Who's the best

[skybuster]

Hi everyone,
first post over here. I've been looking at doing scale models once I feel that I have the skills to do so. I have a quick question that should hopefully be easy to answer. I was wondering, who makes the best as in the best attention to detail that fly on A-G engines? I've seen many complaints about Noris rocketry and their lack of detail on the Vostok and Soyuz and yet they're they only place who seems to make these models on the 1/60th scale, I was wondering if anyone knows of anyone else who makes these models with superb detail, or where good information can be found so the modeler can do so themselves?

Thanks for any info!

[gdiscenza]

For attention to detail, in the 18mm arena, you won't find better than Dr. Zooch. Another contender for scale accuracy is Fliskits.

In the 24mm, Semroc has some nice kits, and the Estes Saturn V is a good bet also.

For 29mm, you have Apogee with their Saturn IB and Saturn V kits.

Finally, in 38mm you have Sirius Rocketry with a Saturn V offering and Cosmodrome with a spectacular Vostok.

Some may argue, or tell me I missed something, but these are the ones I would look at for scale accuracy and detail. The thing to remember is that it is up to the modeler how much detail to include. You can take a rocket as simple as a Patriot Missile, and tweak it to the nines with access panels, scale markings, rivets, and handling wear, until the only thing that indicates it is a model is the size.

Have fun!

G.D.

[luke strawwalker]

Dr. Zooch Rockets offers a Soyuz kit and several other Russian (Soviet) launchers. They're for B and C motors. Other than that, I don't think there are any others offered in that size range but the Noris rockets through Apogee Components.

There's a nice large version (HPR) but you said model rocket power, so I won't go into that.

As far as data is concerned, Soyuz is in "Rockets of the World" by Peter Alway, available from NARTS. Several of the other variants are in there too or in the supplements to ROTW. I highly recommend ROTW and the supplements... I bought them all and they're well worth the money! With the data you can always 'scratchbuild' whatever you're wanting and with a little research you can add as much detail as you care to. Of course you can always "super detail" an existing kit as well to your heart's content.

Good luck! OL JR

[MarkII]

The Apogee Components Saturn 1B and Saturn V model rockets are legendary for their exacting "every rivet, every weld" level of detail. Both are quite large mid-power rockets that fly best on G motors.

[skybuster]

Dr. Zooch Rockets offers a Soyuz kit and several other Russian (Soviet) launchers. They're for B and C motors. Other than that, I don't think there are any others offered in that size range but the Noris rockets through Apogee Components.

There's a nice large version (HPR) but you said model rocket power, so I won't go into that.

As far as data is concerned, Soyuz is in "Rockets of the World" by Peter Alway, available from NARTS. Several of the other variants are in there too or in the supplements to ROTW. I highly recommend ROTW and the supplements... I bought them all and they're well worth the money! With the data you can always 'scratchbuild' whatever you're wanting and with a little research you can add as much detail as you care to. Of course you can always "super detail" an existing kit as well to your heart's content.

Good luck! OL JR

Thanks for the recommendation, when I try to build one I'll have a copy at my side

[MaxQ]

Don't forget to see what Gordon at Roachwerks is offering...he has put out some great kits ...limited run but some of the best.

http://excelsiorrocketry.com/


http://www.rocketreviews.com/roachwe...n-stevens.html

[CF-105]

Don't forget The Launch Pad. Great source for D-F powered scale missiles.

[MarkII]

http://www.rocketreviews.com/roachwe...n-stevens.html

Those Soviet bombers have no idea what they're about to face...

[MaxQ]

Those Soviet bombers have no idea what they're about to face...

Ouch!

[MaxQ]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/divemas...n/photostream/

[gpoehlein]

I should point out here that if you are wanting a scale or sport scale model for NAR competition, Dr Zooch, as cool as they are, probably won't be as good. First, the "flame fins" will count quite a bit against your score. Also, the paper wraps for detail won't score as high as actually modeling that detail. Not to say that the Zooch kits are bad - they seem to be pretty nice and a lot of people like them (I haven't had a chance to build one yet so I can't comment on that aspect personally). They just won't score as high as a well built Semroc Saturn IB, for example.

