Author Topic: Ariane 5 and the AR5 launch pad (table de lancement) (Read 8070 times)

jebbo · « **on:** 04/25/2014 09:34 am »

Folks,
I see lots of very nice Shuttle related stuff going on (and I am in awe of the detail of some of these!), but are there any decent plans etc for doing an equivalent for Ariane-5 and it's launch complex?

--- Tony

woods170 · « **Reply #1 on:** 04/25/2014 11:47 am »

Quote from: jebbo on 04/25/2014 09:34 am

Folks,
I see lots of very nice Shuttle related stuff going on (and I am in awe of the detail of some of these!), but are there any decent plans etc for doing an equivalent for Ariane-5 and it's launch complex?

--- Tony

Nope. That stuff is almost all proprietary. Best info I could find is here:

http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/ariane/CSG/ELA3/ELA3.htm
http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/ariane/CSG/ELA3/zone_lancement.htm
http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/ariane/CSG/ELA3/table_lancement.htm

jebbo · « **Reply #2 on:** 04/25/2014 11:59 am »

Thanks! That's about what I thought ... however, in the meantime I have found a paper model for the AR5:

http://jleslie48.com/ariane_platform/Ariane%20MLP.pdf

Not vastly detailed, but a starting point

--- Tony

Hobbes-22 · « **Reply #3 on:** 04/25/2014 12:11 pm »

If you want a launch pad complete with Ariane 5 and the tractor that pulls the launch pad, things get complicated: there's no scale in which both the Ariane 5 and the tractor are available. Closest is 1/96 Ariane 5 and 1/87 (HO) for the tractor, which would also be an easy source for the rails and wheels that the platform runs on.

jebbo · « **Reply #4 on:** 04/25/2014 12:18 pm »

Do you have any links for the tractor? I don't think I've ever seen a model

--- Tony

holgar5 · « **Reply #5 on:** 04/25/2014 12:23 pm »

I have only the rockets launching currently from CSG in 1:50 scale. Adding launch towers is in my mind for a while. Not that I would have the time to build them ...

jebbo · « **Reply #6 on:** 04/25/2014 12:35 pm »

Ah, this must be you then: http://hvossgaia.wordpress.com/scale-model-rocketry/

I'm looking forward to science results from Gaia (and resolution of the stray light issue :-) ). Should give first astrometric exoplanets - nicely sensitive to finding cold Jupiters.

--- Tony

Hobbes-22 · « **Reply #7 on:** 04/25/2014 12:45 pm »

Quote from: jebbo on 04/25/2014 12:18 pm

Do you have any links for the tractor? I don't think I've ever seen a model

The best info I've found is here:
http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/ariane/annexes/annexe13_transport_ariane_partie2.htm

Up to 2010 ESA used two MAN tractors, should be straightforward to build from an existing MAN unit.

In 2010 they purchased a new unit built by a tiny oufit from France (Titan, part of the Gimaex group). They used parts from 2 different Renault trucks (cab from a Renault Premium, lower panels from a Renault Magnum), plus a custom chassis and MAN engine.
Information on this vehicle is difficult to find. Titan Gimaex barely has a website, they've built only 4 similar units, and there's the name confusion with the German company that builds heavy haulage tractors based on Mercedes.

edit: attached http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/ariane/annexes/annexe13%20camion%20titan.jpg rather than embedding.

jebbo · « **Reply #8 on:** 04/25/2014 01:03 pm »

I found one other photo:

http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/947150getaspx.jpg

Hobbes-22 · « **Reply #9 on:** 05/16/2014 07:17 pm »

There are a few more on Capcomespace:
http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_europeen/ariane/index.htm

They aren't labeled as such, but among the Ariane 5 preparation and launch photos from 2010-2013 you can find several.

PS I visited La Coupole in France last year. This site houses a decent space museum, with several large scale models of the Ariane 4 and 5 on display (1:10 and 1:25, I suspect). The 1:25 models included launch pads. I made lots of photos of these models. Email me if you want those.

Hobbes-22 · « **Reply #10 on:** 10/30/2016 02:13 pm »

I found a paper model of the Ariane 5 launch platform:
http://papermodelingman.com/gallery_models_foreign.html

Edit: instructions are in the PDF, on the last few pages. The model is in 1/96, but it can be scaled.

This could be a decent starting point for building the platform in plastic.

Hobbes-22 · « **Reply #11 on:** 05/21/2021 08:21 pm »

I've recently done some work on building this platform in plastic in 1:125, using the paper kit as a base.

I've drawn a bunch of parts and had them lasercut, which went well. I've got the bases for the two EAP boosters mostly done now.

The large parts look straightforward enough (just need to buy more styrene sheet). One area that's lacking in the paper model is the wheels and their trucks. Those are represented in 2D, so I'm redoing them. These will be lasercut as well (16 bogies with 2 axles each, so lots of identical parts).
I'm using wheels and rails from TT scale model railroad (this is 1:120, so close enough). When the MLP is towed from the BAF to the launch pad, several rail cars are towed along, I'm considering adding those as well.

Hobbes-22 · « **Reply #12 on:** 06/19/2021 06:39 pm »

Quote from: jebbo on 04/25/2014 11:59 am

Thanks! That's about what I thought ... however, in the meantime I have found a paper model for the AR5:

http://jleslie48.com/ariane_platform/Ariane%20MLP.pdf

Not vastly detailed, but a starting point

I've compared that model to photos. The model's oversize: the launch table is ~30% too long and wide, the tower is too wide and deep. The heights are much closer to correct.
Of course I found out after I'd cut out most of the parts...