16 MAY/JUNE 2017 SPORT ROCKETRY
(Right) Figure 14. Detailing on the middle transition.
The stringers were made from individual Plastruct
square plastic sticks.
(Below) Figure 15. The surface markings of the
Service Module were drawn up in a computer
graphics program, then printed onto the SM skin
using a color laser printer.
(Above) Figure 16. Detail view of the Command
and Service Modules (CSM) and Launch Escape
System. The CM is molded from solid epoxy, the
RCS quads are molded, and the surface detailing
and tower structure are made from
basswood and Plastruct.
I thought long and
hard about how
to create the BPC,
and came up with
a really neat solu-
tion. I wanted the
BPC to be heavy
to help with the
Center of Gravity
issue to make the
rocket more stable.
My sister happens
to be a potter, so I
decided to ask for
her help. I gave
her the size and
dimensions that I
needed and pho-
tos of the exact
shape. She created
a shell out of clay
and fired it, which
is a challenge in it-
self. When you fire
clay in the kiln, it
tends to shrink, so
she had to create
three sizes to hit or
miss the exact size.