[sandman]

Don't forget to see what Gordon at Roachwerks is offering...he has put out some great kits ...limited run but some of the best.

http://excelsiorrocketry.com/


http://www.rocketreviews.com/roachwe...n-stevens.html

There's one more from Chan Stevens.(those pics are all of Chan Stevens' model built from my kits.)

His 1st place Soyuz from NARAM 50.

When first shown to Les (Dr. Zooch) His comment was "mine are the paper backed edition, yours are leather bound versions."

That was probably one of the best compliments of my kits anybody could have given me.

I just wish they weren't so hard to make.

I do have some large Nike Hercules kits left.

[RocketManDan]

There's one more from Chan Stevens.(those pics are all of Chan Stevens' model built from my kits.)

His 1st place Soyuz from NARAM 50.

When first shown to Les (Dr. Zooch) His comment was "mine are the paper backed edition, yours are leather bound versions."

That was probably one of the best compliments of my kits anybody could have given me.

I just wish they weren't so hard to make.

I do have some large Nike Hercules kits left.

What a beautiful job!! Very nice and the detail is a 12 plus on a 10 scale!!

[jadebox]

Hi everyone,
first post over here. I've been looking at doing scale models once I feel that I have the skills to do so. I have a quick question that should hopefully be easy to answer. I was wondering, who makes the best as in the best attention to detail that fly on A-G engines? I've seen many complaints about Noris rocketry and their lack of detail on the Vostok and Soyuz and yet they're they only place who seems to make these models on the 1/60th scale, I was wondering if anyone knows of anyone else who makes these models with superb detail, or where good information can be found so the modeler can do so themselves?

Have you looked the Delta kits designed by Carl Campbell of DFR Tech? Carl describes them as "sport-scale," but they are more detailed than many other kits on the market.

-- Roger

[Daddyisabar]

As my old high school Trig teacher always said "You are looking for the fifth leg on a cat." I thought that was kind of silly but it applies to your question. What you want doesn't exist unless you can get one of the very rare, never in production SANDMAN Soyuz kits, I think they go for $150ish plus if you are on the nice list and at the right place at the right time with cash in hand. Get one and be like Chan who lit ten for the win!

If you want real scale detail then scratch build, but you better have the skills and cash to do it - real high end stuff. Plastic model conversion is also real hard to build and fly and again, only for the Pros. Your best bet given a $100 budget and an intermediate skill level is to dress up an Apogee Norris. Dr. Zooch is a good place to start and to build some skills but they are "ant" scale and even less detailed at $25+. Cosmodrome is high power and not detailed out of the kit, and they cost $200 just for the kit if you can find one.

[skybuster]

As my old high school Trig teacher always said "You are looking for the fifth leg on a cat." I thought that was kind of silly but it applies to your question. What you want doesn't exist unless you can get one of the very rare, never in production SANDMAN Soyuz kits, I think they go for $150ish plus if you are on the nice list and at the right place at the right time with cash in hand. Get one and be like Chan who lit ten for the win!

If you want real scale detail then scratch build, but you better have the skills and cash to do it - real high end stuff. Plastic model conversion is also real hard to build and fly and again, only for the Pros. Your best bet given a $100 budget and an intermediate skill level is to dress up an Apogee Norris. Dr. Zooch is a good place to start and to build some skills but they are "ant" scale and even less detailed at $25+. Cosmodrome is high power and not detailed out of the kit, and they cost $200 just for the kit if you can find one.

Well, when I was in trig last year, finding a fifth leg on a cat would have been a heck of a lot easier than barely getting a C in that class LOL. I can see what you mean by "dressing up" a kit such as with this Vostok
http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthr...ghlight=vostok

if there was a way to find that detail, it'd be great!

