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Author
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Topic: Dragon Models' 1:72 Saturn V with Skylab model
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cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 10-31-2013 11:09 AM
   
Dragon has announced a 1:72 Saturn V with Skylab model kit. |
apolloprojeckt
Member Posts: 1447
From: Arnhem, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 10-31-2013 11:50 AM
That is very nice, but not the ready display version? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42982
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 10-31-2013 11:53 AM
At this time, it is only available as a model kit. |
garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 10-31-2013 12:33 PM
I hope they do come out with a ready made version too. Now if we have put together a 1/72 Saturn IB, we can have the complete series between the recently released Redstone, Atlas, Titan and the re-released shuttle stack. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 10-31-2013 01:32 PM
The Atlas and Titan were not released by Dragon. |
garyd2831
Member Posts: 640
From: Syracuse, New York, USA
Registered: Oct 2009
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posted 10-31-2013 02:05 PM
I know, but they are 1/72 scale. |
jjknap
Member Posts: 273
From: Bourbonnais, IL USA
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 10-31-2013 06:23 PM
What would be cool is if they would sell just the Skylab stage for those who have the existing model. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1211
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 10-31-2013 06:43 PM
And then the Skylab could be built with arrays and ATM deployed!Which I would not be surprised to see released. Dragon seams to design their molds for multiple uses. |
the clocks running
Member Posts: 382
From: Rochester, NY
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 10-31-2013 08:29 PM
Kudos to the gents that predicted the development and production of this variant of the Saturn V launch vehicle.I sincerely never thought that Dragon would build this kit. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42982
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-01-2013 12:16 AM
quote:
Originally posted by garyd2831:
I hope they do come out with a ready made version too.
My contact at Dragon tells me that a ready-to-display version is planned, though a release date has yet to be set.With regards to offering the Skylab stage as a standalone product for those who already own the 1:72 Saturn V, it's not an idea they were originally considering... but they are now.  |
bdipaolo
Member Posts: 89
From:
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 11-01-2013 09:49 AM
Why does it show a third stage with an engine instead of the main body of Skylab (converted 3rd stage)? Where are the side solar arrays (one of which broke off on launch)? Looks like they better do a little more research. What they have there now is just half of Skylab. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 11-01-2013 11:09 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
With regards to offering the Skylab stage as a standalone product...
Well, since they're planning ISS model(s) and that their catalog still shows a model of the MIR space station, they might as well come up with a Skylab model that could be fitted in their Saturn V model. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 11-03-2013 03:29 PM
quote:
Originally posted by bdipaolo:
What they have there now is just half of Skylab.
This is a launch configuration bird anyway. The only arrays we are seeing are the ATM "windmill" arrays up top. The side arrays were completely folded under two booms on the sides of the S-IV Orbital Work Shop section. It was ONE of those which was lost when the micrometeoroid shield came off. |
mode1charlie
Member Posts: 1169
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 11-03-2013 09:16 PM
So were the side arrays not visible from the outside?But unless I'm completely misunderstanding the vehicle configuration, they still need to lose the J-2 engine on the 3rd stage/OWS. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1211
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 11-04-2013 09:38 AM
The two booms were very visible on the outside of the workshop. I can't really tell what is in the images of this model. But the J-2 engine is very wrong. |
bdipaolo
Member Posts: 89
From:
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 11-07-2013 06:33 PM
That's what I meant, I don't see the side array booms. This will be worthless if they don't fix these issues. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42982
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-08-2013 09:51 AM
Okay, here's the opportunity: I can't promise that any changes will be made but there may be a window here for this community to help improve this product.Dragon has asked for more details as to what is/may be wrong with the model. It's not sufficient to just say "the side array booms" are missing, for example. You have to assume that the recipient won't know anything about the Saturn V or Skylab, so suggested changes should be described in detail, without relying on the understanding of hardware titles. It would be best if detailed, labeled drawings or photos could be provided. I'm going to pull together what I can, but those who want to offer their suggestions should e-mail their contributions to me by early next week. |
sev8n
Member Posts: 233
From: Dallas TX USA
Registered: Jul 2012
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posted 11-08-2013 04:15 PM
I don't see the point in providing a more accurate Skylab/S-IVB if they don't address the existing inaccuracies in the rest of the Saturn V.This pdf would be a good starting point. |
mode1charlie
Member Posts: 1169
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 11-08-2013 05:26 PM
I think Robert was requesting something a little more modest regarding the Skylab design specifically, not a major re-tooling of their existing product.
