Airfix 1/72 Lunar Module

[Eric Mc]

I'm not planning on building this in the immediate future but I just wanted to get some images hosted for when I do.

These images come from an article in Scale Models back in 1979 and I found them very useful over the years.

[AshVX220]

When you look at imagery like that you realise just how peculiar the shape of the LM was. I've seen them in the flesh and even then it's not quite so obvious, perhaps because we've all seen pictures of the real thing or something, but looking straight down on it from the top, it's very odd.

[Eric Mc]

It's shape was purely dictated by the arrangement of its internal components. They basically worked out where the internal tanks, wiring, piping, tubing, pressurised cabin, main rocket nozzles etc had to go - tacked on the attitude control thrusters - and then boxed in the whole mess in a very thin aluminium cladding and then added on external components like legs, antennae and other bits and pieces..

[generationx]

That's good stuff. The Dragon painting guides for the LM appear relatively accurate too?

[Eric Mc]

generationx said:

That's good stuff. The Dragon painting guides for the LM appear relatively accurate too?

The Dragon kit is much more modern than the Airfix kit so you would expect it to be better all around. It is, in some areas, but strangely isn't in others.

The Airfix kit was originally released in 1970 and the moulds would have been in the design stage in 1968/69. Like other model manufacturers at the time, Airfix wanted to cash in on the popularity of the Apollo missions as they were happening and wanted to get their kits out into the market. As a result, their Lunar Module is based more on mock-ups and artist's impressions that were released by NASA and Grumman from the period 1966 to 1968. The images from that period those images tended to show the LM in a black and white colour scheme - and that was what was shown in the artwork and instructions in the original releases of this kit.
The biggest correction needed for the Airfix kit is the way they depicted the blast deflectors on downward pointing ascent stage attitude control thrusters - which is completely wrong.



Airfix reissued the Lunar Module in 2009 and this time also included their Astronauts figure set. They also took the opportunity to revise the colour scheme and instructions to better reflect what the real LM5 looked like. They also included a larger section of "moon" as a base - although the original small "moon base" is also included. They also include some gold foil in the newer kit - although I still prefer the Rolo option

As I said, all the Lunar Modules varied from flight to flight - especially the pattern of gold and black heat insulation on the descent stage. Other changes were in relation to equipment carried on the descent stage, such as Rovers etc and also the final three Lunar Modules used (Apollo 15,16 and 17) had a larger descent engine bell as the engine was uprated for higher thrust levels due to the higher weight of these later LMs.

Edited by Eric Mc on Friday 10th August 08:24

[Tempest_5]

I built the old version years ago. It was the one with the round base. I thought it was great at the time. I might have to do the new one.

[Eric Mc]

The new one is identical to the old one in thet it is the same model from the same moulds. The main advantage of the newer issue is the extra bits that come with the kit and the more accurate painting instructions.

Airfix also had a set of astronaut figures which used to come as a "kit" in its own right. The set included some additional pieces of equipment, including a Lunar Rover. The good news is that this astronaut set is included in the newer boxing of the Lunar Module.

[gruffgriff]

Here's mine from many, many pun-avoiding Sols ago. I recall finding it a bit tricky but the cool display base made up for everything.
Too many direction nozzles and other little bits and bobs lost over the years mean it'll never make it to lunar orbit though I expect the astronauts will be petrified like mummies in tneir suits by now. A Martian style rescue mission would be in vain.....

[Eric Mc]

Built (almost) as Mr Airfix intended.

I want to have another go at this kit in time for the 50th Anniversary next year.

[Yertis]

Eric Mc said:

Airfix also had a set of astronaut figures which used to come as a "kit" in its own right. The set included some additional pieces of equipment, including a Lunar Rover. The good news is that this astronaut set is included in the newer boxing of the Lunar Module.

IIRC some white polystyrene astronauts were included as part of the Lunar Module kit, and a different set, moulded in yellow polythene, were sold as a separate set.

[Eric Mc]

Yertis said:

Eric Mc said:

Airfix also had a set of astronaut figures which used to come as a "kit" in its own right. The set included some additional pieces of equipment, including a Lunar Rover. The good news is that this astronaut set is included in the newer boxing of the Lunar Module.

IIRC some white polystyrene astronauts were included as part of the Lunar Module kit, and a different set, moulded in yellow polythene, were sold as a separate set.

Indeed so although the polythene was more of a creamy colour.. But if you look at the picture of the 2009 re-issue, you will see that the polythene astronauts and their kit (including two Lunar Rovers) were included in that release.

I expect Airfix will reissue the LM again next year but who knows what the boxing will be like and whether the polythene astronauts will be included this time.