Dyna Soar to the Moon

 aircraft, models, projects, spacecraft  8 Responses »
Sep 162009
 

A 1960 Boeing concept (most likely part of SR-183, kinda shown HERE) for manned lunar landing spacecraft based on Dyna Soar aerodynamics.

Compared the the Saturn V/Apollo spacecraft, the booster seems massively undersized. The Dyna Soar-derived spaceplane would land on the lunar surface and take off again for the trip to Earth… and the Dyna Soar was not a lightly constructed vehicle. As shown, the top half of the entire launch vehicle is lunar landing payload.

My guess is that this model was not built to reflect a fully-fleshed-out detailed engineering design, but might have instead been a “sketch” of a general concept. Evidence of that viewpoint will be posted soon.

image12asda.jpg

 Posted by at 10:39 am

Nexus on a stand

 awesomeness, models, projects, spacecraft  3 Responses »
Sep 162009
 

A stand will be included with the Nexus model. This is a first stab at it… I think it’s too big, and I’ll simply scale it down.

nexstand.jpg

UPDATE:

The CG of the CAD model is shown below. The CG of the actual physical model *should* be pretty close to the same location.

nxcg.jpg

To display the model with maximum stability, the support rod should go through the CG. An example of that for an arbitrary angle is shown here:

nexstand2.jpg  nexstand3.jpg

The model can be made to look less “lopsided” by either putting the rod through some point offset from the CG, or loading weight in the nose, shifting the CG forward

 Posted by at 10:22 am

Nexus payload

 aircraft, awesomeness, models, news, projects, science fiction, spacecraft  No Responses »
Sep 132009
 

Work proceeds on the payload section for the 1/288 Nexus. It will have a simple geometry, based on an interplanetary mission payload drawn for Nexus; the second stage was likely a nuclear stage. But even though it’s a simple shape is no reason to leave it bland…

nex1.jpg

nex2.jpg

The current schedule of models to be CADded up currently stands as this:

1) 1/288 Nexus

2) 1/72 “X-15D”

3) 1/72 S:AAB Hammerhead

4) 1/288 ROMBUS/Ithacus

5) 1/72 or 1/48 Tremulis “Zero Fighter”

6) 1/72 Super Hustler

7) 1/144 Copper Canyon/NASP

8 ) 1/144 NASA “Trailblazer”

And down the road:

1/288 Saturn V

1/288 N-1

1/288 Ares I

1/288 Ares V

 Posted by at 2:29 pm

Nozzles

 aircraft, models, projects  2 Responses »
Sep 082009
 

Progress on the multitude of individual nozzles for the Avro Ace. It’s time consuming, but I shudder to imagine what it’d be if I did this by *hand.*

nozzles.jpg

Update: HA!

nozzles2.jpg

 Posted by at 5:14 pm

Avro Ace and Convair Nexus models

 aircraft, awesomeness, models, nukes, projects, spacecraft  1 Response »
Sep 072009
 

elow are rough cuts at the CAD models for two of Fantastic Plastic’s upcoming kits. The Avro Ace (AKA “Spade”) will be released in either 1/72 or 1/48 scale; the CAD model is shown in both scales. Quotes from a separate printing and casting company will determine which scale is produced. The landing gear as shown is quite crude, but adequate for preliminary quoting purposes. The Nexus model is shown with two payloads… a simplified Orion Battleship payload and a generic Mars mission payload. One or both may be included, again based on costs involved with printing and production.

spade11.jpg

spade2.jpgspadeparts.jpg

nexuscad1.jpg

nexuscad2.jpg

nexuscad3.jpg

nexusparts1.jpg

 Posted by at 6:45 pm

Project Y progress

 aircraft, awesomeness, models, new products, projects, spacecraft  No Responses »
Sep 062009
 

Just about there on the basic shapes. The spine has been narrowed and reduced in tail height; the vehicle itself has been made flatter. The cockpit is hollowed out, and the canopies are separated. The landing gear bays have been begun.

At this point, it’s still unknown whether this’ll be in 1/72 or 1/48 scale. After a few more tinkerings, the model will be scaled for both and sent to rapid prototyping firms for quotes. Based on that, Fantastic Plastic will make their decision as to scale.

spade1.jpg
Looking further down the line, the following models have been tentatively accepted:

1/288 Convair Nexus SSTO booster

1/288 Douglas ROMBUS SSTO booster

1/288 Douglas Ithacus troop transport (probably the same kit as the ROMBUS, with parts to build one or the other

The following kits have been confirmed:

1/72 or 1/48 Tremulis “Zero Fighter”

1/144 Convair NX-2 (this will be an old-school physical model, based on a kit I nearly put into production 5 years ago)

1/72 Convair Super Hustler

 Posted by at 11:51 am
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