Author Topic: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015  (Read 51869 times)

Offline roma847

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2327
  • Be part of it
  • Germany
  • Liked: 2191
  • Likes Given: 55
Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« on: 11/30/2014 11:16 pm »
Hello folks,
this is the news of the month: In 2015 LVM Studios will release the Apollo Saturn Launch Umbilical Tower.


Source: NASA

At Scale Model World 2014 in Telford UK (11/08-09/2014) LVM presented a prototype of their BIG LUT Project,


Source: LVM Studios

which will be available in three different scales:

1/144 for the Revell Saturn V or Airfix Saturn V

1/96 for the Revell Saturn V

1/72 for the Dragon Saturn V

This is definitely a spectacular and very challenging project, only question is what price will be called for these kits ...

« Last Edit: 11/25/2015 04:13 pm by roma847 »
***************
Regards from Germany

Manfred

Under construction:
1:144 Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6

Offline Ronpur50

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2117
  • Brandon, FL
  • Liked: 1028
  • Likes Given: 1884
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #1 on: 12/01/2014 12:49 am »
Wow!  My guess, $600 at least.  For 1/144th scale.
« Last Edit: 12/01/2014 12:50 am by Ronpur50 »

Offline mike robel

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2304
  • Merritt Island, FL
  • Liked: 369
  • Likes Given: 260
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #2 on: 12/01/2014 02:27 am »
I wonder how many of these will get purchased and of those, bought.

The last two efforts did not turn out to have a very high purchase to completion ratio.

Offline roma847

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2327
  • Be part of it
  • Germany
  • Liked: 2191
  • Likes Given: 55
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #3 on: 12/01/2014 11:16 am »
In view of the prices for the previous LC39 Detail Kits 1-5 I would not be so sure if there $600 will be enough for a 1:144 LUT.

Wait and see ...

***************
Regards from Germany

Manfred

Under construction:
1:144 Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6

Offline roma847

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2327
  • Be part of it
  • Germany
  • Liked: 2191
  • Likes Given: 55
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #4 on: 01/11/2015 08:40 pm »
Hi there,

here are some news from the latest LVM Newsletter:

"Mobile Launcher Apollo Saturn project:
 
As you may have seen on Telford or on the internet we made a prototype for this project to test the assembly, parts layout and several new techniques. In the mean time we have been busy with the main design, setting up a marketing plan, securing budget, etc.

We decided to use Kickstarter as a marketing tool and as funding for the project. The Kickstarter campaign has a limited number of full kits available (1/144: 10 pieces, 1/96: 4 pieces and 1/72: 1 piece). There will be also an extra pledge with which you collect your kit in person at the Scale Model World 2015 in Telford UK on November 7th together with a diner with the team of LVM Studios. The Kickstarter campaign will start in a few weeks and we will notify you in time! We hope you share the campaign on social media!

As told already we are on the Scale Model World 2015 in Telford UK and our stand will be dedicated to the Mobile Launcher Apollo Saturn project. We will have a fully finished Mobile Launcher on display with a Saturn V in 1/72 scale (total height more than 160 cm).

From November 2015 the kits will be available and due to the high cost of a full kit we decide to split up the model kits in several parts. This way the model kits will be available to a larger public and you can purchase parts for your mobile launcher as you go.

Well that's it for now! As soon as we have more news about new products and/or the Mobile Launcher Apollo Saturn project you will hear from us again. If you have questions about this newsletter please do not hesitate to contact us at: [email protected]"

Holy moly! 1:72 total height more than 160 cm, this sounds like modeling madness.

***************
Regards from Germany

Manfred

Under construction:
1:144 Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6

Offline Ronpur50

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2117
  • Brandon, FL
  • Liked: 1028
  • Likes Given: 1884
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #5 on: 01/12/2015 12:40 am »
Wow, I like the idea of being able to buy parts.  If I could get a platform, I would be able to go back to my plan of using these shuttle towers I have in the closet!

Offline roma847

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2327
  • Be part of it
  • Germany
  • Liked: 2191
  • Likes Given: 55
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #6 on: 01/12/2015 09:50 am »
Yep, that would be a great possibility.

I have asked Leon Munster after his price expectations for the full kits and for the parts, but not yet received a reply.

