1/72 Saturn V - a reboot of sorts

[johnlove_mk_II]

Took a little sabbatical from cutting plastic to rekindle my interest in R/C aircraft. There’s a lot of fun new technologies to play with and I’ve been having great fun flying and crashing stuff. Now I’m getting that itch again, and with the 47th anniversary of the moon landing having just recently passed, I started thinking of my 1/72 Saturn V project again.

A little history

I've actually been obsessing on a large Saturn V model since childhood when I first came a across a Revell 1/96 kit at one of the local hobby shops. It was a History Makers release, If I recall correctly it cost 65 bucks, which is far more than I could have ever afforded at the time.

Fast forward to the mid-nineties, I came across a reissue of the 1/96 kit on clearance at a Hobby Lobby for $25. Got it home and popped open the box to find that there where many detail issues … far too many for my retentiveness. I was planning on a almost complete rebuild using scratch built parts and the New Ware detail set, but that stalled and the project was shelved.

Now we’re back to 2013 … Dragon releases a 1/72 model of the Apollo Spacecraft from the UI to the LES. I started in on the idea of building a monster Saturn stack, with Plastruct tubes, Apogee F-1s and the like. Started in on the research and then Dragon releases the whole Saturn V kit … and it was kinda crap too.

Now, for the last year or so, I’ve been learning to model in 3D off and on. With that level of control, I can actually model something that will satiate my need for the model to at least have the correct stringer counts. I’ve decided to go for it once more, with a slightly different approach, a very expensive one that won’t require gluing on the 1,568 some-odd stringers.

The new plan

I’ve started to model each of the stages forward and aft skirts as single printed cylinders to then be attached to a appropriately sized bit of plastruct tubing. Then add other 3D and styrene bits and bobs for the other details. Right now I’m working to get the S-IVB skirts completed. The aft skit is proving to be a real pain, as the stringers are not evenly spaced around the circumference, but it’s getting there.

S-IVB forward skirt.

S-IVB aft skirt.

S-II forward skirt with interstage - still working on adding all the little details.

The whole thing, so far.

Another view.

I am also planning to add the thrust structures for the SII and S-IVB, that will incorporate Meatball Rocketry’s J-2s, as well as the IU and other forward skit doodads after I get the main exterior parts completed.

Maybe I can actually get this done before the 50th anniversary?

[crackerjazz]

Great progress, John -- looking forward to more updates!

[Hotdog]

So-o-o glad you are taking this on, John! I hope you will make these parts available on Shapeways. Your previous attempt at this inspired me to follow in your footsteps and purchase the Dragon Saturn V kit so that I may one day make a similar attempt at building a correct 1:72 stack. I'm way behind in the 3D department though, so I was following your laser-cut styrene approach by drawing up the stringer wraps in Illustrator. I got as far as buying all the Plastruct tubes, and I finished the wraps for the first stage before stopping.

What you have so far looks excellent! I'll be keeping up with this thread and watching your progress with much anticipation!

[johnlove_mk_II]

Thanks guys.

Moving on down the stack. Started on the basics for the SII aft skirt, Interstage and SIC forward skirt. These are just the test runs, I may have to rethink a few interface areas, but all in all I think it will work well.

Stackable parts.

Here’s the SII, as it would look with the Plastruct. I scaled up the 1/144 thrust structure model, just to get an idea.

Edited August 5, 2016 by johnlove_mk_II

[johnlove_mk_II]

Got started on the S-IC intertank area last night. It took a lot longer to get to this point than I thought it would, but I think it works well. I need to figure out how to attach to the tank areas and include the brackets that attach to the LOX and Fuel "Y-ring" assemblies.

These just might be the death of me.

[johnlove_mk_II]

Polygons upon polygons upon polygons ...

Detail of the brackets.

Edited August 9, 2016 by johnlove_mk_II

[Hotdog]

This is gonna be so amazing! Go go go!

