Nescorna Rocketworks
Information on Saturn V and other
Space Program Models
US Apollo Era
Soviet, "Apollo Era"
Post-Apollo
Modeling Manned space vehicles: some consider it among the ultimate crafts in the model rocket hobby. Here's some information on various flyable semi-scale models available of the US and Soviet manned space program.
US Apollo Era
Saturn V
LUNAR, the Livermore Unit of the National Association of Rocketry, is planning a commemorative launch to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the flight of Apollo 11, scheduled for July 18, 2009 at our regular launch site at Ames Research Center located at Moffett field in Mountain View. Several LUNARians have asked about different Saturn V kits available. Below is a sample, with a summary table at the end.
I can also recommend John Duncan's Apollo Saturn Reference Page as an excellent source of detailed information on the Saturn V (and the Saturn IB), including such arcane information as the differences in the markings among the various launch vehicles (e.g., Apollo 8 vs. Apollo 15). An important thing to note, for those detail sticklers, is that many of the Saturn V models are based on the "Facilities Integration Vehicle," AS-500F, which has some noticeable differences from all the flight vehicles. See, for example, the site's Saturn V markings guide page, and the "Individual Vehicle Variations" section.
The three-stage Saturn V was 363 feet (111 meters) tall, 33 feet (10 meters) in diameter, and weighed 6.7 million pounds (3 million kg mass). The five F-1 engines in the first stage produced just over 34 million Newtons (7.6 million pounds) thrust.
- Quest has a Micro Maxx Saturn V, quite probably the very smallest of all the readily available kits. At 1:800 scale, it stands under ½ foot tall, and flies on ⅛A Micro Maxx motors. Quest sells the kit as a two-pack, with a 3½ inch long model of the Space Shuttle.
- Neubauer Rockets has among the smalllest of the flyable Saturn V kits. Theirs, at 1:396, is a little shy of 11" tall and flies on 13mm motors (they recommend an A10-3T). Information is available from this page on the Neubauer Web site.
- Dr. Zooch, home of the "ant-scale" kits, has small but (they claim) detail Saturn V that flies using an 18mm motor mount. It'll be a little iffy on an A8-3—possible, if you build it light, with RockSim predicting about 40 meters altitude. A B4-4 is predicted to yield about 100 meters. The model is about 18 inches tall, at approximately 1:250 scale. See the Saturn V kit Web page at Dr. Zooch's.
- Saturn Press (Peter Alway) has a kit that is (perhaps newly re-) available. It flies on one 18mm motor (they claim is that it'll even go on an A8-3 if you build light); the F-1 engine nozzles fly with the rocket "for correct profile in flight." The kit stands about two feet tall, 1:195 scale. Though I don't see anything on the Web specifically from Saturn Press, you can see what Uncle Mike's Rocket Shack has on the kit here. (Note: A special bulk purchase for LUNAR members, providing a 20% discount, will be placed the end of January with BMS for this kit.)
- Semroc's Web site lists a Saturn V kit, with "planned" availability. It is supposed to be 43 inches (94 cm) tall, about 1:120 scale, flying on a 4×18mm cluster (C motors) or one 24mm motor. I suppose if you're interested, you should stay tuned to Semroc's Saturn V kit Web page.
- The Estes Saturn V is among the classic flyable Saturn V kits. Many of us who flew model rockets in the 1960s and '70s lusted after this kit. It was offered originally to use a three-motor cluster of 18mm C motors, then reissued to use the then-new 24mm "Mighty D" motors. The kit flies much better on 3×C than on a D (50% more impulse); it flies very nicely on an E motor. There are frequently kits avalable on eBay; here's a search for the Estes Saturn V on eBay. This kit is 1:100 scale (and is the genesis of the BT-101 body tube); the model is about 3.6 feet tall.
- Apogee's Saturn V, available from Apogee Components, uses a G-class motor. The Apogee kit is 1:70 scale, and stands just over 5 feet tall.
- Sirius Rocketry has a 1:64 scale Saturn V, described at this page. It stands over 5½ feet (1.7 meters) tall, and flies on an I motor.
