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T O P I C R E V I E WRetro RocketI've built a few of these full scale Sputnik models over the years, the one that's in the Armstrong Museum in Ohio is mine. I had a set of left over antennae parts so I went ahead and had some hemispheres spun and polished. I hope to finish it next week.I can't seem to find a definitive replica, all the ones from Russia vary in design. The hardest thing to replicate is the front antennae mounts which come through the outer hemi. Most replicas have the front mount attached to the outer hemi which is easier to build but still wrong.It's my goal for the next one to have this look although mine might be as simple as a deep grove/panel line. Retro RocketI forgot to add... The best part about this model, I'm not building anything, I have everything built. Assembly is drilling about 30 or so holes then screwing it together!Jurg BolliVery nicely done!moonguyronThat is fantastic. I had no idea all these years that it was so large. RonpurNice! I would love to have that vehicle parked in my driveway! lolNorman.KingThats way cool.AussiePeteLook great mounted over the rook apolloprojecktGreat that size!! Retro RocketFinished! It was a close call... when I showed up to help finish the model I saw the antennae mounts had been mounted backwards! Ooops. It looked correct at first but then I realized what happened and it was almost a disaster, the mounts were epoxied in place. Fortunately a trip to the oven melted the epoxy and we corrected the mistake.I'm pretty happy with this one, in my opinion it's better than the one's I've built before because it has a few more details, the main one is the part line in the rear hemi which is where the real one would have it's part line. Some models have a raised bead where this is but I'm not sure that would be accurate, just like the raised pads under the front mounts. Those aren't accurate but most replicas use them because doing them flush will require a lot more work. Maybe the next one...AussiePeteLooks great. Can you tell me how long the antennae were? I found a Christmas bauble that is 58mm 1/10th scale. So thought I'd make a small one.Retro RocketThe antennae are about 10' long. If you need the exact measurement just email me. It depends on where you start the measurement...Here's a pic of the final sitting outside the shop. What you can see in the background is significant. There's a 1/50th Full Stack that is a really nice model and is available for really fair price. It has lots of 3d printed parts and is mounted on a stand that allows multiple orientations. There's an "assembly line" of five of these in production. If I had the space I'd get one for myself. We discussed doing opening payload doors and that will probably be available down the line. His place is loaded with huge models, it's fantastic! I've been really impressed how good each one has become like the XB-70, YB-49, and B-2, and that's just half of what's being built.Retro RocketWe just delivered and set up the full scale Sputnik 1 built for a pretty cool fella, a pretty well known nuclear physicist, he actually worked on the bomb! He has the perfect place for the model, his library that has a tall roof. Even with that the full antennae were not attached but it still looks fantastic. This replica is the first to have a detail it's always needed but was hard to replicate. It's where the rear hemi is split. We also used 3D printed steel parts for the front mount which gave it a very subtle bronze tint that makes it look vintage.The replica we built and sold before this was resold through RR auctions for MORE than what was originally paid! Sooo, with the 60th anniversary next year we're going to build three more. One for me, one for my associate — he plans on pole mounting it outside his house like a huge weather-vane! — and one for sale. If you're interested in getting one now would be a good time, my arthritis isn't getting any better and I don't know how long I'll be doing these...
I can't seem to find a definitive replica, all the ones from Russia vary in design. The hardest thing to replicate is the front antennae mounts which come through the outer hemi. Most replicas have the front mount attached to the outer hemi which is easier to build but still wrong.
It's my goal for the next one to have this look although mine might be as simple as a deep grove/panel line.
I'm pretty happy with this one, in my opinion it's better than the one's I've built before because it has a few more details, the main one is the part line in the rear hemi which is where the real one would have it's part line. Some models have a raised bead where this is but I'm not sure that would be accurate, just like the raised pads under the front mounts. Those aren't accurate but most replicas use them because doing them flush will require a lot more work. Maybe the next one...
Here's a pic of the final sitting outside the shop. What you can see in the background is significant. There's a 1/50th Full Stack that is a really nice model and is available for really fair price. It has lots of 3d printed parts and is mounted on a stand that allows multiple orientations.
There's an "assembly line" of five of these in production. If I had the space I'd get one for myself. We discussed doing opening payload doors and that will probably be available down the line. His place is loaded with huge models, it's fantastic! I've been really impressed how good each one has become like the XB-70, YB-49, and B-2, and that's just half of what's being built.
This replica is the first to have a detail it's always needed but was hard to replicate. It's where the rear hemi is split. We also used 3D printed steel parts for the front mount which gave it a very subtle bronze tint that makes it look vintage.
The replica we built and sold before this was resold through RR auctions for MORE than what was originally paid! Sooo, with the 60th anniversary next year we're going to build three more. One for me, one for my associate — he plans on pole mounting it outside his house like a huge weather-vane! — and one for sale. If you're interested in getting one now would be a good time, my arthritis isn't getting any better and I don't know how long I'll be doing these...
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