The Grumman 619 in orbit, deploying a satellite. Here you can see the humped cargo bay doors. Not visible here are turbojets in the cargo bay; they were left out of this particular mission. The orbiter would thus have to land as a pure glider.
An illustration of Grumman’s 619 Space Shuttle – the final competitor for the competition that North American Rockwell won – lifting off. This design from 1972 was laid out pretty much as the final Space Transportation System was, but with some notable differences:
1) Stabilizing fins on the external tank
2) A “humped” back
3) four turbojet engines could be stored in the rear of the cargo bay, used for landing range extension, go-around capability and self-ferrying
4) Smaller OMS pods
5) Separate reaction control pods on the wingtips
One pre-Shuttle idea for a space logistics vehicle was the “Big Gemini.” This would have used portions of the Gemini re-entry capsule as the nucleus around which a much large conical capsule would be built. The adapter section would be done away with and replaced with a conical section (with a geometry matching and extending the Gemini capsules) to house a variable number of passengers. A large number of “Big G” configurations were put forward; generally these were to be launched atop the Saturn Ib, but Saturn V and Titan IIIc options were also studied.
I’ve made many test runs and made considerable progress. I’ve also run out of supplies and need to improve the mechanical infrastructure. so I’ve decided to sell the “prototypes” I’ve made. These are indeed prototypes, and more to the point they are prototypes of art, so they are imperfect and variable… but they’re nevertheless pretty spiffy. These are actual cyanotype blueprints on actual vellum, an they not only look right (based on the vintage blueprints I’ve actually gotten my mitts on), they *feel* right. The failure rate is pretty high compare to the watercolor paper, but the results are much more authentic.
I currently only have a few of each. If you would like one or more of the following, send an email stating which ones to: 
On a first come first served basis I’ll pass along a paypal invoice. Postage (tubes) will be $6 US, $12 everywhere else for any number.
I will update this post with revised availability numbers. When more supplies and improved infrastructure is on hand I’ll make new prints for those that requested them.
Here’s what I have (the 12X18’s were mae two at a time on 18X24 sheets an will be sliced apart):
Convair super Hustler~20X36; $70. On hand: 2 1 0
Saturn V, 1/72: messed up by being a mirror-image. D’oh. Would look good at a distance. This mirror image is $35; the final product will be $75. on hand: 1
Saturn Ib, 1/72: $40 On hand: 1
A-4 (V-2) layout drawing, 18X24 inches: $40. On hand: 4 3
A
A-4 (V-2) rocket engine, 18X24 inches. $40. On hand: 1
ICARUS, 12×18; $20. On hand: 1
Super NEXUS,12×18; $20. On hand: 0
A-4 (V-2) engine,12×18; $20. On hand: 1
A-4 (V-2) layout,12×18; $20. On hand: 1 0
10-meter Orion, 12×18; $20. On hand: 1
NERVA diagram, 12×18; $20. On hand: 1
Mercury prelaunch configuration, 12×18; $20. On hand: 2
Fat Man atom bomb, 12×18; $20. On hand: 2
Wasserfall layout, 12×18; $20. On hand: 0
Nuclear Light Bulb, 12×18; $20. On hand: 0
Mercury inboard views,12×18; $20. On hand: 1
Mercury capsule instruments, 12×18; $20. On hand: 0
Pioneer plaque, 12×18; $20. On hand: 2
Gemini capsule, 12×18; $20. On hand: 5
NERVA art, 12×18; $20. On hand: 0
4,000 ton Orion propulsion module, 12×18; $20. On hand: 1
XNJ-1 nuclear turbojet, 12×18; $20. On hand: 3
X-15A-3 delta-wing, 12×18; $20. On hand: 3 2 1
Gemini (see above)
F-1 engine components, 12×18; $20. On hand: 3
Republic ASP exterior, 12×18; $20. On hand: 0
Republic ASP interior, 12×18; $20. On hand: 0
A collection of designs produced for alternate space shuttle configurations. This was the last gasp for configurations substantially different from what actually got built…. the second design from the far right became the baseline layout. But even with a recognizable orbiter and external tank, considerable variation was possible in overall launch vehicle layout. Not shown is a flyback booster option.
An illustration from Goodyear, circa 1960, showing the evolution of the “METEOR” launch vehicle and space station systems. Note that it goes back to at least 1949, and perhaps earlier. See also Space Doc 55.
A NASA illustration from 1988 depicting a Shuttle C launch vehicle in flight.
Shazam…
A 1959 Bell Aerospace design for a Tri Service (Army, Marines, USAF) VTOL troop transport using vectorable ducted fans. This obviously led to the X-22 design. The fuselage was much like that of transport helicopters like the Chinook, boxy and unaerodynamic, but the propulsion system would provide considerably higher forward velocity.
A chart of Bell VTOL designs is HERE.
A craptacular cell phone photo showing the vellum cyanotype blueprint of the NERVA rocket engine processing in direct sunlight, with an industry standard feline scale reference.
I do need to produce some better photos to show the results. It’s really quite good.