Space in Miniature

#7 Apollo Lunar Module A Guide for Scale Model Builders

by  Michael J. Mackowski

Reviewed By  Dick Montgomery, IPMS# 14003

MSRP: $13.99 (includes 1st Class Shipping to U.S. Addresses) Order Form on line at www.spaceinminiature.com . Thanks to Michael for making this review item available to IPMS/USA "My God! It's full of stars!" Paraphrasing from the press release included with this review item, Space In Miniature # 7 (SIM # 7) covers the configuration history of the Apollo Lunar Lander. This 49-page soft-bound publication in printed in black and white on glossy paper, and includes numerous line drawings and photographs that provide the model builder with a concise reference covering the Lunar Landers from all nine manned flights. While a brief history of the Apollo program is provided, the main focus of the publication is too provide accurate and useful reference material for the modeler. In this effort, Mr. Mackowski's publication is 100% successful. The history of the Apollo program can best be found in other publications, but no other publication provides the modeler with as much technical information, as well as modeling assistance as does SIM #7. Quoting the press release, "One of the challenges of modeling a LM is determining the correct thermal blanket pattern for each mission." SIM #7 provides a description of these blanket materials (color, finish, as well as the name of the actual material on the real item), and then has a page of scale, multi-view drawings devoted to the Ascent and Descent stages for each manned mission. That translates to complete coverage of the LM for all nine manned missions. Upon first glance some of these drawings might be rather intimidating. For example, the multi-view drawing on page 26 for Apollo 14 uses a legend with 11 different "color symbols". However, the drawings and illustrations are well done. The drawings, in 1/72 scale, are clearly rendered and with a small amount of study any confusion one might feel at the outset is eliminated and the patterns are not as complex as first impressions indicated. The author provides an excellent "chapter" covering the construction and conversion of the Monogram 1/48 scale kit into a replica of the Apollo 15 LM. In 10 pages, the reader is treated to 43 photographs and 10 line drawings, as well as a thorough description of the steps needed to turn Monogram's nicely done kit into an excellent display piece. The publication includes a listing of the known Apollo kits. There are short kit reviews and write ups following the listing of kits, and these reviews provide modelers with a "roadmap" to selecting the best kit(s) for their building purposes. Sources for paper models are included as are sources for photo-etched parts. Finally, the publication concludes with a bibliography including books, websites, and sources for high quality line drawings. This publication represents an incredible resource for modelers and, considering the work it represents, is an excellent bargain.

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