Airfix 1/144 Saturn V
Discussion
johnS2000 said:
Looking good Eric .
The one on the Airfix website available for pre-order ! Is this new or just a re-release
I presume you are referring to the Saturn V (rather then a launch tower - Airfix don't do one).The one on the Airfix website available for pre-order ! Is this new or just a re-release
It will be the same kit I am building. It's obviously being re-released after a bit of a gap in production.
As mentioned by me in my first post, the version of the Saturn V that Airfix now do was substantially amended in 2009 when it was re-released on that occasion. The upper stage, Lunar Module fairing, Command and Service Module bits are all new and are now the correct dimensions (the old 1970 version was incorrect).
However, they did nothing to stages one and two which are not quite correct in some details either - but the overall dimensions are fine so they don't look too wrong - unless you are a Saturn V expert.
Airfix also do the Saturn V in Skylab configuration.
Well, I definitely won't have the model finished in time for this evening's Farnborough IPMS meeting. I found myself beginning to rush things and make mistakes. So I decided to give up on the idea of finishing it by tonight.
Because of serious bleeding on the "flared" fairings at the base of the rocket, I decided to sand off the poor painting and try again. I still hope to finish everything within a couple of weeks.
Because of serious bleeding on the "flared" fairings at the base of the rocket, I decided to sand off the poor painting and try again. I still hope to finish everything within a couple of weeks.
The did indeed. I actually built my first one of those back in 1970 (very badly). I made another much better one in 1979 and currently have two unbuilt ones in my stash for future projects.
The kit was originally released in 1970 with inaccurate colour scheme instructions. The model was based on the publicity material and mock up photos released by NASA and Grumman from around 1966 onwards (when the LM design was more or less finalised). They were always shown as black and white machines. In reality, they were a combination of aluminium, black panelling and gold covered mylar.
The kit was re-issued in 2009/10 this time in a much bigger box and with correct colour instructions and decals to depict the model as Apollo 11's "Eagle".
The kit has a number of inaccuracies. The front shape of the ascent stage is a bit two rounded but it's not that obvious. There is a metal support strut on the front of the ascent stage on the real LM that is represented by a triangle of plastic on the kit. That needs to be removed and replaced.
The main problem is that the thrust deflectors which, on the real thing, were attached to the descent stage on a set of then metal struts, are actually moulded into the downward pointing attitude thrusters of the ascent stage. This needs rectification.
Finally, around 1971, Airfix released an HO/OO set of Astronaut Figures (moulded in bendy polythene plastic rather than polystyrene). In the 2009 LM re-relaese, this set is included. The nice thing about the figure set is that you get some additional experiments and a Lunar Rover.
This is the original 1970 box and artwork.
This is the newer release - which should be readilly obtainable -
This is the original boxing of the astronaut set - which, as I said, is included in the current LM release.
The kit was originally released in 1970 with inaccurate colour scheme instructions. The model was based on the publicity material and mock up photos released by NASA and Grumman from around 1966 onwards (when the LM design was more or less finalised). They were always shown as black and white machines. In reality, they were a combination of aluminium, black panelling and gold covered mylar.
The kit was re-issued in 2009/10 this time in a much bigger box and with correct colour instructions and decals to depict the model as Apollo 11's "Eagle".
The kit has a number of inaccuracies. The front shape of the ascent stage is a bit two rounded but it's not that obvious. There is a metal support strut on the front of the ascent stage on the real LM that is represented by a triangle of plastic on the kit. That needs to be removed and replaced.
The main problem is that the thrust deflectors which, on the real thing, were attached to the descent stage on a set of then metal struts, are actually moulded into the downward pointing attitude thrusters of the ascent stage. This needs rectification.
Finally, around 1971, Airfix released an HO/OO set of Astronaut Figures (moulded in bendy polythene plastic rather than polystyrene). In the 2009 LM re-relaese, this set is included. The nice thing about the figure set is that you get some additional experiments and a Lunar Rover.
This is the original 1970 box and artwork.
This is the newer release - which should be readilly obtainable -
This is the original boxing of the astronaut set - which, as I said, is included in the current LM release.
As I said, the kit was based on the publicity images and mock up photos that had been released over the previous few years.
Here is typical NASA/Grumman image from about 1968 -
And a nice array of models depicting some of the evolutionary stages of the design. Airfix would have started designing their model probably when the 3rd version in this line up was being depicted in progress reports etc -
Here is typical NASA/Grumman image from about 1968 -
And a nice array of models depicting some of the evolutionary stages of the design. Airfix would have started designing their model probably when the 3rd version in this line up was being depicted in progress reports etc -
Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 9th March 10:25
Back to the Saturn V
Painting now completed and ready for decal application. I've left off some of the final fragile items, such as the Launch Escape Tower until after all the decals have been applied.
I gave up on the idea of batting the F1 engines as the wrapping with foil did not really convey the right look.
Should be completed by the weekend.
Painting now completed and ready for decal application. I've left off some of the final fragile items, such as the Launch Escape Tower until after all the decals have been applied.
I gave up on the idea of batting the F1 engines as the wrapping with foil did not really convey the right look.
Should be completed by the weekend.
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