general melchett Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 Quote what I suspect is a lightning conductor to the top Quote It's not that, it's actually a shock body, designed to generate a conical shock wave around the outside of the tower assembly during high-supersonic and hypersonic flight so that the bluff shape of the escape motor doesn't generate its own very strong and irregular shock wave which would probably shake the tower to pieces, otherwise. Didn't the aerospike atop the tube house an attitude sensor as well Kevin. Your Battle box is upside down Martian....I'm surprised at you, kindly sort it out. 2 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 5 hours ago, general melchett said: Your Battle box is upside down Martian Sounds painful, though I imagine that an aliens battle box is his own concern. 👽 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinK Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 5 hours ago, general melchett said: Didn't the aerospike atop the tube house an attitude sensor as well Kevin. Not on Mercury. Apollo's Launch Escape System had a "Q-ball" at the tip of the tower to sense yaw & pitch but on Mercury the aerospike was just an aerospike. The Redstone and the Atlas as ballistic missile derivatives both flew on pre-programmed trajectories and so had no need for the spacecraft to provide air-data input to their flight control systems. Saturn was different and much more sophisticated: it used gust alleviation techniques to reduce structural loads on the vehicle as it flew, allowing it to "give" and then rejoin its desired trajectory. The primary function of an aerospike is to reduce supersonic wave drag: it allows fairly bluff bodies to behave as if they were more streamlined as far as the airflow is concerned. This was useful to gain range on the Trident SLBM: if you look at video of a Trident launch, you can see an aerospike deploy as it breaks water. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share Posted January 11, 2021 12 hours ago, Pete in Lincs said: Sounds painful, though I imagine that an aliens battle box is his own concern. 👽 And you thought Melchie's battle pants were scary! Martian 👽 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 An interesting build Martian, almost the sort of thing I could cope with. Many thanks to @KevinK for making every day a school day, having inspected the V2 in the science museum in London AND read the info with it, I can understand what you're saying, something I had no idea was transferred to later rockets. Steve. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 Launch Escape Towers are not needed once the capsule has been boosted to a sufficiently high altitude so that it can separate from the booster rocket and deploy the parachutes without the need of gaining any further altitude. It varies from rocket to rocket but it usually happens around the two minute mark after launch. When we had the Soyuz abort just over two years ago, ironically, the problem that caused the abort (a bad jettison of one of the strap on boosters), the escape tower had just been jettisoned. However, Soyuz has a secondary escape system built into the aerodynamic fairing that surrounds the capsule during launch - and it was this system that was used to make sure the spacecraft was pulled away from the wayward booster. 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
general melchett Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 Quote And you thought Melchie's battle pants were scary! They are......always on standby, fully armed and ready for immediate deployment to the front (or rear, depending on the prevailing wind). 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob998 Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 (edited) and a Mercury test, but not as clear unfortunately. Edited January 11, 2021 by Rob998 5 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 It's impressive stuff. It's been said that the Saturn V is probably mankinds greatest machine. It gets my vote. Though I've yet to see what @Martian uses as a cosmic getabout. (Sarah Jane notwithstanding). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 1 hour ago, Pete in Lincs said: It's impressive stuff. It's been said that the Saturn V is probably mankinds greatest machine. It gets my vote. Though I've yet to see what @Martian uses as a cosmic getabout. (Sarah Jane notwithstanding). My choice of space travel is a classic Haunebu ll. Martian 👽 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob998 Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 3 hours ago, Martian said: My choice of space travel is a classic Haunebu ll. Martian 👽 Is that the one with the 1950’s Cadillac style fins? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 1 hour ago, Rob998 said: Is that the one with the 1950’s Cadillac style fins? No standard circular job circa 1946. I might put a build up on BM. Martian 👽 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 I decided that an A4/V2 rocket would be appropriate to my space programme builds so I ordered one of the Revell/Special Armour kits and started knocking it together today. Things were progressing well until two critical parts of the launch stand were swallowed by the Carpet Monster. This time he was caught in the act and the parts were seen disappearing between the floor boards. High on the to do list now is to take some silicone seam filler and close off every gap between the floor boards in the Martian Cave. Fortunately, I had some launch stand parts left over from the Mercury Redstone build and with the assistance of some Albion Alloys slide fit tubing and the Cutter from the same firm, parts from the two kits were