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Author
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Topic: 1:48 Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) model
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John Charles
Member Posts: 339
From: Houston, Texas, USA
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 08-20-2016 09:35 PM
  
Today's mail brought the 1/48 scale Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) by Fantastic Plastic built for me by master model maker Steve Nichols. The result looks great! I asked Steve to diverge from the usual MOL model appearances in three ways: make it all white instead of showing the usual tracking targets and metallic colors; no white-colored rendezvous radar on the nose of the Gemini-B (see picture 1) because no rendezvous was involved and the vehicle was already heavy; and — most uniquely — a concave mylar thermal shield at the aft end instead of a solid convex dome (see picture 2). My research tells me these are the way to go, but maybe somewhere in the 825 documents that the NRO unclassified last October and that I have not read yet is a configuration drawing that will prove me right or wrong. Be looking for this MOL model at my future speaking engagements on MOL, such as: Saturday, Sep. 10, 1-3 p.m., and Saturday, Sep. 17, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., both at the Evelyn Meador Library in Seabrook, Texas, where my vintage corporate MOL art is now on exhibition through September. Photos by Steve Nichols, showing his busy and productive workbench.  
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apolloprojeckt
Member Posts: 1447
From: Arnhem, Netherlands
Registered: Feb 2009
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posted 08-21-2016 01:58 AM
Very nice! |
history in miniature
Member Posts: 600
From: Slatington, PA
Registered: Mar 2009
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posted 08-22-2016 10:47 AM
John, Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your beautiful MOL art collection and knowledge you possess of the program. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1211
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 08-24-2016 07:06 AM
I like that version! Mine ended up grey, also no tracking markings. I cut an airlock hatch and opened a panel on the side. It is great to have a model of this project. |
Gilbert
Member Posts: 1328
From: Carrollton, GA USA
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 08-29-2016 06:12 AM
Looking good! |
solo7
New Member Posts: 4
From: Bridgeport, CT 06606
Registered: Apr 2017
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posted 04-04-2017 08:56 AM
I am also building a Fantastic Plastic MOL model. What I am going to do is make a duplicate of an original contractor model. The contractor model actually came pretty to your all white MOL. Here is the contractor model in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's collection. |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1211
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 04-04-2017 06:10 PM
Here is the one I built last year. |
moonguyron
Member Posts: 191
From: Trinity, FL USA
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 04-04-2017 06:19 PM
Wow that is one beautiful model. How in the world did you get it into orbit? |
Ronpur
Member Posts: 1211
From: Brandon, Fl
Registered: May 2012
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posted 04-04-2017 06:35 PM
It wasn't easy!!But I use Gimp. It is above the Aral Sea. |
randyc
Member Posts: 779
From: Chandler, AZ USA
Registered: May 2003
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posted 04-05-2017 05:38 PM
Here's a photo of a Titan/MOL contractor model in my collection. It was made by the McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Company, Huntington Beach, California model shop. |
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