Build a Rocket

This is a replica of the Saturn V rocket that took men to the moon. (Not a flying model)

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

I USED THIS MODEL TO PRESENT AN OUTLINE OF THE APOLLO 11 MISSION FOR VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

For the first and second tube, I used heavy gauge cardboard tubes that banner material was wrapped on. I cut them to proper size and covered them with plastic banner material and used some white sign letter vinyl to tape it together. Markings are also made of lettering vinyl which is kind of like electrical tape. I also attached a guide ring to the top of the first tube to keep the second tube centered.

The tapered parts are made of poster paper with a layer of banner material on them, and decorated with sign vinyl. I attached supports on to the tube where the first taper would go, and then placed the tapered part over it. I did not glue the tapered part to the supports so it would not be distorted.

Building the engine section involved two cardboard layers, five applesauce cups, some poster paper cut and wound tight into tubes, and some heavy nylon twine to thread it all together. I covered it all with duct tape. Unfortunately, this part was not such a good representation of the actual rocket engines, but it worked for the model. The skirts that would be attached later would hide the inaccurate part of the engine assembly.

The skirts all came from a circle of poster paper with a layer of silver, and then triangular sections of white and black sign vinyl. Each skirt took less than 90 degrees of the circle. I had to round them by pulling them tight over the edge of a table. After attaching the rocket engine assembly to the bottom the rocket, I attached the skirts with strips of sign vinyl. The fins are double thick poster paper covered with silver sign vinyl. I attached them with silver vinyl and then hid the attaching vinyl with strips of black and white vinyl.

The next tapered section was made like the first one, but without the supports underneath. I extended the top tube, made from rolled poster paper, to set on the top of the second tube, and I slid the tapered part over it.

The capsule is also made from poster paper. The escape tower on the very top is a golf tee. The scaffolding underneath is made of toothpicks with thin strips of sign vinyl wrapped diagonally to look like cross member supports. Inside the scaffolding is a transparent tube that is glued directly to the golf tee, extends down through the scaffolding and the capsule and into the top of the uppermost tube. The tooth picks pass through holes in the capsule. This gives the top section support and keeps everything straight.

The lettering was cut by computer at the sign shop I worked at. The flags were printed and laminated with extra wide cellophane tape. The rest of the decorations were hand cut. The pipe works on the outside of the rocket are drinking straws covered with sign vinyl. After it was finished, the model was 6 foot tall.