Scale Projects  

05/11/08

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Model Projects

Liberty Bell 7 Capsule

Some of my competition scale projects, past and present...

They're all flying models and they all have the goal of being as good or better than display-only models when it comes to precision and detail.

The models  below are those that I can document well enough for web presentation (the links will be available soon). You would think that I am a Mercury freak, but I'm really not. I much prefer Apollo Saturn V models. Over the years my other models have included a large 1/40 Scale Little Joe II which placed 1st at its only NAR competition in Dallas TX (I'm still looking for photos), a 1/58 Scale Cosmos, Saturn IBs, Gemini Titans, Honest Johns, V-2s, and several Sounding rockets.

I am back to Saturns now (my scale modeling was interrupted for 3-4 years while I worked on the conservation of the JSC and USSRC Saturn V vehicles and did some traveling researching the Saturn. I am planning on entering the Scale at NARAM 50 this coming year. Hopefully, I will be able to document the progress on my competition model in a timely fashion here on this site.

 
bullet1/60 Scale Vostok (1970) - First "serious" flying scale contest model. Placed 1st at Pasadena (TX) ISD Interscholastic Model Rocket Competition which was an annual model rocket contest between the schools of the Pasadena Independent School District.

bullet1/87 Scale Saturn V (1983) - 1983 Internats entry. First attempt at a "super detailed" Saturn V model. Large scale for its time (1/100 scale Saturn V models were considered very large at this time.) Disqualified due to crash.

bullet1/96 Scale Mercury Redstone (1990) - Tiny sport scale model with shingle corrugations and built-up escape tower. Placed 1st in regional NAR competitions in Dallas, TX and Baton Rouge, LA.

bullet1/72 Scale Saturn V (1997) - 1st place NARAM 39 (Tucson, AZ) static judging. Crashed due to severe weathercocking (Looks like I am developing a "habit" of crashing Saturns at major competitions!). Led to development of autopilot system used on subsequent NARAM competition models.

bullet1/24 Scale Mercury Redstone (1998) - 1st place NARAM 40 (Muncie, IN) Team Sport Scale entry  of Gus Grissom's Liberty Bell 7. Unique all plastic and resin flying model with gimbaling motor and horizon sensing "autopilot" for flight control.

bullet1/10 Scale Vanguard (1999) - "Boilerplate" model intended for demonstration flight at NARAM 41 (Pennsylvania). Encouraged to enter as competition entry, placed 2nd in static judging. Not flown due to winds and small field. No supplemental fins. Two stages with gimballing motors in each stage. Utilized horizon sensing "autopilot" developed for NARAM 40 Mercury Redstone.

bullet1/12 Scale MR-8/Liberty Bell 7 (2000) - 1st Place in Team Sport Scale at NARAM 2000 (NARAM 42, Penrose, CO). Used prototype resin Liberty Bell 7 Capsule the molds of which were used to produce the 1/12 Liberty Bell 7 Accur8 Spacemodels kit. Redstone booster used 1/64" plywood construction and RC control of parachute ejection.

bullet1/12 Scale MR-8/Liberty Bell 7 (2002) - 1st Place in Team Sport Scale at NARAM 44 (McGregor, TX). Similar to the model of 2000, it was a completely new model that was lighter, stronger, and more detailed. In addition to its RC recovery system deployment, it made use of a horizon-sensing autopilot unit coupled to a gimballing engine for flight control. The horizon-sensors and control electronics were different from previous systems in that it could actually sense the horizon at night!

bullet 1/12 Scale Liberty Bell 7 Capsule (2003) - Intended for NARAM 45 (Evansville, IN). Three 13mm motors located in Retro Pack. Withdrawn for non-competition reasons. Nope...it didn't have an "autopilot" but it did have a simple RC ejection system.







 

bullet1/50 Scale Saturn V (2008) - Coming- Phase by phase of the construction of my NARAM 50 Scale model

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