[luke strawwalker]

Dave Montgomery is a founding member of our club, the Old Rocketeers #724. I haven't seen his Soyuz fly (I was in Indiana when he flew it at the club launch) but from what I've heard it's a doozy! He was here on the forums but I haven't seen him around in months. PM me and I can give you his email and you can write him directly if you want more details... IIRC virtually everything he did came out of ROTW though... maybe some extra research.

Scratchbuilding doesn't HAVE to be terribly expensive. I'm doing a scratchbuilt BT-80 based Saturn V right now (ok, I've been working on farm equipment and stuff the past couple weeks or so). So far I don't have any more tied up in the build than I would building any rocket-- tubes are cheap enough and the rest is cardstock and balsa, and those are pretty cheap too, along with some house foam and a whopping $14 for a power drill and a couple hours in the shop building a "mini-lathe" to turn the foam transition core down... The hardest part was handmade details like fairings and such, carved/sanded down to size from bamboo skewers and basswood and some dowels, even toothpics in a couple cases. For research I use ROTW and apollomaniacs, for the most part. The main thing it takes is TIME. TIME to do the research online and time to do the build and details, and some creative thinking to adapt/make stuff yourself. SO far the most expensive stuff I've bought has been some Evergreen Styrene for details like the cable conduits...

Later! OL JR

[FastCargo]

Also, consider cardstock models. Several are available that rival or exceed anything done of the subject in plastic.

An example is the N-1 Soviet Moon Rocket, available here:

http://www.currell.net/models/n1.htm

Obviously, it will take some work to convert something like this for flight, but it's been done before quite successfully.

FC

[skybuster]

Don't forget to see what Gordon at Roachwerks is offering...he has put out some great kits ...limited run but some of the best.

http://excelsiorrocketry.com/


http://www.rocketreviews.com/roachwe...n-stevens.html

Thanks for the info! I looked up his Soyuz and Vostok, and those are really nice! However, I noticed that he's not making any more, and then I noticed that he hasn't been active on this forum since January of 2009. Any one know what happened to him?

[sandman]

I haven't?????

I'm here every day!

If you look you will see that I posted in this thread. Post #12.

I've just been busy making decals and no time for kits!

I have some Soyuz and Vostok kits almost ready but I have to remake the masters for the resin castings. My old molds are just worn out.

[MaxQ]

I haven't?????I'm here every day!

Well, how would we know?
Maybe you're not really who you say you are.
I'm starting a rumor that Gordon was abducted by aliens while researching his latest rocket project.

[skybuster]

I haven't?????

I'm here every day!

If you look you will see that I posted in this thread. Post #12.

I've just been busy making decals and no time for kits!

I have some Soyuz and Vostok kits almost ready but I have to remake the masters for the resin castings. My old molds are just worn out.

Sorry, my bad. I normally read updates on my phone and I don't notice the names. I went to the directory yesterday, and I must have clicked on the wrong person. Can't wait for some more vostok and soyuz models!

My apologies

[sandman]

Sorry, my bad. I normally read updates on my phone and I don't notice the names. I went to the directory yesterday, and I must have clicked on the wrong person. Can't wait for some more vostok and soyuz models!

My apologies

Being invisible is something I can honestly say I have NEVER been described as!

[skybuster]

Being invisible is something I can honestly say I have NEVER been described as!

Sorry, my apologies again

[jadebox]

Sorry, my apologies again

Who are you talking to? I don't see anyone else around .....

-- Roger

[skybuster]

There's one more from Chan Stevens.(those pics are all of Chan Stevens' model built from my kits.)

His 1st place Soyuz from NARAM 50.

When first shown to Les (Dr. Zooch) His comment was "mine are the paper backed edition, yours are leather bound versions."

That was probably one of the best compliments of my kits anybody could have given me.

I just wish they weren't so hard to make.

I do have some large Nike Hercules kits left.

Looking forward to getting one of your vostok and soyuz kits, eventually. I was wondering, what scale are they, and is there an estimated date when they'll be available for purchase?

Thanks!