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GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 11-09-2013 04:39 AM
Direct them to Pascal and the pics he posted on the Saturn V thread where he converted one to Skylab. Not a major re-tooling would be needed to produce a Workshop version that matches the existing details. |
bdipaolo
Member Posts: 89
From:
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 11-13-2013 12:49 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
I'm going to pull together what I can, but those who want to offer their suggestions should e-mail their contributions to me by early next week.
Robert, I just emailed you a whole bunch of diagrams and photos. The serious errors are quite obvious. At a minimum they need to replace the J-2 engine with the radiator as shown and add the booms covering the solar wings on the side of the lab module. Even better if they could have actual fold-out solar panels under the booms. |
X-Plane Fan
Member Posts: 150
From: CA, USA
Registered: Jul 2007
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posted 03-29-2014 10:41 AM
Looks like the Skylab version has just been released. It's shown as in stock at Sprue Brothers and Squadron. |
Planetary
Member Posts: 24
From: Huntington Beach, CA, USA
Registered: May 2013
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posted 04-03-2014 12:34 AM
Has anyone actually seen this kit in shops yet here in the US? |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 04-03-2014 04:44 AM
Ordered one from Spruce Brothers, will let you all know what it is like when it gets here. |
Planetary
Member Posts: 24
From: Huntington Beach, CA, USA
Registered: May 2013
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posted 04-15-2014 05:41 PM
I picked up the newly released Dragon Saturn V Skylab kit today. Apparently it's going to be difficult to find as from what I was told, Dragon is doing a drastically smaller run than they did with the Apollo Saturn V kit (or finished model). Dragon's own website is apparently already out of stock.That said, even among Dragons many accuracy-flawed real space models, this one really stands head and shoulders above the rest as a really terrible kit. Probably the most immediate issue is the obnoxious fact that there is only *half* or one side of the Airlock/Docking Module and ATM is included — that is, you basically get the side that faces the clear half of the shroud. At first I thought my kit was actually missing the other half of the part but no, looking at the directions, this is how it's meant to be. The ATM and Docking/Airlock module are molded as a single nearly featureless (and very inaccurate) part with only a pair (not four) of square parts meant to represent the ATM's folded solar panels and one half of the support truss and one ATM outrigger part (instead of 4). There are no parts to depict the two stowed Solar Panels on either side of the Workshop and the aft end is indeed the same incredibly inaccurate SIVB Thrust Structure + *very* basic J2 engine parts as the Apollo Saturn V release and as seen in the digital illustrations that preceded the release of this kit. The featureless shroud is molded in two halves, one piece gray plastic, the other clear which has two odd oval "marks" cast in the top of the part which will be tough to sand off. Also, this kit doesn't include the additional ring (w/stringers) that I guess was supposed to be an additional Instrument Unit(?) that goes on top of the SIVB and under the shroud that the Apollo kit had. So basically, you're getting the same wildly inaccurate Dragon Saturn V kit as the Apollo release but without the Apollo but with a laughably rudimentary Skylab that is impossible to accurize. The best option aside from an incredible amount of scratch building is simply avoiding displaying the inside of the shroud, painting the two shroud halves white to display the kit. Included below are links to a few photos of the instructions and parts.  
