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This will be the first model that I have pretty much completely drawn and designed. The only parts that I intend to outsource are the first stage engines.
This will be the first model that I have pretty much completely drawn and designed. The only parts that I intend to outsource are the first stage engines.
As with a lot of the design work I have done I rely heavily on Excel spreadsheets for the number crunching, and there was a lot of it required to draw up the model.
As with a lot of the design work I have done I rely heavily on Excel spreadsheets for the number crunching, and there was a lot of it required to draw up the model.
As mentioned on the title page a set of basic drawings constructed by Peter Alway were the main reference for the overall dimensions. Below are examples of images cropped from NASA documents which helped "to fill in the details".
As mentioned on the title page a set of basic drawings constructed by Peter Alway were the main reference for the overall dimensions. Below are examples of images cropped from NASA documents which helped "to fill in the details".
Early on in the design I made the decision to make the model without any internal detailing and display it in its launch configuration. This was made because by creating a model that can be partly taken to pieces to shown details means that a certain amount of "real life" accuracy has to be sacrificed. This is because items such as locator tabs have to be added.
Early on in the design I made the decision to make the model without any internal detailing and display it in its launch configuration. This was made because by creating a model that can be partly taken to pieces to shown details means that a certain amount of "real life" accuracy has to be sacrificed. This is because items such as locator tabs have to be added.
The only concession made to the design that steps away from the real thing is the addition of four holes in the heatshield. The display base will have four acrylic feet with brass rods to support the model.
The only concession made to the design that steps away from the real thing is the addition of four holes in the heatshield. The display base will have four acrylic feet with brass rods to support the model.
I do not have a resin (SLA) printer so have to outsource the printing. In an effort to minimise costs I decided to make some of the internal support structures for the first stage from alternative materials.
I do not have a resin (SLA) printer so have to outsource the printing. In an effort to minimise costs I decided to make some of the internal support structures for the first stage from alternative materials.
The central "spine" of the tank assemblies is an acrylic tube and the tank locators plus spacers were printed in ABS filament.
The central "spine" of the tank assemblies is an acrylic tube and the tank locators plus spacers were printed in ABS filament.
The phot below shows the Acrylic tube being cut to length
The phot below shows the Acrylic tube being cut to length
Getting a dimension wrong can be a costly mistake!!
Getting a dimension wrong can be a costly mistake!!
With this in mind only a few parts that fit together are ordered at one time to ensure all is good with the fit. If there are multiples of a part only one is ordered.
With this in mind only a few parts that fit together are ordered at one time to ensure all is good with the fit. If there are multiples of a part only one is ordered.
Not including the first stage engines there are currently 44 separate drawings, and a total part count of 112 pieces to complete the model
Not including the first stage engines there are currently 44 separate drawings, and a total part count of 112 pieces to complete the model
The heatshield and aft compartment
The heatshield and aft compartment
The heatshield and aft compartment assembled with the addition of locators and spacer for the central spine. The black coloured spacers and locators were printed with ABS.
The heatshield and aft compartment assembled with the addition of locators and spacer for the central spine. The black coloured spacers and locators were printed with ABS.
With the addition of an oxgen fuel tank, and then a couple of fins
With the addition of an oxgen fuel tank, and then a couple of fins
To complete the first phase the addition of a fuel tank and the spider beam fairing that caps off the first stage. Thankfully every thing fitted together perfectly
To complete the first phase the addition of a fuel tank and the spider beam fairing that caps off the first stage. Thankfully every thing fitted together perfectly
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