Nuclear booster rocket

[MartG]

Those of a certain age may remember the 'Project Sword' range of toys from the 1960s, which were loosely associated with Gerry Anderson. I had the 'Booster Rocket' ( see below ) which was based on a design from NASA's Ames Research Centre. Last Saturday I made some sketches scaled from various photos, and started on making a resin kit to resurrect the design - six days later all the resin parts are made and ready for assembly ! The finished model will be around 60cm / 24ins long.

The original toy ( not mine )


Ed Valigursky illustration of the same design, from Arthur C Clarke's book 'Man and Space'


Six days after starting the initial sketches for the kit I have this collection of cast resin parts, flash sanded off, ready to assemble


While waiting for plastic tubing to be delivered to make the masters for the main parts of the model I built and painted a prototype of the re-entry glider ( I also made some decals for it ) - this is 13cm long


More to follow once I glue the bits together

[Eric Mc]

Very interesting project. A cousin of mine had the Project Sword Annual. Was it ever intended to be a TV series or film?

[MartG]

The folks who originated the idea would have liked it to become a TV series, but couldn't get the backing, so it just remained a series of stories in TV21 and a range of toys.

[Eric Mc]

This is the annual I remember -

[MartG]

Eric Mc said:

This is the annual I remember -

Yup - and on page 45 you'll find.....

[Eric Mc]

My cousin (who was about 12 at the time) had fallen dramatically off his bicycle and ended up in hospital. My brother and I poppped in to cheer him up but I spent most of the time reading his Project Sword Annual.

I've never been very good at this empathy thing.

[MartG]

[Yertis]

Blue Peter said:

For this project you'll need some 40mm domestic waste pipe, ten ping-pong balls, a sharp knife and some glue...

[MartG]

Yertis said:

Blue Peter said:

For this project you'll need some 40mm domestic waste pipe, ten ping-pong balls, a sharp knife and some glue...

[MartG]

Painting begun - coat of matt white as a primer

[Halmyre]

I think you should label this thread NSFW - someone taking a quick glance at the picture above could get entirely the wrong impression...

[fatboy69]

MartG said:

Painting begun - coat of matt white as a primer

Looks like the contents of swmbo's bedside cabinet!!!

[MartG]

Halmyre said:

I think you should label this thread NSFW - someone taking a quick glance at the picture above could get entirely the wrong impression...

[MartG]

The good ship 'H G Wells' - 62cm of resin goodness

[MartG]

Leaving Earth orbit

[toohangry]

Cracking.

[MartG]

More pics

[Eric Mc]

I presume its on its way home from its trip to Mars?

[MartG]

Yes, using a lunar slingshot to help slow down of course....