1950 style Space Shuttle

[MartG]

1950s style Space Shuttle orbiter

After a couple of recent ¡¥retro¡¦ style spacecraft builds ( http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... and http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... ) I decided to begin a new range of ¡¥How the future was¡¦ models, starting with a space shuttle inspired by the designs formulated an the 1950s by von Braun, Willy Ley, Chesley Bonestell, and others.

Here¡¦s how the initial concept was laid out, using a Pegasus V-2 as a basis



And after a weeks work, the kit of resin parts, including my first foray into clear resin parts for the canopy and portholes



And so to the finished prototypes, named after a couple of my favourite authors ļ




























The finished model is 23cm long with a wingspan of 21cm. The kit comprises 28 resin parts, including optional wheeled or ski landing gear.

I'm currently working on a 'big wing' Mars shuttle version too.

[Eric Mc]

Fantastic.

Have you seen the Walt Disney animation series that was made using the Von Braun concepts (originally published in Colliers Magazine)?

[MartG]

Yes Eric - that's one of the inspirations for these

[Eric Mc]

I wish they got shown again. Clips from the Disney programme were shown as part of a (I think) Channel 4 documentary called "A Short History of the Spaceship" back in the mid 1980s.

[MartG]

Variations on a theme – more 1950s style spacecraft in cast resin following on from the ones posted above

First a canard version of the original








And the ‘Big Wing’ Martian version ( big wings for Mars’ thin atmosphere )

T-tail version




Showing optional skid undercarriage



Canard version









Both together



Size comparison ( delta is 21cm span, swept is 44cm span )




And finally ( for now ), the classic rocket ship configuration







Hope you like them

[Eric Mc]

Very nice.

I'm sure those wings would have got mighty hot on atmospheric entry.

[MartG]

Eric Mc said:

Very nice.

I'm sure those wings would have got mighty hot on atmospheric entry.

True, as seen on this page from the original Colliers article

[Yertis]

You ought to have a look at the "Ministry of Space' graphic novels for future inspiration