[johnlove_mk_II]

A stark reality begins to settle in.

Here are the Shapeways costs per part … yikes.

• S-IVB forward skirt, FUD - $43.71
  
• S-IVB aft skirt, FUD - $39.23
  
• Interstage and S-II forward skirt, ADP - $190.72
  
• S-II aft / Interstage / S-IC forward, ADP - $503.19
  
• S-IC Intertank, ADP - $200.76
  
• S-IC aft, ADP - approximately $250-ish
  

That's $1,227.61, just for the cylinders! :wacko:

I may need to start shopping around, or wait until 3D printing become way less expensive. Surely at some point in the future I'll be able to print out a few hundred of these for like 50¢, right? ;)

[dylan]

yikes!! and I felt bad about spending $100 on decals and batted engines for mine. the CAD looks pretty awesome though, I cant wait to see how this all comes together.

Edited August 11, 2016 by dylan

[Hotdog]

I may need to start shopping around, or wait until 3D printing become way less expensive. Surely at some point in the future I'll be able to print out a few hundred of these for like 50¢, right? ;)/>

The future is now. You should be able to find a local printer who can do it cheaper. Here's a great site I found recently:

https://www.3dhubs.com/

[aircommando130]

I've got the 72nd prebuilt Saturn V in a detolf cabinet...it is very impressive to the unknowing eye. I have another 72 Saturn V unbuilt kit that I've ordered Shapeways BPC and escape tower along with the SLA . Have an order in to Martins-models for his Saturn update sets. My dad worked on LM-3, 4 and 5 and saw those Saturn's launch at the Cape. With the 50th anniversary of the moon landing coming up I want my 2nd one to look really good! My dad passed away coming up on 5 years ago but I want to build it to honor him and all those that were part of that great engineering feat.  

[Rocky]

I bookmarked your last thread over a year ago, and I review it from time to time.  I've wanted a 72nd scale Saturn V in the worst way, ever since I built the 96th scale Revell kit as a child in the '70s.  I got the Dragon Saturn V kit a year ago, and it is such a disappointment.  I then got expensive replacement batted F-1 engines, and 70th scale vacuform engine skirts.  That will correct the worst flaws, but it doesn't fix the rest of that ugly monster.  I am dreaming that someone will come out with a correction kit, but that would essentially be a whole new model.  So if some wizard here can come up with a way to turn this Dragon turd into an accurate Saturn V, he will be my hero for a long time.  I'm thinking that the second and third stage thrust structures should be written off, and just build something out of tubing and whatever, and put the Dragon Apollo spacecraft on top.  It won't come apart in stages like other kits, but maybe it could look right just standing there.  I could also buy one replacement J2 engine and scratch build the third stage, and put the Dragon Apollo kit on that, maybe simulating the first docking on the way to the Moon.  It would expose the LM and lots of neat Service Module parts that are hidden on the launch pad.  

[habu2]

I have a plan, whether I will ever get to it is another story.  :(

 

Dragon fudged many features in order to reduce mold costs. This resulted in the inaccurate tank and intertank vertical dimensions. They also just plain screwed up all (not most, but all) the external details on the booster.

 

A while back Squadron had the Saturn Skylab kit on sale, and I picked up two. My plan is to combine the kits to achieve the correct vertical dimensions, and to use 3D printed external details, especially the conduits, fairings and ullage rockets. Somewhere I have diagrammed out what parts to cut and combine for this kitbash.

[anj4de]

Wow...just acme across this threat! Your 3D design is top notch. I wonder how much the prices would come done if that all was 1/144? I have an Airfix kit stil downstairs (the newer one) that for sure could use some of those details...if not all of them.

 

thanks

Uwe

[spaceman]

Hi John,

what a fascinating 3D modeling,  awesome models.  

Keep it up!!! 

