Looking for a realistic flying Space Shuttle model kit

[KILTED COWBOY]

Have a pretty nice Estes Mercury Redstone flying model.
I am finishing up on a pretty nice Estes Saturn V flyer.
I am going to get started on the Boyce Gemini Titan flying model which looks pretty nice.
My question is does anyone know of a pretty good semi scale flying model of the Space Shuttle with boosters that is capable of flight. The shuttle itself does not need to be a glider.
The Estes kit is nice but not very accurate as compared to the other kits I have built.
I am not a rivet counter but I want something more realistic than the Estes.

 

[prfesser]

Dear Mr. Cowboy

This is sort of a last resort, but there are two free cardstock models of the shuttle stack at https://papermodelingman.com/gallery_models_postapollo.html . I suppose that one must be more detailed than the other, as the difficulty is listed as 5/10 and 9/10 for the two. It would take a bit of work to adapt it for flight, of course. But you wouldn't have to use cardstock for everything; make nose cones from balsa, use internal tubes for stiffening, etc.

Side note: A long time ago I made (most of) a cardstock Little Joe II. Scaled it up by printing on 11x17 ledger cardstock instead of 8.5x11. It doesn't quite double the size but it's a pretty decent increase if you want something bigger.

Best -- Terry

 

[KILTED COWBOY]

Thanks, prfesser.
I have done a pretty good search and it looks like no one makes anything I would consider to finish my fleet of flying US manned vehicles.
I have sent an email to Boyce Aerospace as they have a nice builders kit for the Mercury Redstone, Gemini Titan and nice parts for the Saturn V.
I asked them to consider making a builders kit for a semi scale Space Shuttle with boosters.
Then they would have the complete fleet.
Lets hope that they consider it. I think it would be a pretty good seller for them.

 

[kuririn]

Only kits I know of were the Estes and Dr. Zooch models, both OOP.
The Zooch kit was ant scale, so not as accurate as what you seem to be looking for.
The problem with the Shuttle full stack design is asymetrical weight and aerodynamic force distribution.
I have heard that the Estes kit would frequently veer off to the side.
The design attempted to compensate with an offline vertical thrust axis.
Any attempt by Boyce Aerospace would be facing the same problem.

 

[aerostadt]

There was an old North Coast Rocketry Space Shuttle on ebay about a week ago. The bidding was up to about $380. I think the auction is over now.

 

[kuririn]

Just remembered that Sheri's Hot Rockets had a full stack shuttle with an orbiter that was radio controlled.

 

[KILTED COWBOY]

Could not find Sheri’s Hot Rockets in a web search.
Maybe out of business some old posts here from 2009

 

[mikec]

Could not find Sheri’s Hot Rockets in a web search.

Long OOP. Maybe someone still has one sitting in a box somewhere. See https://www.rocketreviews.com/sheris-hot-rockets-cjs-aviation-space-shuttle-162-by-chan-stevens.html for a review.

 

[CoachSteve]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Estes-Spac...945708?hash=item23d128782c:g:7kQAAOSwYIJeRvX7
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Es...369407?hash=item23d13e317f:g:w-8AAOSwA89eFSPW

 

[jsargevt]

I was drawing up some rough ideas of a space shuttle rocket using the BPS designed thrust vectoring solution in the ET with a Guillow’s Foam Space Shuttle attached. Unfortunately the BPS solution is expensive (rightfully so) and complicated but I think that it would handle the challenges of the asymmetrical weight distribution.

My back of the napkin math says that the proportions are close. Unfortunately, the cost of the BPS system keeps this as just an idea for now. Maybe when BPS has the next set of systems available I’ll be in a place to give this a try.

 

[kuririn]

Could not find Sheri’s Hot Rockets in a web search.

OOP, here's what she had available:
https://web.archive.org/web/20120320074538/https://www.cjsaviation.com/

 

[Charles_McG]

Time to scratch build. The shuttle likely isn’t scale enough for you, but I think I did a pretty good job at the rest of the stack.


LPR Space Shuttle Build - just for neil_w
https://www.rocketryforum.com/index.php?threads/LPR-Space-Shuttle-Build---just-for-neil_w.143731/

 

[Crawf56]

Should you consider modifying a plastic model kit?

 

[GlenP]

You could use this MMX orbiter and make a MMX or 13mm powered stack to go with it, maybe?

https://www.erockets.biz/quest-flying-model-rocket-kit-mx-saturn-v-space-shuttle-orbiter-5643/

 

[JPalmer621]

If you are intrested in scatch building one the card stock shuttle is a good template. Needs heavier matrial matrial but a good start. Boyce or Shapeways has shuttle replacment parts just need the right size body tube. This is my scratch build and it flys well. I have built a 2 stage shuttle where the SRBs drop off and the shuttle is deployed higher up.

 

[KILTED COWBOY]

If you are intrested in scatch building one the card stock shuttle is a good template. Needs heavier matrial matrial but a good start. Boyce or Shapeways has shuttle replacment parts just need the right size body tube. This is my scratch build and it flys well. I have built a 2 stage shuttle where the SRBs drop off and the shuttle is deployed higher up.

That looks really nice.

 

[zog139]

I was watching the NCR model last week. It went for $406. There was a thread some time back that used the Guillow Foam Shuttle.

 

[Brent]

I was watching the NCR model last week. It went for $406. There was a thread some time back that used the Guillow Foam Shuttle.

I wonder what happened to the vacu-form molds for that kit. I wish Matt would bring it back. I think it would sell well.