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Author
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Topic: Apollo Launch Umbilical Tower scale model
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SpaceDust
Member Posts: 115
From: Louisville, Ky USA
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 08-28-2009 03:04 PM
  
Now that I am retired and have a lot of time on my hands, I would like to build a mobile launcher platform/launch umbilical tower for a Saturn V model. The problem that I have run across is finding the dimensions for the LUT. The basic overall dimensions are easy to find, but to find for each level, swing arms, crane, etc, I just can’t seem to find anywhere. Does anyone know of a link or source that can provide this kind of detail? |
apolloprojeckt
Member Posts: 1447
From: Arnhem, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 08-29-2009 07:03 AM
Maybe you can visit this site, there are complete kits and a lot of information. |
SpaceDust
Member Posts: 115
From: Louisville, Ky USA
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 08-29-2009 09:53 PM
Thanks for your reply. I’ve been watching the Launch Complex Models site for several years. There’s several things that bother me about the site such as, it hasn’t been updated in several years, there is not a photo of the finished product, and the big one is the price for a 1/96 scale model is to much for my wallet. Thanks anyway. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 08-30-2009 02:29 AM
There is a full paper model of the LUT that has popped up on eBay from time to time in I believe both 1/96 and 1/144 scales. From the images of it I've seen it looks pretty good and might make a good resource for doing a scratchbuilt tower.And Spacedust, if you do finish one, you'll need to bring it to Wonderfest.  |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 08-30-2009 12:51 PM
Using the paper models as a guide is a great idea. I used some for rough sizing some cabin interior details in my 1/24 scale Gemini capsule. They're not precise, but then again, most scale models have some degree of error in them, too. |
mikej
Member Posts: 481
From: Germantown, WI USA
Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 08-30-2009 02:21 PM
This website has a bunch of hi-res scans of engineering drawings of the LUT, although it looks like he's exceeded his monthly transfer limit or something -- after I clicked on a few images, I started getting error messages, and now the site itself doesn't load.Presumably, the transfer allowance will be reset at the beginning of the month... |
SpaceDust
Member Posts: 115
From: Louisville, Ky USA
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 08-30-2009 09:09 PM
Thanks Mike. I was looking at this site the other day and the same thing happened to me. Seems like after a day you can go back and things are fine until after a few views of the images and then it errors out again. |
divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 07-02-2012 03:58 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Jay Chladek:
There is a full paper model of the LUT that has popped up on eBay from time to time in I believe both 1/96 and 1/144 scales.
I bought one of these a couple of years ago to put on my to-do list. Here I am a few years later and finally pulled it out of the drawer to build for my scratch built Saturn V that is now 10 years old [I'm very good at procrastinating].
Well, I know my modeling skills are rusty and the arthritis in my hands doesn't help any nowadays, but this paper LUT is HARD to build! It's very nice. VERY nice. But this is going to take some serious investment of timeAnd, yes, they're still available on eBay in various scales. |
arjuna
unregistered
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posted 07-02-2012 04:37 PM
My apologies if I sound like a broken record, but 3D printing is going to make these sorts of things much more accessible (and higher quality compared to a paper model) as the cost of 3D printing continues to drop. Unfortunately I have no background in CAD so don't look to me, but to whomever eventually puts a bit of time investment into such a project I suspect they'll have a lot of takers. Count me in. |
divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 07-02-2012 06:12 PM
What's the most interesting is that ever since LC-39 was proposed, there hasn't been an accurate scale model of it available to the masses - so it's not an easy piece of hardware to build. And, in turn, getting it to support an already exisiting plastic, resin or cardboard model. But this one is quite impressive. I figured it would be a piece of cake to build. Wrong. It's going to be a nice challenge.
I don't know if Ross ever produced [or sold] one complete LC-39 in 1/144 scale, but I think his price was close to $1000.00 before he packed it in. At well under $100, this is a good looking model as well as a nice challenge. [I just have to brush up on my origami skills] |
divemaster
Member Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002
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posted 07-04-2012 10:22 PM
I have to admit, these arthritic hands of mine are meeting their match with a PAPER LUT. I'm sure it will get a bit easier, but having to back a lot of it with cardboard for added strength and getting the folds just right with shaky hands can be frustrating. I never thought I'd meet my match with PAPER. I always thought the resin would do me in. At least paper is easy to fix when you mess up.My hat is still off to Ross for trying to construct this kit out of mostly photo etched brass. I have no idea how it could have been done with glue supporting all of that weight. That would have been some kit if he ever pulled it off. Which goes to show you how complex the Apollo LUT really was. I guess working with steel is a lot easier for a project like that. |
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