persuaded to mate up to form the basis of a replacement stand. I note from the pictures that I forgot to make one of the struts for the launcher. This will be corrected before bedtime. Somewhere in the stash I have the Aircraft in Miniature kit of Goddard's rocket and if I can locate it, it may well join the Martian Space Programme. Thanks for looking Martian 👽 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob998 Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 30 minutes ago, Martian said: No standard circular job circa 1946. I might put a build up on BM. Martian 👽 Shame, I was hoping that an advanced entity such as yourself would go for a more stylish vibe... 1 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBaron Posted January 12, 2021 Share Posted January 12, 2021 Mercurial machinations majestic Martian. As good a rocket series as this is unmissable and delighted to see you at work once more dear fellow. Have been collecting Gemini manuals myself of late to research CADding up a version for Collins/Young on Gemini IX. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 13, 2021 Author Share Posted January 13, 2021 14 hours ago, TheBaron said: Mercurial machinations majestic Martian. As good a rocket series as this is unmissable and delighted to see you at work once more dear fellow. Have been collecting Gemini manuals myself of late to research CADding up a version for Collins/Young on Gemini IX. Thanks Tony, Its a shame there is not a kit that I am aware of for a 1/72 Titan rocket that I could sit a Dragon Gemini atop. Martian 👽 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 Not sure if its still available Martian but heres a link for a resin kit http://www.realspacemodels.com/shop-galapagos/172-gemini-titan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 13, 2021 Author Share Posted January 13, 2021 6 minutes ago, LorenSharp said: Not sure if its still available Martian but heres a link for a resin kit http://www.realspacemodels.com/shop-galapagos/172-gemini-titan Thanks Loren, I checked it out but the postage far exceeds the cost of the kit which makes it a no go for me. Why have US postal charges gone through the roof in recent years? It must be killing trade and I know for a fact that one well known supplier has been struggling as a result. Martian 👽 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LorenSharp Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 Just now, Martian said: Thanks Loren, I checked it out but the postage far exceeds the cost of the kit which makes it a no go for me. Why have US postal charges gone through the roof in recent years? It must be killing trade and I know for a fact that one well known supplier has been struggling as a result. Martian 👽 That you would have to look to our Wonderful Capitol 100 klicks to my East. The USPS is part Govt. dept. , part has to show profit because they're sorta almost a private company but not really.( Don't ask) INc ountry rates aren't so bad Letters etc, but shipping packages especially overseas is expensive. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 1 hour ago, LorenSharp said: but shipping packages especially overseas is expensive. I've found some great bargains from the States on the bay, But. A model costing eight pounds, can cost three times that to ship. So it's a no go. Perhaps if we found someone who could fly them over here, possibly via low Earth orbit......? @Rob998 Love that tinplate Saucer. Nice A4/V2 and platform, Your Alienship. Erm, Floorboards? Not anti radiation Durillium plating then? And, Floorboards with a Carpet Monster??? 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinK Posted January 13, 2021 Share Posted January 13, 2021 9 hours ago, Martian said: Its a shame there is not a kit that I am aware of for a 1/72 Titan rocket that I could sit a Dragon Gemini atop. There isn't a 1/72nd one I'm aware of but there is a 1/73rd scale Titan II - don't laugh, but the Estes flying model kit of the Gemini-Titan II does actually fit the Dragon kit! It's not much more than a cardboard tube with plastic display engines, but if you replace the (not bad, actually) blow-moulded Gemini, it can make a good basis for display. It comes with basic decals for the Titan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philp Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 I'm waiting for Horizon to do one. I do have their Titan missile kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 Calling all cars! On the bay today, cut off time 18:24. Revell 1/24th Gemini capsule. Slightly part started. There is a queue already. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REVELL-AUTHENTIC-KITS-GEMINI-SPACE-CAPSULE-1-24-SCALE-H-1835/164635184084?hash=item2655058bd4:g:oKYAAOSwvlBf-fRf Not everyones'cuppa joe, and probably a bit crude, but if you really need one.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted January 14, 2021 Author Share Posted January 14, 2021 5 hours ago, Pete in Lincs said: Calling all cars! On the bay today, cut off time 18:24. Revell 1/24th Gemini capsule. Slightly part started. There is a queue already. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REVELL-AUTHENTIC-KITS-GEMINI-SPACE-CAPSULE-1-24-SCALE-H-1835/164635184084?hash=item2655058bd4:g:oKYAAOSwvlBf-fRf Not everyones'cuppa joe, and probably a bit crude, but if you really need one.... By a strange coincidence a mint kit is on its way to Cape Martian as we speak. Martian 👽 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 There are more things in heaven and earth.... That's yer actual classics that is. Is a Hamlet a small pig? 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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