T O P I C R E V I E W |
Ronpur | In the documentary "Apollo 11," I noticed a model of the Apollo spacecraft in the docked configuration in Mission Control. It is attached to a wire support and a protractor like device. It appears to change orientation between scenes suggesting it was adjusted. It looks like an old Revell 1/96 scale model. Does anyone have any idea what this was, what it was used for?
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Ronpur | Even though it looks like no one has any info on this model in Mission Control, I have started building a replica. The spacecraft are finished, using a newly re-released Revell kit. I still need to build a base.
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Robert Pearlman | Nice job on the model so far! Concurrent to your own build, the Historic Mission Control restoration project was also seeking to do the same. The team put out the call to the Apollo flight controllers for details and learned that INCO Tom Hanchett had built the original. The team is currently busy with the opening (the first of two ribbon cutting ceremonies was tonight), so it may be another week or so before I can find out more, but I will post what they share when they do. |
MOL | And since we now know this was from the INCO console, it is likely that the purpose of this model was an aid for the INCO (position responsible for communications) to determine which S-band quad or omni antenna should be selected by the astronauts for communications to Earth based on the combined spacecraft attitude relative to Earth. |
Ronpur | Excellent information. I can't wait to learn more. |
MOL | Also, based on your photo above, I can now make out the label on the scale is marked āY-Pā for yaw and pitch. So again this points to the model being a reference for spacecraft attitude in support of antenna selection. |
MOL | I just was sent this very informative file (32mb) from Tom Hanchett detailing everything you want to know about the model. My suspicion is correct ā it was for Omni antenna selection.
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dsenechal | That's pretty cool! |
Ronpur | Fantastic! |
Ronpur | I made a bit more progress on my replica. I still need to add the degree markings. I still can not find an octagonal base of the correct proportions, so this will do for now. I am also curious about details on the actual model, such as marking for antenna locations.
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Ronpur | A view of the support: It is very easy to adjust the angle: |
apolloprojeckt | Very nice done!! |
Greggy_D | Well done! |
dsenechal | Great job!!
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Ronpur | I have found someone to cut me a correct shaped base. And like everything else I have collected for this project, it will come in a pair, so I will have parts to build two of these. |
Ronpur | The new base arrived today. This replica is done for me. The graph and other markings are still a bit of a guess until or if better photos turn up. I am very happy to have this now. And I can start a second one soon.
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MOL | So thrilled to see the model today in the MCC:
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Ronpur | Great to see it there! Tom posted this photo of him and his model on my Facebook page, Model Astronut. I was pretty thrilled! I see I have a few changes to make on the second one. I gifted my first model to my brother for his birthday last week. I plan to start my copy today. |