- Sheri's Hot Rockets sells a 1:48 scale Saturn V; see here. This one flies on 2×G motors in 29mm, or can use 38mm or 54mm motors, and stands about 7½ feet tall.
- Polecat Aerospace has perhaps the largest production flying scale model of the Saturn V. It's over 9½ feet tall, 10 inches in diameter, and 1:38 scale. The kit flies on five motors, as did the original, using a central 98mm mount surrounded by four 54mm mounts. The kit includes an electronics bay for more control over deployment (including dual deployment).
| Manufacturer | Size | Scale | Motor Mount | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quest | 5½ inches 14 cm |
1:800 | Micro Maxx | $5 (with Shuttle) |
| Neubauer | 10.7 inches 27 cm |
1:296 | 13mm | $15 |
| Dr. Zooch | 18 inches 45 cm |
1:250 | 18mm | $25 |
| Saturn Press | 22 inches 55 cm |
1:195 | 18mm | $50 |
| Estes | 3.6 feet 110 cm |
1:100 | 24mm (old: 3×18mm) |
out of production |
| Apogee | 5.2 feet 1.6 m |
1:70 | 29mm | $280 |
| Sirius | 5½ feet 1.7 m |
1:64 | 38mm | $360 |
| Sheri's | 7.6 feet 2.3 m |
1:48 | 2×29mm 38mm 54mm |
$450 |
| Polecat Aerospace | 9.6' 2.9 m |
1:38 | 98mm + 4×54mm | $800 |
Saturn IB
One could easily argue that the S-IB gave us the time to perfect the S-V. And who can forget the largest cluster in the US Manned Space Program, those 8 H-1 engines in the first stage?
The two-stage Saturn IB was 224 feet (68 meters) tall, 21.7 feet (6.6 meters) in diameter, and weighed 1.3 million pounds (590 thousand kg mass). The eight H-1 engines in the first stage produced just over 7.1 million Newtons (1.6 million pounds) of thrust.
- Neubauer has a 1:396 scale Saturn 1B (the same scale as their Saturn V, above); it stands just shy of 7 inches (about 17 cm) tall, and flies on 13mm motors (A10-3T recommended).
- Dr. Zooch really went after the S-IB, with three different kits (Saturn IB, Saturn IB Apollo 5, and Saturn IB AS-203), plus two Saturn I kits (Saturn I Block II and Saturn I SA-5). The kit stands 17 inches (43 cm) tall and a C motor "will make it really boogie." It appears to be a 1:160 scale. See Dr. Zooch's Dr. Zooch's rocket gallery for more on the other Saturn IB models.
- Estes had a Saturn IB kit; like their Saturn V, it's out of production, but can frequently be found on eBay.
- Semroc's Saturn 1B flies on a 4×18mm cluster (C motors) or a 24mm motor. The Semroc Web site doesn't show expected results from an E motor, but the 4×C configuration yields about 200 meters. It's a 1:72 scale model, just over 3 feet (just under a meter) tall. More information is available from Semroc's Semroc's Saturn 1B kit Web page.
| Manufacturer | Size | Scale | Motor Mount | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neubauer | 6.8 inches 17.3 cm |
1:396 | 13mm | $15 |
| Dr. Zooch | 17 inches 43 cm |
1:160 | 18mm | $25 |
| Estes | 38 inches 97 cm |
1:70 | 4×18mm | out of production |
| Semroc | 37 inches 94 cm |
1:70 | 4×18mm 24mm |
$60 |
Gemini, Mercury
Coming soon.
Soviet "Apollo Era" Models
Coming soon.
Post-Apollo
- Estes used to have a 1:162 scale model of the Space Shuttle, but the kit is now out of production. The orbiter glides down to a landing; the combination of the external tank and the solid rocket boosters return under canopy. Some of these kits are occasionally available in the aftermarket.
- Estes has a 1:15 scale model of Space Ship One; it stands just over two feet (66 cm) tall, with a wingspan just shy of 13 inches (33 cm), with a low-thrust E engine recommended. (Alas, the model doesn't glide down.)
More coming soon.