Apollo CM Capsule post-re-entry Paper Model

airdave

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2012
Messages
220
Just finished looking at tron1988's thread "Apollo 17 splashdown" https://www.scalemodeladdict.com/threads/apollo-17-splashdown.16644/
Very nicely done.

Reminded me I haven't shared a model I created a few years back.
Yes, as with most of my models, they are created to be retail kits...although trust me, there's virtually no money to be made.
I just barely fund my hobby, and that's good enough for me.

Anyway...I have a friend who designs "high end" paper models and kits for retail.
And one of his designs was a large scale Apollo CM Capsule with full interior.
It can be built in exploded view, so you can see whats between the walls of the spacecraft.
While the parts are coloured, everything has a monotone, unweathered, and not very realistic finish.
It screams for added touches...some builders applied real foil papers to various parts, to simulate metallic surfaces.

I had another idea.

I wanted to see a space flown capsule.
What the Columbia looked like after it completed its journey.
What it looked like after re-entry and splashdown.

I wasn't interested in the interior or the more complicated exploded build of the capsule,
my goal was to modify the outside of the model only.
I also wanted to repair/modify a number of details and parts on the model.
All respect to my friend Ken who designed an amazing model! but there were many visual inaccuracies that I wanted to address.

So I got permission to use the basic model and create my own version.
Not only did I readjust sizing of some panels, but I redesigned almost every external and surface attachment.
Including a completely new hatchway and outer door design.

Using a boatload of reference photos acquired from the Apollo archives, I redesigned the portholes and windows, the thrusters and more.
I created a whole new heat shield using actual photos of the space flown heatshield.

I also completely redesigned the crew egress tube and the upper compartments, chute storage and hardware, and thruster hardware.
I even created the floatation "up-right" buoys.

And everything is 100% paper (card stock). (except for some acetate windows)

This is the image I mocked up using the finished model (for the model kit cover):

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I looked at the pictures initially, then was well confused until I read.

....yeah...

This is seriously amazing stuff!
 
Thanks for the 'Likes'!
For those interested, here are a few "build progress" images.

As I said, everything is 65lb and 110lb cardstock.
I used some acetate for the porthole.
The other windows are printed layers covered with laminating clear film to add the "glassy" surface.

I did install a large foamcore disc into the heatshield assembly.
Attaching the heatshield to the bottom of the capsule is a very tricky job.
The rigid core help with that.
There is a rigid card disc at the top of the capsule assembly, and I installed another rigid card disc inside (near the bottom of the hatch door).

Many surface details are layered parts with cutouts to create 3D components,
like the lower thrusters.

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is that the foil tape?
I found some cool photos of the tape being installed.
I was trying to establish the pattern, but it seems it was applied pretty randomly and haphazard.

The tape underwent a pretty brutal time during re-entry.
Some capsules actually retained a lot of the foil on spashdown, and at least one was almost completely stripped.
 
Thanks for the 'Likes'!
For those interested, here are a few "build progress" images.

As I said, everything is 65lb and 110lb cardstock.
I used some acetate for the porthole.
The other windows are printed layers covered with laminating clear film to add the "glassy" surface.

I did install a large foamcore disc into the heatshield assembly.
Attaching the heatshield to the bottom of the capsule is a very tricky job.
The rigid core help with that.
There is a rigid card disc at the top of the capsule assembly, and I installed another rigid card disc inside (near the bottom of the hatch door).

Many surface details are layered parts with cutouts to create 3D components,
like the lower thrusters.

file

file

file

file

file

file

file

file

file

file
Thanks for the 'Likes'!
For those interested, here are a few "build progress" images.

As I said, everything is 65lb and 110lb cardstock.
I used some acetate for the porthole.
The other windows are printed layers covered with laminating clear film to add the "glassy" surface.

I did install a large foamcore disc into the heatshield assembly.
Attaching the heatshield to the bottom of the capsule is a very tricky job.
The rigid core help with that.
There is a rigid card disc at the top of the capsule assembly, and I installed another rigid card disc inside (near the bottom of the hatch door).

Many surface details are layered parts with cutouts to create 3D components,
like the lower thrusters.

file

file

file

file

file

file

file

file

file

file
You've done quite a phenomenal amazing and inspiring job.
Is your friend who designs these paper models,the one who goes by the name "SurfDuke" in the paper model world.
I ask because I have several files from that creator from years back, and the graphic style is spot on to this.
 
No.
The original Apollo CM kit was created by Ken West.
Ken West is the American version of Uhu02, only less paranoid. Only true paper modelers will understand this.
Ken has designed large scale and super detailed models of F84 Thunderbolt, XB-70 Valkyrie, B58 Hustler, X-15, SR-71, Apollo Astronaut figure(Moon suit) and the Moon itself!

The model you are looking at is my "graphic style" as you put it.
I know Surfduke quite well, he's a member at one of our paper forums.

Most digital model designers are using a vector or CAD based software, the "style" is common.
Surfduke is an architect and probably uses CAD software which is a form of vector based artwork.
I'm a life long graphic artist and I started using CorelDraw about 25 years ago.
Whether we use Inkscape, Gimp, Illustrator or CorelDraw, etc., it's all basic vector artwork... there's no individual style to that.
But in my case I add a lot of realistic and photo-realistic textures and fills to my model designs.

And I put in a lot of effort to research my subjects and find photographic evidence that I use when creating my artwork.
I'm very proud of how much I research my military stuff.
It was fun collecting a library of photos for the Apollo 11 capsule.
 
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