Model Rocketry and Spacemodeling

Home \| Scale Projects \| Modeling Apollo \| Rocket Hardware \| Tech & Tools \| Cool Rocket Stuff \| Favorites/Links \| To The MOON! \| About Me	07/03/09

Updates:

7/03/09
Suddenly, Tomorrow Came-History of Johnson Space Center
First document in our new Apollo Documents section of To The Moon. A must-read for any Apollo enthusiast.

6/29/09
S-IC Engine Fairing Pattern Updates
Added new link to background information on the evolution of the fairings and upcoming dimensional data.

6/19/09
Saturn V Fin data
At last! Accurate and verified detailed data for the Saturn V fins.

6/1/09
1:72 Scale
Little Joe II QTV model progress
Progress on an all resin prototype for the first Little Joe II to fly.

Welcome to Model Rocketry and Spacemodeling!

If you are interested in scale model rocketry, model rockets, static spacemodeling, and general model-building information (particularly scratch building), this site will have a little bit for you.

It will contain items that are of particular interest to me that I would like to share with the rest of the modeling community. I am particularly interested in pre-Space Shuttle manned programs with an emphasis on Apollo.

Keep an eye on the "Modeling Apollo" link for ongoing updates related to the Saturn V launch vehicle and other hardware of the Apollo program.

And, since you got here via ACCUR8.COM I should tell you that Model Rocketry and Spacemodeling IS "Accur8 Spacemodels". I will, from time to time, make various items available for sale here on this site.

No Spaghetti
There Yet...

If you are into practical scale modeling and nice personal insights to the hobby, scale data, tips and techniques, and just plain "non-extreme" rocketry, then visit Meatball Rocketry.

Be sure to visit...

for the BEST display or flying Saturn V and Saturn IB kits produced! Visit Apogee to see an incredible array of model rockets and supplies.

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suggestions about
Model Rocketry and Spacemodeling?
Drop us a note!

comments@accur8.com

Saturn V, Saturn IB, Mercury Redstone, Apollo, S-IC, S-II, NASA, Little Joe, Little Joe II, Navaho, Cape Kennedy, Constellation, Orion, F-1, J-2

NARAM 2002 Mercury Redstone

The most recent major flying rocket project that I have managed to complete was this 1/12 scale Mercury Redstone 8...the second U.S. manned spaceflight lofting Gus Grissom in Liberty Bell 7.

Far left photo is of the Penrose, Colorado NARAM 2000 (National Association of Rocketry Annual Meet) original Mercury Redstone model with only an RC ejection recovery system. Center photo is the entirely new 2002 version (with autopilot and RC recovery) prior to loading on the launcher at NARAM 44 (2002) in McGregor, TX. and gives some idea of size of model...yet it weighs just 3 pounds complete with a hen's-egg "eggstronaut". The photo on the far right is a still frame capture taken from a video by James Duffy who videoed the NARAM 2002 model on its winning flight. Click on any of the photos for the NARAM 2002 launch video.

Click here for full flight video by James Duffy (.WMV format, best for broadband connections...right-click to download)

Rocket on a Rope...?

Also from NARAM 2000 is this interesting flight from the Giant Sport Scale event shows what happens when you attempt to fly a very "non-rigid" rocket. This 1:1 scale model of the Goddard's first successful liquid fueled rocket (I don't recall who the modeler was but will post here if I find out) proves that if a rocket isn't rigid enough to be pushed into the air in a conventional manner with the motor at the rear then it likely won't do any better with the motor pulling things along. Basically, it behaves very much like a very small unstable rocket trying to pull a mass at the end of a rope into the air.

Watch the video which is shown both in real-time and at 1/10th actual speed. What's wrong in the video? Well, watch the guy near the chair and the young man next to him. Also, the rocket nearly zeros in on Richard Ng (the gentleman in the shorts and with a bag in the lower right of the frame...and who casually walks back to the "disaster site" to collect his soft drink sitting on the ground).

The slow-motion portion of the video shows the "dynamics" of the rocket frame-by-frame as it heads skyward and then toward the camera. Believe it or not, the sound during the slow-mo is what the original sound is like played at 10% speed...no dubbing, editing, or sound "enhancement" other than just "playing it slow."

Click here for full flight video by John Pursley (.WMV format, best for broadband connections...right-click to download)

This site was last updated 07/03/09

Home | Scale Projects | Modeling Apollo | Rocket Hardware | Tech & Tools | Cool Rocket Stuff | Favorites/Links | To The MOON! | About Me

Welcome to Model Rocketry and Spacemodeling!