With Tim Peake soaring into space, we’ll all be scrambling in our stash for one or more old Soyuz rockets to build – me included! I thought it might be useful to look at the different kits available for this time-proven launcher so that the discerning modeller (that’s you) can make an informed choice?
The first is the old Airfix 1:144 scale model from 1975 and re-issued several times
The kit contains both Soyuz and Vostok capsules along with Luna, Soyuz and Vostok payloads atop the Soviet R-7(A-Type) launch vehicle (which was also used to launch Sputnik, Voskhod, Molniya, Progress, Soyuz 2 and Fregat). This gives great scope for the model enthusiast!
Despite its age the kit is finely detailed and assembles well; but great care is required in removing many of the parts, especially the strap-on booster frame which needs to be carefully trimmed and filed to allow easy assembly of this crucial structure. It is also advisable to enlarge the holes in the main rocket body and the boosters where the frame connects them as it could spoil the look of the model if the boosters are misaligned! When assembled the Soyuz, Luna and Vostok modules are interchangeable.
The Vostok and Soyuz capsules are designed to fit into their respective units (Photo 1) but rather than hide them away I begged a spare set from Airfix and put them to one side of the display stand and for the capsules at the other. This leaves a hole in the Vostok cover (Photo 2) where the capsule should show through the shroud but I found that a Lego spaceman helmet can be trimmed to fit inside and doesn't spoil the look.
I'm quite pleased with the compact Soviet space history I ended up with; it's well worth taking time over the assembly. The kit requires plenty of patience and preparation to ensure all parts go together correctly but the end result is well worth it. If you intend to start collection of similar models take a look at Airfix A06172 Saturn 1B 1:144 Scale Space Exploration Model Kit Airfix 1:144 Scale A11170 Nasa Apollo Saturn V Rocket Model Kit Airfix A11150 Saturn V Skylab 1:144 Scale Space Exploration Model Kit Space Shuttle Discovery & Booster Rocket 1:144 scale model. There are also a number (13 in all) of Eastern European Soyuz/Vostok launcher/combos, some of which I’ll bore you with later. Comparing the completed model to various photographs, I thought it looked too tall; strangely on checking it turns out to be fractionally too short! It appears that the boosters should be slightly thicker at the base, making the Airfix kit look tall and thin. Still it's a good kit of a rare subject. If you are looking for a more accurate representation I would suggest looking at the Eastern Express 1:144 scale Vostok/Sputnik which builds into a surprisingly solid if less detailed model (both kits contain all the parts necessary for Sputnik 1, Lunik 1, Vostok 1 and beyond). Finally, an all-white finish was only used for a short period. These launchers are painted Dark Grey NOT Green (Photo 5) as in this and many other references but they turn almost completely white with ice when fuelled – something that is done as soon as the rocket is raised to vertical on the launch pad!
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Surprisingly there are a number of decal sheets available for the 1/144 Soyuz/Vostok combo - most interestingly of course for UK astronaut Helen Sharman's trip to the ISS (TM12).
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Hi pen-pusher remembered I did this Russian space model about 4 years ago. Found it cheap in a model shop down south and thought it would be a change from ships ( sorry Haddock )
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Nice one! Thank you.
Quote from: MSea on December 17, 2015, 02:03:23 PM
Hi pen-pusher remembered I did this Russian space model about 4 years ago. Found it cheap in a model shop down south and thought it would be a change from ships ( sorry Haddock )
Is there no end to this man's talents!!
...but it is a ship...a space ship!!
'Spaced out' is probably more appropriate!
Bigkev
Started my 1/72 Soyuz depicting mission TM-12 (Helen Sharman). Looking at the detail for the capsule shroud I notice these four attachments which seem to have a grill or perforated insert. Can anyone advise on how best to achieve this finish in 1/144 scale?
PS. This is a computer generated photo.
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In that scale I reckon that they would physically be about 10mm square or thereabouts. I would be tempted to use old radiators from my spares box for aircraft in 1:48 scale.....I reckon that that should do the trick effectively enough. Waddayasay?
If you want to push the boat out, Littlecars.com supplies all sorts of wire mesh in a multitude of sizes.
Haddock.
Thank you both... Will pursue these ideas (or if Will doesn't know, I'll try something else!)
Had a look in my pile of junk and I've got some mesh, I'll take a picture so you can have a look.
Haddock.
You're a star Sir!
Here's the stuff I found, yours if it's suitable for your needs.
Haddock.
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Oh Yes, Oh Yes, Yes, Yes....... (Is that a bit much?)
Sounds like something is going on in another part of the house but I get the message.
Haddock.
Progress is slow on this one. I am building the Parc Models (Romania) kit which needs some TLC during construction. A fair amount of good detail and am trying to enhance this with the aid of some blow-ups from Russia (Maybe not the right wording there?) Anyone got a shapely female astronaut in 1/144 to represent Helen Sharman?
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A quick coat of paint to highlight any flaws and with some extra's added, I think it's time to get down to the next assembly stage. Still a bit worried by the booster rocket nozzles and may have to drill out further....?
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Are they a bit shallow? Sometimes I find that you can give impression of depth by painting pure black at deepest point then gradually making the black 'lighter by adding grey to black paint, increasing mix until outer edge is reached.
Worth a thought, but if you really like drilling holes...........................
Bigkev
Thanks for that Kev but unfortunately they are painted bright red on the inside (See first post diagram). I think the problem is the walls of the exhausts are too thick and maybe just need bevelling out...?
