalpel blade. The railings are done but not assembled and glued. For the hook chain or wire, I will try to fined some extremely thin filament thread or black-colored wire. I have used the slightly conical lightning rod - you can see it next to the original round one on top of the MLP. I will research this part some more and see if it is OK to add a small pin or needle on top of it. I had originally thought about opening up the areas in between the tower 'legs' at the very bottom, too, but I decided that it might be a bit unstable.
I have decided, by the way, to include all TEN pedestals and platforms under the MLP - that might help with the overall stability and weight distribution. Due to some extra layers of card in side the MLP, I will reinforce these pedestal 'legs' with wood or tight, CA-glued rolls of paper.

I have tried to adjust the colors of my printer to get as neutral grey colors as possible - I think it looks quite OK now, a bit on the 'cool' side. The only adjustment I am not so happy with is the one on the F-1 engine thrusters (to the lower right) - I will try a much lighter, more neutral grey and perhaps also an experiment with silver paint. The ones I have made are a bit greenish and much too dark. I am also experimenting with silver card for the four S-IC guiding fins.

On the whole, it is a very rewarding model to work with and I am excited to see it grow. I am really looking forward to seeing the updates on the Saturn V as well. Perhaps they will be out in time for me to incorporate some further detailing on the Saturn V launcher . . .

All the best from Stockholm,
Bengt

[WeeVikes]

Bengt,


The model is coming out beautufully, and I'm glad you're enjoying it. You see what I mean about the job George did regarding the updated detailing? He did an incredible job.

I like the things you're doing to bring out a more three dimensional look to the model. Those are some great ideas I wish I'd have thought of.


I owe George some work on the cover pages for the Saturn V models, but I've been dealing with some computer issues, I've had to travel for work some, etc. -- basically, real life has gotten in the way of getting that done, but I'm hoping these things will clear up soon and we can get the new SV models out shortly. Please keep the updates flowing. I'm excited to see how your kitbash turns out.


Mike

[SAustin16]

Hello Bengt,

You're doing an exceptionally clean build.

I notice in your photo that some of the circular pieces have pins / nails through them. What is the purpose of the pins? Is it structural?

[Bengt Fredén]

Hi Steve,

Thank you so much for your kind words. It is a well-designed and very enjoyable build and the fit of the parts is exceptionally good.

Those 'pins' you are referring to are actually small nails which are inserted into small holes I bored out, simply to have something to hold onto, when I insert the formers and glue them in place - I have found it so annoying to sometimes drop a former full of glue inside the cylinder. If the nail is tight in the thick card former, it is very easy to position it exactly where you want it, before the glue dries.

Later this evening, I will post a photo. I have made some small progress to the top part.

All the best from Stockholm,
Bengt

[Bengt Fredén]

Hi Mike and Steve and everybody else who´s watching,

I finally made it! I had a look at George B´s wonderful 1:60 scale Colby crane at the Yahoo Space-Paper-Models groups and I realized that I had to try. So, yesterday night, I installed a fresh new Gilette E11 scalpel blade in the handle and started cutting and a couple of hours later, this was the result:



The part of the crane that has been cut out is about two and a half inches long. Now I will continue with the railings (no, I won´t cut them out) and the lighting rod (which by the way is supposed to be a three-sided construction, on a hinge) and then glue it all together. I think I will have to use some CA, to get a strong enough construction for a hook with a small weight on it. There is also some more edge-coloring that I have to do, with very fine-tipped red and yellow marker pens or water colors.

Simultaneously, I will continue the detailing of the MLP, where I will add a three-dimensional blast shield, some LOX lines and pipes and perhaps scaled-down hold down arms from Greelt P´s amazing 1:48 scale Saturn V base display.

More photos later.
All the best from Stockholm,
Bengt

[wedge]

It was great step to cut all of the "winds" I´m watching your model very carefully... It look´s very clear and nice I wish to have the Atlantis completed

[SAustin16]

Bengt,

Your nail idea is BRILLIANT. Just another reason I keep coming back to this forum...great ideas.

Your crane is beautiful, not to mention the photography.

[Hans Christian]

museum quality... no questions asked...