[johnlove_mk_II]

Been working on this a little more lately. Looking at the possibility of completing the model and having it constructed before the fiftieth moon landing anniversary next year.  (along with like three other projects. 😬) Currently I'm exploring ways to print the parts without having to spend a small fortune, so I decided to give the Shapeways Processed Versatile Plastic a try.

 

I printed the S-IVB forward skirt as a test and the results weren't particularly great. I wasn't too familiar with the material or processing involved, but the "processing" basically removed most of the surface detail. I'm thinking I can alter the parts slightly by enlarging stringers to preserve the edges and to print the skirt sections in regular Versatile Plastic and any surface details  with the fed/fud plastics.

 

Test print. Bad.

 

I did stack the test part with the Plastruct tubing and Dragon SLA/CSM/LES.  It looks impressive from a distance,  just not so much up close – so there is hope.

 

So close.

 

[johnlove_mk_II]

Started adding the external details to the S-IVB and the interstage. APS packages, tunnels,  and other assorted protuberances.  I'm currently working on the trust structure and finishing up the retro motors for the interstage.

 

If you're curious about the inside of the S-IVB to S-II interstage check this out.  (Google street view from Puerto Rico.)

 

 

 

Edited August 30, 2018 by johnlove_mk_II

[Wombat]

That really is some incredible work that you are doing there. Wow this is exactly what I'm think about for a new build. I just don't have the ability that you obviously have to do it for myself but this looks like it'll be the ultimate 1/72 scale Saturn V. I think what you are doing is fantastic! It will look stunning when you are done and hopefully you have been able to make some more progress on it since your last post. Beautiful work sir! 

[Violet Club]

Hi,

 

I really hope to see accurising parts for the Dragon 1/72 Saturn V at a reasonable price.  Shapeways parts are really too expensive, even for a space buff like me.

 

3D printed parts in resin (interstages and other small parts) would be a welcome addition as I don't think that another 1/72 Saturn V will be available in the future, so I keep my fingers crossed !

[Aussie-Pete]

This would be awesome in resin.
I have not done any printing in a while and the new Photon Mono has a print area big enough to handle stage 2 I would think. At least in sections.
 

[johnlove_mk_II]

It's been a while, eh?  

 

I'm happy to say that it looks like this project is back on. I just found a lightly used Elegoo Saturn 4K printer for a price that I couldn't pass up. Like Pete mentions above it has a similar build area of the Photon Mono (192x120mm) which means I can likely split larger sections up. It should arrive next week, so now is the time to reacquainted with Rhino 3D and also track down all the drawing files I have spread across three hard drives.

 

Wish me luck.

[spaceman]

Great to see you finding the way back John. 

 

I'll keep my fingers pressed. 

 

[johnlove_mk_II]

Got most of my drawings consolidated and sorted, thankfully it all seems to be there. It looks like I have most of of the main structure modeled so it might be just adding a ton of detail bits all over the place. I may need to optimize some of the parts because they were designed with production at Shapeways in mind.

 

The second-hand Elegoo Saturn arrived today.  It's in really nice shape and way bigger than I was expecting. Just ordered some fresh resin and FEP film to get ready for the first print attempts.  I'm sure there's a lot to learn with printing super-large parts, so I suspect a lot of trial and error and resin are in my future.

Here it is out of the box and setting next to my Photon S.  Quite a bit larger and way heavier – this thing is built like a tank.

[spaceman]

Wow, you're bringing out great guns ... 

[johnlove_mk_II]

Spent some time this weekend with Rhino and fell back into the groove pretty well – had a few cobwebs to dust out of the ol' brain.  Started by tackling the S-IVB thrust structure.  I had modeled this before in 1/144, and I could have tried to scale that up, but I decided to just start from scratch.  After a little bit of drawing I also decided to do my own version of the J-2s.  These little buggers are far more complex than you can imagine.  Still a ways to go, but here's where I stand right now.

 

The J-2.  There's so much more to add.

 

The beginnings of my S-IVB thrust structure and impingement curtain.