Apogee Components - Apollo Capsule Set {Component}

Apogee Components Apollo Capsule Set

Apogee Components - Apollo Capsule Set {Component}

Contributed by Gordon Agnello

Manufacturer:

(Contributed - by Gordon Agnello - 08/01/01)

Brief:
This is the new Apollo Capsule and escape tower set for the yet to be released 1/70th scale Saturn 1B and Saturn V.

Parts

Construction:
The set comes in a sealed double plastic bag (one for the escape tower and ACR's and one for the capsule). It is all injection molded styrene plastic.

No instructions are provided or needed but I'm sure Tim at Apogee Components will send you some if you ask. Assembly is simple to anyone familiar with the real Apollo capsule or any other kits using similar styrene plastic parts. No special tools are required and assembly takes only a few minutes. Fit of the plastic parts is superb and the quality is impeccable. Some filling of the spirals on the escape rocket motor tube for a smooth finish, but nothing serious. I purchased this directly from Apogee Components for $15.95.

Finished Finishing:
I have yet to apply finish, but the fit on a Totally Tubular BT-70 is perfect. No decals are provided but there are a lot of sources for decals, such as Kosroks, JimZ, or Tango Papa.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Note: Pictures courtesy of Apogee Components

Comments:

B.B. (December 2, 2001)

One thing I might take slight issue with in this review is the "fits BT-70" perfectly. A BT-70 has an ID of 2.175, and the tenon on the Apogee capsule has an OD of 2.145. This makes for an *extremely* loose fit on a standard BT-70. .030 is a lot of clearance. The OD of the capsule/BPC is properly sized at slightly larger than a BT-70 (SM tube). I'm not sure if the Totally Tubular BT-70 has thicker walls than standard - perhaps this explains the discrepancy This is not a big problem to fix, a single wrap of .015 styrene glued to the tenon will make it perfect. The capsule is otherwise beautifully cast with crisp detail. The escape tower on mine was pretty distorted from shipping damage, but it was easy to straighten up once it was assembled. I am using it for a Little Joe, so I have to modify it somewhat to make it a Block I, but it's excellent as a Block II BPC/tower. Compare it to ap15-71-HC-977.jpg from Kipp Teague's Apollo Image Gallery - just right.

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