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Author
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Topic: Apollo Docking Probe full scale model
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space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 10-18-2018 12:19 PM
   
I have started a project to fabricate a full scale static model of the Apollo Docking Probe and docking ring. This project is for Stafford Air & Space Museum.Much of the model will be built from a digital model using 3D printing. Parts will be finished to replicate the shiny metal finish of the actual parts.  
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Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 10-18-2018 02:59 PM
Cool! Keep us posted. |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 10-18-2018 03:23 PM
Good stuff, John. One of my favorite pieces of Apollo equipment — very complex design and amazing machining/fabrication.As of January 2012 the Stafford Air & Space Museum had an Apollo probe assembly on display. The image I captured during my visit doesn't show any note to confirm, but I assume the probe was probably National Air and Space Museum property on loan. Did they have to return the original or is your project intended to supplement? |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 10-18-2018 03:39 PM
This probe and docking ring will be mounted on the nose of the Apollo CSM replica currently on display. I presume they will still keep the actual artifact. |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 01-08-2019 10:31 AM
Lots of progress on many parts, but this docking probe head sub-assembly is a good visual indication of how things are going. 
In all of my exhibit and reproduction work I have never felt more like I was handling an actual artifact than when working on this sub-assembly. |
SkyMan1958
Member Posts: 867
From: CA.
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 01-08-2019 07:05 PM
EXCELLENT looking item(s)!!! |
Tom Dahl
Member Posts: 33
From: MA, USA
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 01-09-2019 05:30 PM
Wow, that looks fabulous! Really nice job. |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 02-22-2019 06:44 AM
All of the Apollo docking probe crew handles and controls are blue. Here are three. And two more shiny parts.  |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 04-12-2019 06:18 AM
Here are most of the parts, ready for assembly. |
Tom Dahl
Member Posts: 33
From: MA, USA
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 04-12-2019 06:58 PM
Golly, that looks good. I can just imagine the huge effort to get this far - nice! |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 04-26-2019 08:09 AM
Here is the completed Apollo Docking Probe model. 
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dsenechal
Member Posts: 539
From:
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 04-26-2019 08:44 AM
Absolutely amazing, John!!! |
mf451
Member Posts: 61
From: NY, NY
Registered: Nov 2014
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posted 04-26-2019 09:33 AM
Wow, this is very impressive! Would you mind sharing how you create the realistic metal finish? It looks amazing! |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 04-26-2019 10:15 AM
Stunning! |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 04-26-2019 11:36 AM
Incredible!!!! |
mode1charlie
Member Posts: 1169
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 04-26-2019 12:27 PM
Very impressive!
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42982
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 04-26-2019 12:37 PM
This is more than a work of art; it's a work of engineering! Fantastic! |
Jurg Bolli
Member Posts: 977
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 04-26-2019 02:02 PM
Congratulations, this is great! |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 04-26-2019 02:14 PM
Wow! |
Kite
Member Posts: 831
From: Northampton UK
Registered: Nov 2009
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posted 04-26-2019 03:38 PM
Brilliant. |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1255
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 04-26-2019 04:18 PM
Amazing. |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 04-27-2019 05:46 AM
Thanks for all the compliments. I do a double take every time I see it.Regarding finishing technique, I will say it was a paint process. But I would prefer not to go into details. |
oly
Member Posts: 905
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 04-27-2019 07:22 AM
I think that this is some amazing work, and worthy of all the compliments so far. Your work helps keep alive some of the amazing details from a milestone event of engineering and aerospace history. |
Steve DeGaetano
Member Posts: 19
From: Wake Forest, NC , USA
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 04-28-2019 01:37 PM
Amazing work! So I've often had these questions, and maybe you guys can help me out: What was done with the docking probe once docked? Was it pulled back in to the CM and stowed someplace, so that the "tunnel" would be unobstructed? Is that what the handles are for? |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 04-28-2019 05:13 PM
The docking probe was designed to fold so that it could be removed from the tunnel. Once it and the mating funnel-shaped drogue attached to the lunar module were removed, the astronauts could move through the tunnel between the command module and the lunar module. Handles allowed the probe to be folded from either side. |
Steve DeGaetano
Member Posts: 19
From: Wake Forest, NC , USA
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 04-29-2019 10:34 AM
Thank you! Is your model also able to fold? |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 04-29-2019 11:17 AM
The parts can move slightly. Actually in this case the objective was to not allow them to move, so I did not make much of an effort to have moving parts. |
Steve DeGaetano
Member Posts: 19
From: Wake Forest, NC , USA
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 04-29-2019 12:18 PM
Thanks. Even so, I am still amazed at what you've re-created. I'm stunned by the look of the blue "anodizing." |
Norman.King
Member Posts: 375
From: Herne Bay, Kent, UK
Registered: Feb 2010
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posted 04-29-2019 12:38 PM
That is amazing. |
David Carey
Member Posts: 782
From:
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 04-29-2019 07:05 PM
I don't know how I missed this!Absolutely mind-blowing execution on form and finish. Just beautiful, and congratulations. |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 05-13-2019 04:56 AM
In addition to the Apollo Docking Probe, Stafford Air & Space Museum needed a docking ring. Here is the completed docking ring model. (In flight the docking ring would be covered by fiberglass insulation. But revealing the intricate machining of the aluminum ring is more interesting and educational.) The ring is about 36 inches (1 meter) in diameter.  Here are the docking probe and docking ring models joined together. The probe model weighs about 15 pounds, and the ring model about 20 pounds.  And finally a proud papa with the assembly installed on the Command Service Module mockup at the museum.  |
oly
Member Posts: 905
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
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posted 05-13-2019 05:45 AM
The detail evident within these images is astounding, you have a true gift. Well done.With skills like this, there may be a position available for you within the aerospace industry to make real docking systems. (Real as in ones that do not suit the model and toy forum.) |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-13-2019 08:01 AM
At the risk of repeating myself: STUNNING! |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 05-14-2019 07:03 AM
Thank you for the kind comments. It was a thrilling project. And the Stafford Air & Space Museum folks were wonderful. |
Larry McGlynn
Member Posts: 1255
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted 05-14-2019 08:26 PM
I will plan to see it in person this weekend at the museum.
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Charlie16
Member Posts: 494
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 05-15-2019 09:31 AM
John, amazing, job! |
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