I'll stay tuned and let you know. 

***************
Regards from Germany

Manfred

Under construction:
1:144 Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6

Offline roma847

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2327
  • Be part of it
  • Germany
  • Liked: 2191
  • Likes Given: 55
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #7 on: 01/20/2015 09:22 pm »
Hi Guys,

now I've got an official response from LVM. The kits will be the Mobile Launcher Apollo Saturn, this includes the MLP and the LUT. The  Crawler and the  Saturn V are not included.


Source: LVM
Now we know what's going on, for sure, except for the prices ...

***************
Regards from Germany

Manfred

Under construction:
1:144 Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6

Offline saturnapollo

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 640
  • Edinburgh, UK
    • Space Models Photography
  • Liked: 230
  • Likes Given: 10
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #8 on: 01/20/2015 09:30 pm »
"If I could get a platform, I would be able to go back to my plan of using these shuttle towers I have in the closet!"

Remember the Revell shuttle launch tower is underscale and you need to add two extra levels to get it to the correct height in relation to the Saturn V. Made one many years ago.

Keith

Offline roma847

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2327
  • Be part of it
  • Germany
  • Liked: 2191
  • Likes Given: 55
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #9 on: 01/20/2015 09:46 pm »
Hey Keith,
it is not quite so simple, because you would have to adjust accordingly the RSS too.

***************
Regards from Germany

Manfred

Under construction:
1:144 Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6

Offline saturnapollo

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 640
  • Edinburgh, UK
    • Space Models Photography
  • Liked: 230
  • Likes Given: 10
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #10 on: 01/20/2015 10:13 pm »
Sorry, I thought we were talking about putting two shuttle towers together to get a Saturn V LUT?

As far as building a shuttle tower, then everything is underscale (FSS and RSS) and you might as well scratchbuild the whole thing.

Keith


Offline mike robel

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2304
  • Merritt Island, FL
  • Liked: 369
  • Likes Given: 260
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #11 on: 01/20/2015 10:29 pm »
Manfred, The Saturn V did not use the RSS.  It had a massive Mobile Service Tower (or Platform) that was moved by the crawler.

http://images.ksc.nasa.gov/photos/1969/medium/KSC-69P-0569.jpg

Mike

Offline roma847

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2327
  • Be part of it
  • Germany
  • Liked: 2191
  • Likes Given: 55
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #12 on: 01/21/2015 06:04 am »
Sorry Keith and Mike,
you have absolutely right of course, I was for a moment on the wrong way  and look too much through the shuttle glasses.

***************
Regards from Germany

Manfred

Under construction:
1:144 Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6

Offline saturnapollo

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 640
  • Edinburgh, UK
    • Space Models Photography
  • Liked: 230
  • Likes Given: 10
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #13 on: 01/21/2015 12:23 pm »
That's understandable bearing in mind what you are working on.

And apologies for this stupid statement "As far as building a shuttle tower, then everything is underscale (FSS and RSS) and you might as well scratchbuild the whole thing.". Wasn't thinking!

Keith

Offline roma847

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2327
  • Be part of it
  • Germany
  • Liked: 2191
  • Likes Given: 55
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #14 on: 01/22/2015 05:59 pm »
Hey Keith,
no problem, take it easy.

But once more to the crazy scale problems of the Revell Launch Tower Kit and intended combination of Revell's Towers (FSS) with the LUT Mobile Launcher.

As well known FSS and RSS are unfortunately underscale, 1:168 for the FSS/RSS height and 1:160 for the FSS level platforms.

Therefore, it is not enough, to add only two extra-levels to reach the height of the Saturn LUT, because this is a fallacy.

For better understanding let's have a look at these reference drawings.

First to the Saturn LUT:



Let's consider only the green marked part from Level 80' up to Level 380', which was used for the Towers of both Pads 39A and 39B, but with the exception of the three red marked upper levels 300' to 360', which were not used.

15 Levels (20') = 300' = 91.5 m, corresponding a height of 63.5 cm (1:144)

The height of one Level is 20' = 6.1 m, corresponding a height of 4.24 cm (1:144)

BTW, each level platform is 40' x 40' = 12.2 m x 12.2 m, corresponding 8.5 cm x 8.5 cm (1:144).

