Atlas V 541 - Mars 2020

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frognbuff2.0

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I suppose I should have created this thread earlier and should have taken (a LOT) more pictures along the way, but I've been working on an Atlas V 541 model at 1:81.5 scale with the markings for the upcoming Mars 2020 mission for over a month now. It's all but done, once the semigloss has dried I only have to attach the SRBs to the core booster.

The canted ogives for the solids were 3D-printed and the model can be flown in a 531 configuration with a detachable fin unit I made for it. It can be flown with two 18mm and three 13mm motors, which if I muster the courage to risk this thing will likely be Estes A10-3T's and Quest/Aerotech C12-4s.
 

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After a snafu with one of the solid rocket boosters forced a re-do on the lower half of the rocket, it's finally done. I'll try to post some more pics from different angles soon. For now here's a hesd-on shot with the would-be detachable fin unit to the side.
 

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A couple more photos of the now complete model.
 

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That takes me back. I worked on the Rainbow-1 satellite (now called Echostar 12) which launched, 17 years ago, on an Atlas V 521. That was the first use of the 5 metre fairing, and the first use of the SRBs, only the third flight of Atlas V. And let me tell you, stepping out the door of the payload processing center into the Titusville heat and humidity in July was like walking into a wall.
 
Very nicely done! What size tubes did you use? I've just started design work on this rocket, myself. Any details about parts that you can provide would be great.
I built it at approximately 1:81.5 scale which rougly translates to BT-80 for the payload fairing, ST-18 (1.84" outer diameter) for the main booster, and BT-20 for the SRBs. The canted ogives for the SRBs were 3D-printed by Boyce Aerospace and then sent to me so you'd have to contact them about getting those. If you'd like the decals I printed 3 extra sets and I could send you one of them for $10 plus shipping (although the ULA logo is a bit larger than it should be and the Atlas logo could've maybe been a bit bigger - also I guess the decal paper my dad buys is somewhat pricey). The avionics pod and cable tunnel were done with some balsa wood. The LOX feedline was made with styrene tubing which was softened and bent over a tea candle and striping tape for the elevated sections (my dad is the engineer so I apologize for not knowing all of the right lingo). The nose cone was a heavily modified balsa BT-80 compatible cone I purchased from erockets (I had to shorten it about an inch from the cone's initial height and attempt to sand it into the proper shape). I hope this helps and I wish you luck on your model!
 
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Those tube sizes make sense. What did you do for the transition from the common core booster to the payload fairing?
It was a balsa transition which I bored a hole through the center of and I attached a deadbolt with a piece of kevlar chord to it before assembling. I had to shorten it and sand it flat to the proper scale as best I could.
 
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