Hi Pen Pusher,
Sorry didn't consider that one, being painted bright red inside. Maybe the bevelling work is the answer?
Happy Bevelling!!!
Bigkev
I did promise further reviews of kits other than the Airfix issue of the Soyuz/Vostok launcher so for anyone even mildly interested, here goes with the first. Parc Models are a Rumanian company that re-issues other Eastern European kits with alternative accessories or build parts. So it is with their 1/144 Soyuz which was originally issued by RedStar in 2002. Dimensionally much more accurate that its British predecessor, the kit is moulded in the same resin/plastic now common amongst kits from these countries. With 24 major assemblies and 22 small parts this particular kit depicts mission TM-12 which took British astronaut Helen Sharman into space. Finely engraved detail and a good fitting kit has only one really difficult aspect and that, the separation cage between the second and final stage is moulded flat with instructions to 'bend' over a pen or some such object to achieve the necessary curvature. Well suffice to say I tried this and broke the first - and its replacement - so had to scratch build this!! Note, the earlier Vostok versions have a much better, albeit fiddly solution but more on that in a later review (You seriously didn't believe you were getting off that lightly did you?). Another adverse aspect is that some of the bridges between the spru and part tend to be heavy and require care in cutting. Good painting instructions however (correct for a change) and I recommend this to those of you who may now be tempted through these stimulating reviews to add to your collection?
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More:
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I am sure that a collection of Rockets and exploration vehicles would be very interesting following your posts, anybody.......................................??
Thanks for the great info Pen Pusher.
Bigkev
The first of four boosters almost ready for fixing to the main body of the rocket. I'm not happy about the thickness of the rocket motor exhausts but 'bevelling' them out in 1/144 is beyond my skill level I'm afraid!
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I do admire your patience, skill and attention to detail. Keep it coming!
My final review (I heard those sighs of relief!!) of a Soyuz at least, is New Ware's excellent resin kit, also to 1/144 - and one of many space themed subjects and variants of. I have chosen the R-7 Soyuz TM/TMA which is closest to the previous reviews. The kit consists of 54 resin parts, 39 photo-etched parts, plastic rods, decals and fine coloured instructions.
The resin parts are beautifully cast with crisp details and finely engraved panel lines. The main parts are solid with the exception of the rocket nozzles which are nicely hollowed out (Oh yes, yes, yes!!). There is some flash on the inter-stage truss and all parts need to be removed from their pour plugs. There are no visible air holes in my example. Extra parts are included for the more delicate items, such as the vernier engine nozzles and cross braces. The plastic rod is to be cut and added to the launch vehicle for additional details. The instruction sheet consists of a short program history, detailed graphical assembly steps and a painting and decaling guide. Decals are chosen when you order the kit. Decals are available for ELEVEN different missions. Along with the mission specific decals, a set of R-7 stencils is provided. I have never built a resin kit, let alone one of this complexity but I have seen this one (albeit the earlier Voshod carrier) built and it looked superb. As I said, some of the construction involves extremely delicate work as can be seen from the photo below. I have included New Ware's website for those interested: http://mek.kosmo.cz/newware/
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....and if you dare?
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That looks fun!!
Meantime, back from fantasy land, a dry run with the boosters to check fit...?
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There were some fantastic etched brass launch gantries for sale at Telford this year. Really intricate.
There's a smashing picture of one on the cover of this months IPMS magazine.
Haddock.
Just in case you did not get my e mail, here they are.
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Much appreciated... I see I have some way to go and much to do and so little time to go and do it in!
Some of you asked if I was doing a model of Tim Peake's Soyuz given the recent publicity of his trip to the ISS. The answer is no, I'm attempting to do that of the 'Juno' mission of Dr Helen Sharman. Here in the UK we're very proud to have Tim Peake as our first official astronaut, something long overdue! Several other Brits have flown into space on the Shuttle but they have enjoyed both British and American citizenship but we mustn't forget our very own Dr Helen Sharman, the first British Cosmonaut who was part of the TM-12 'Juno' mission over two decades ago. (Helen explained why the mission was named Juno, “It was a marketing associate of mine who came up with the name. In ancient Rome, 'Juno' was the goddess who watched over women and marriage. My Flight was seen as a marriage of East and West like the Apollo Soyuz Mission so the name stuck)
When the media had initially realised that Helen was going into space, enthusiasm grew, after all it was something new and exiting, yet when she and her back-up Tim Mace met the then prime minister Margaret Thatcher her response was typical “We the British don’t do that sort of thing” so no government funding was forthcoming. The entire mission had to rely on corporate sponsorship and that remained the attitude of successive governments until now. Despite this, Helen's mission was a great success and as the lead mission specialist, she made a valued contribution to understanding more about the long term effects of spaceflight during her stay at the ISS. So while we celebrate Tim's great achievement, let us not forget Dr Helen Sharman who defied the odds and became the first Brit in space.
PS Remember, you can take a break from the modelling bench and watch Tim do his spacewalk tomorrow... live!
First stage of TM-12 is almost there. Brush painted with Tamiya Acrylics throughout and used Humbrol 'Satin' as a base before applying sticky bits!! Quite pleased with end result but now have to crack on with upper stages. Gloss white......%'#!/* wonderful!
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Trial run with the brass grills for the Soyuz 'radiators'. Thanks Haddock, they seem to work fine! Also prepared the birdcage separation unit for final assembly stage.
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...and in place!
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With a first coat of Tamiya bronze, the effect is quite pleasing!
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