Revell 1/144 Apollo Saturn V Rocket with Paper LUT & Crawler

All the swing arms and gantries are installed. Cameras are next.

Cheers

It took awhile, but I was able to finish the swing arms on Friday and the swing arm gantries today.

Cheers

I'm trying to build one swing arm per day.

Swing arms 1 thru 4 are complete. Lots of cutting with a razor blade.

Cheers

Very nice work!

The tower is complete with piping and supports. Now it's on to the swingarms

Cheers

Diagonal Braces are complete

Tried to take a picture looking up from the ground.  This should look better when everything is complete

Cheers

kenjitak

Wonderful work, as always. What kind of glue are you using for the paper work? What are you using to apply the glue for all those repeated assemblies?

 

 

Thanks.....I'm using different glues for different applications.  For the rolled parts, I've been using a glue stick.  To attach the tubes, I use CA.  I've also used contact cement, and white glue.

Cheers

Wonderful work, as always. What kind of glue are you using for the paper work? What are you using to apply the glue for all those repeated assemblies?

It's been a few months since I worked on this, so lets get back to work.

I started adding the diagonal braces. Over 220 strips rolled onto a brass tube then removed, cut to length, touched up with a red sharpie and applied to the LUT.

This is a portion of the braces before cutting out

This is one brace ready to roll and glue

This is a portion of the tubes ready to trim to length and install

This is what I have done so far.

Cheers

Time flies when you're having fun.  I'm finally back to work on this.  Started rolling the 220 diagonal braces for each level.  I'll post pictures tonight after they are installed.

Cheers

Rob,

I hope your recovery is going well. My almost four-year-old son (his birthday is 11/19) and I have been working on the Revell 1/144 Apollo rocket since this summer. Naturally,  I'm not putting as much time into the kit's finish as I would working on it by myself, but it's still coming out better than I expected. John has done a lot of the work gluing parts together and has also done some of the painting.

Thanks for the tip on the Space Model Systems decals. I'm going to order some today.

I'll probably post photos in another thread once we're done.

In the meantime, I look forward to seeing more of your work when you're able to get back to the bench.

Regards,

slingshot392 wrote:

This is really looking great! I have this model and after reading this thread, I also ordered the replacement decals.  The launching platform looks great as well.  Is it very hard to put together?  I haven't put together a paper model yet although I have bought a couple and have some nice free ones as well to do some time.

Thanks Slingshot......I haven't been able to work on this since my surgery and the 8 week recovery.  I'm not supposed to lift my hands above my shoulders and the LUT stands almost 6 1/2 feet high while it's sitting on my bench, so I've put it aside for now.  It's not that hard to build.  Just takes time and patience.

Thanks for looking

Kugai wrote:

That tower assembly ( and, of course, the rocket itself ) looks great!  I'm going to have to reconsider those paper kits.  I've kind of disregarded them up til now. A question about the SaturnV: was this the recent commemorative re-issue with Buzz Aldrin's picture and name tied in for the Apollo 11 anniversary?  My son was wanting one and I figured if that was the one with the decal issue then I would just order the correct ones at the same time as I get the kit. If that re-issue does have decal problems, maybe Buzz Aldrin should know about Revell's attitude when they goof this big on something with his name on it, especially since he flew in the original.

Hi Kugai,

     Thanks for the compliment.........Yes...The Saturn V was the Buzz Aldrin re-issue.  The decals were screwed up, unfortunately, I didn't realize it until after I applied them.  it took me 2 days to get them off.  I ordered a new set from http://www.spacemodelsystems.com/ and they worked great.  Good question about Buzz.....I wonder if he knows?

Cheers

That tower assembly ( and, of course, the rocket itself ) looks great!  I'm going to have to reconsider those paper kits.  I've kind of disregarded them up til now.

A question about the SaturnV: was this the recent commemorative re-issue with Buzz Aldrin's picture and name tied in for the Apollo 11 anniversary?  My son was wanting one and I figured if that was the one with the decal issue then I would just order the correct ones at the same time as I get the kit.

If that re-issue does have decal problems, maybe Buzz Aldrin should know about Revell's attitude when they goof this big on something with his name on it, especially since he flew in the original. 

Making some progress

Cheers

Rob,

You've done some very nice work! My son and I are building the Revell kit too. He's three years old, going on four in  November, so he helps me with gluing and some painting, but I'm doing a lot of the work. Neverthless, he has gotten a lot of hands on time with this model.

I'm glad to read that better decals are available. The black text just doesn't look right.

I'm anxious to see more of your work on the launch tower.

Regards,

Levels 1, 2, and 3 assembled to the vertical girders.  Things will straiten out when the girders are attached to the platform.

Cheers and have a Happy and Safe Labor Day

mallagoodee wrote:

Keep posting these pix!! Not having done anything in paper, give me an idea what you're using for supports. On each of the 18 levels are you wrapping the paper around a stronger core of something, or is the 'paper' quite thick, more like cardboard. And all the little details, are they just folded and glued paper? This is the first in-progress build I've seen of the LUT so keep 'em coming. And it looks like you're doing a superb job on it!! Pete

Thanks Pete,

     The paper is a 60 lb test according to the web site.  It's fairly strong and should do the job.  The platforms are just folded and glued paper.   It's amazing how strong a section gets when you bend a flange 90 degrees.  The launch platform has 1/4" think foam board built up for the structure.  I forgot to take pictures of this before I closed it up.  sorry..  For the back bone of the tower, I used a piece of poplar cut to the exact size, then wrapped the cardboard around it using spray contact cement.  She should be strong enough.

Cheers

 AH HA! So this is where you've been hiding!

 Looks good buddy, also sounds like a bit of a chore! That's a lot of stuff.

Lancair IV wrote:

I wish I were building plastic or brass again.......

 The truely beautiful thing about this hobby is....you can!!!

 Don't forget...october 10, contest in Kalamazoo!!!

     FERMIS

It took me 3 days to cut out and glue together the structures that go on the platforms.  This thing is out of control.  I wish I were building plastic or brass again.......

Cheers

Hey guys.  It's been a while.  It took me several days to cut the platforms out and glue them together.  What am I doing?  There's 18 of them, each had 4 sides and a bottom to glue.  Not to mention the parts that will go onto each level.  Oh well.  Here's a few pictures.

The 18 platforms, cut and glued together

Close up detail of one platform

Underside of the platform.  Since it is not supplied, I had to print out a color copy from the manual and bond it to the underside of the platform using gold leaf adhesive.

Cheers

Rob -  Fantastic job The red decals really make a difference. I am also looking forward to seeing theSaturn V on the new platform...

Several years back I built an Estes Flying Saturn V. What a Great kit that was plus a challenge of skill. It turned out so nice I never could get the nerve to launch it. I kept it on display at a hobby shop I worked at untill some collector came in and offered an obscene price for it. Needless to say I thought about buying another to build after learning from the first one.

Right now I do have the Revell 1/96 in various stages of construction. There is Something magical about those rockets ( Saturn V , Mercury Redstone , Little Joe , ) for me from being a kid in that space era.

maffen wrote:

get a life,would you?

Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.....

Rob,

Looking good.  Been thinking about buying one of those and using it as a pattern for a plastic build.

Next time you decide to build a Sat V, make sure you get Real Space's Sat V conversion.  It replaces the kit's inaccurate SLA and CSM.  You did a bang up job.