Now to the Revell Launch Tower (FSS):

As one can see in this drawing, the height of the Tower up to the same level is 75.3 m, corresponding a height of 52.3 cm (1: 144).


Source: capecomespace.net (D. Weeks)

But the height of the Revell FSS is only 44.7 cm (1:168), and the platforms are only 7.6 cm x 7.6 cm (1:160).

The height of one FSS Level is only 3.7 cm (1:168).

A short comparison of the Tower heights in 1:144 shows:

  63.5 cm (LUT)
- 44.7 cm (FSS)
  18.8 cm

To compensate for this difference in tower height, so you would not need two extra-levels but five FSS levels:

18,8 cm : 3,7 cm = 5

In addition, due to the smaller Revell FSS platforms (7.6 cm x 7.6 cm) the nine LUT swing arms had to be extended too.

This shows that these scale problems always lead to compromises, if you want to use two Revell FSS for the construction of one LUT, that is not so easy.

***************
Regards from Germany

Manfred

Under construction:
1:144 Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6

Offline saturnapollo

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 640
  • Edinburgh, UK
    • Space Models Photography
  • Liked: 230
  • Likes Given: 10
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #15 on: 01/22/2015 07:00 pm »
 We are probably talking about the same thing but in different ways. Taking your drawing with the green, there are 15 levels up to the top. To get the same height you need to have 17 of these levels (hence an extra two) to get to the correct height compared to an Airfix Saturn V. The tip of the LES comes to about half way up the second last level. Of course the width of the tower is underscale as well, but not a lot you can do about that.

Keith
« Last Edit: 01/22/2015 07:04 pm by saturnapollo »

Offline roma847

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2327
  • Be part of it
  • Germany
  • Liked: 2191
  • Likes Given: 55
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #16 on: 01/22/2015 09:27 pm »
Maybe ...

If I have understood correctly Ron's plan, he wants to use two Revell FSS for scratch-building a LUT on a Launcher platform by LVM.

In other words, in order to realize the LUT height of the green marked area of 300' (63.5 cm), he would have to use 17 FSS levels (3.7 cm), but then however his LUT would consist of two levels more than the original LUT in this area.

***************
Regards from Germany

Manfred

Under construction:
1:144 Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6

Offline saturnapollo

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 640
  • Edinburgh, UK
    • Space Models Photography
  • Liked: 230
  • Likes Given: 10
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #17 on: 01/22/2015 10:34 pm »
Manfred

"17 FSS levels (3.7 cm), but then however his LUT would consist of two levels more than the original LUT in this area"

That's precisely what I was saying!

Keith

Offline roma847

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2327
  • Be part of it
  • Germany
  • Liked: 2191
  • Likes Given: 55
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #18 on: 01/23/2015 06:41 am »
Hi Keith,

then we finally are in complete agreement, and Ron would have to take six upper levels from a second Revell kit like you.

BTW, your LUT is an outstanding model and this is a great photo,   and if you do not know that he has 17 levels, it would not be noticeable.

Have you scratch-built all the stairways too?

« Last Edit: 01/23/2015 10:48 am by roma847 »
***************
Regards from Germany

Manfred

Under construction:
1:144 Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6

Offline roma847

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2327
  • Be part of it
  • Germany
  • Liked: 2191
  • Likes Given: 55
Re: Apollo Saturn LUT by LVM Studios 2015
« Reply #19 on: 01/30/2015 09:15 pm »
Hi folks,
LVM hast started their Kickstarter campaign for the Mobile Launcher Apollo Saturn model kits with a short nice trailer!



And now the prices are known:

1/144: Pledge 600 € or more - 10 Kits - 4 backers (6 left of 10) (MSRP 720 €)

1/96: Pledge 1.300 € or more: 4 Kits - 1 backer (3 left of 4) (MSRP 1.440 €)

1/72: Pledge 2.000 € or more: 1 Kit - 1 backer (All gone) (2.160 €)

Estimated delivery Nov 2015!

Good Luck!

« Last Edit: 01/30/2015 09:49 pm by roma847 »
***************
Regards from Germany

Manfred

Under construction:
1:144 Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
1