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jjknap
Member Posts: 273
From: Bourbonnais, IL USA
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 04-15-2014 09:28 PM
How disappointing  Thanks for the review/warning. |
bdipaolo
Member Posts: 89
From:
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 04-16-2014 10:30 AM
Hate to say I told you so... but I told you so. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 04-16-2014 02:49 PM
Is it released as a smaller run because it's deeply flawed? They certainly need to get their act together. |
Planetary
Member Posts: 24
From: Huntington Beach, CA, USA
Registered: May 2013
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posted 04-16-2014 07:21 PM
I think it's simply because Dragon believes (correctly) that the demand is much lower for a $140+ Skylab Saturn V than the same priced Apollo Saturn V. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 08-05-2014 03:07 PM
The Dragon Wings Saturn V-Skylab 1:72 pre-built model has been announced! Release date: September. |
Docdrew
Member Posts: 25
From: Scottsdale, AZ
Registered: Aug 2013
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posted 08-05-2014 08:11 PM
Just going by the one view it looks like this pre-built suffers from the same "rotational" (and other) inaccuracies as discussed for the Apollo 11 (see sev8n's pdf). And the fins are still white. Dragon doesn't seem able or willing to learn from their past mistakes. How about a boycott of their models until they start doing their homework in order to produce more accurate products. Perhaps we'll see a major retool when the 50th anniversary models come out. |
the clocks running
Member Posts: 382
From: Rochester, NY
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 08-05-2014 08:21 PM
I understand your grief but am not at all surprised that Dragon does not retool to correct the inaccuracies in their spacecraft model series. The expense vs demand to develop and produce these models probably does not allow Dragon the flexibility to retool.
I am just happy to see a hobby company producing any NASA models period. |
jjknap
Member Posts: 273
From: Bourbonnais, IL USA
Registered: Apr 2011
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posted 08-05-2014 09:04 PM
I am glad they are producing models as I was just complaining that I haven't seen anything new, but wouldn't you think a company would take a few minutes to look at a design before producing a model? I have the pre-built Saturn V and if they had added a semi-accurate Skylab, I would have purchased this one as well. As it is, I will take a pass on this one. I would love to see a stand-alone Skylab model. And just in case someone at Dragon is watching this forum, I will save them some research time by providing this tip: Skylab was missing the right hand solar panel on the Orbital Workshop. |
sev8n
Member Posts: 233
From: Dallas TX USA
Registered: Jul 2012
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posted 08-06-2014 01:32 PM
quote:
Originally posted by the clocks running:
The expense vs demand to develop and produce these models probably does not allow Dragon the flexibility to retool.
Whereas the expense to properly research the subject before producing the molds would have been little to no different. David Weeks' excellent Saturn V drawing set is only $60 which would have been amortized over a few thousand kits, a trivial investment. |
Planetary
Member Posts: 24
From: Huntington Beach, CA, USA
Registered: May 2013
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posted 08-07-2014 04:28 PM
quote:
Originally posted by sev8n:
David Weeks' excellent Saturn V drawing set is only $60 which would have been amortized over a few thousand kits, a trivial investment.
Looking at the Saturn V kits/pre-builds, I would bet the farm Dragon has a set of Week's drawings as there's some details very specific to the blueprints that Dragon's "designers" attempted to get correct (if in drastically simplified form). The basic flaw in their kits (and all of their 1/72 space kits in general) is in a strange, inconsistent inability to translate the kind of schematics as in Week's blueprints to three dimensional form in addition to an almost toy-like simplification of certain details. An example would be the 1/72 Gemini where the designer actually mistook the thin black stripe patterns as grooves on the white Adapter Sections.Considering the effort Dragon seemingly put in to getting *some* things right, especially in their various Apollo kits, it's baffling why they got other, very basic details so wrong. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 08-08-2014 09:15 AM
Why not come up with a model at 1:400 like their Apollo 11 Saturn V model? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42982
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 08-08-2014 09:31 AM
Dragon released a 1:400 Saturn V-Skylab in 2010. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
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posted 08-08-2014 10:06 AM
I have too many models... |
the clocks running
Member Posts: 382
From: Rochester, NY
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 08-08-2014 10:06 AM
I own the 1/400 Saturn V/Skylab. It is a very nice model. |
sev8n
Member Posts: 233
From: Dallas TX USA
Registered: Jul 2012
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posted 08-08-2014 01:01 PM
Dragon released several iterations of their 1/72 Apollo models (from the IU up) well before the Saturn V was released. Based on the vast difference in accuracy and detail between the two it would seem the Saturn V (and Skylab) was designed by a different group (or budget or direction etc.) than the Apollo kits. |
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