Non-Flying Saturn V Completed

Hi, All,
As you might have guessed, the Protostar project has been on hold for awhile in favor of putting together the LEGO version of the Saturn V.

OK... it is a model... and it is a rocket.

 

I must say, I am extremely pleased at how this set turned out and how detailed it is, given that construction is done with mostly standard LEGO elements.  There are very few kit-specific parts to this model.

What really impressed me was the level of ingenious building techniques used in the internal structure for attaching the outer skin and detailing.

It's also very nice that the lettering on the model is printed directly on the parts, and not done with stickers as with many other LEGO sets.

All in all, the end product is a BIG, highly detailed, sturdy, and impressive model that looks good on any display shelf.  Each of the various stages of the rocket separate to show the engine nozzle details.

 

 

The set also comes with two small dioramas:  the Lunar Module and two astronaut micro-figures on the moon's surface, and the Command Module after ocean splashdown.

 

I would highly recommend this set to anyone who has an interest in space exploration.  One does not have to be a dedicated LEGO fan either to enjoy this model.

In my opinion, LEGO hit a home-run with this one.

From here I can turn my attention back to the Protostar, and of course, purchasing the new Estes Saturn V kit to build and fly.

Cheers!

A Mash-up of Two Hobbies

This week I celebrate my 21st birthday - the third one in a row.

This past Saturday, family was over for the 'big birthday bash', and my youngest daughter and son-in-law presented me with this:

This kit satisfies two of my hobby passions - model rocketry and LEGO building .

 I will soon be purchasing the new Estes flying kit as well, so the two Saturn versions should make a nice pair of bookends on a display shelf.

While I'm on the subject of LEGO and model rocketry, I have to show off this rocket building cradle stand that I cobbled together this morning out of a handful of LEGO plates, bricks, and slopes.

During last week's flurry of workshop renovation, I accidently bumped into the partially built Protostar model that was residing on a narrow shelf -safely out of the way, so I thought.  The model was resting (balancing) on a woefully small wooden cradle made originally for BT-50 and smaller diameter rockets.

The Protostar took a 5 foot dive onto the cement floor of the shop.  Luckily only the tip of one fin was slightly dented from the impact, and presents an easy repair.

Not wanting to take the time to build a larger wooden cradle, I figured one built out of LEGO elements would work just fine.

Indeed, it does.  The cool part is that the length and height of this cradle can easily be altered to accommodate different sized models.

I suspect that this new cradle will remain a permanent fixture on the rocket-building bench.

Cheers!

The New BlastFromThePast Shop Is Finished!!!

Here it is...
the new, downsized, organized (kinda), and efficiently engineered workspace for model rocketry, hand tool woodworking, pyrography, electronics, small repairs, LEGO building, drafting, and whatever else comes to mind.

It's been a whirlwind of intense activity the last couple of weeks, but finally the cabinets, benches, electrical power, task lighting, bench mat, drill press, stereo system, and tool storage drawers are all finished and in place.

With a little additional organizational fine-tuning of the space inside the cabinets (actually, it's all in shambles at the moment), the space will be ready for me to get cracking on real, actual projects!

What a ride....