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“Apollo Command and Service Module/ A Guide for Scale Model Builders” Volume Six of the Spacecraft In Miniature series Text and illustrations by David Weeks Series edited by Mike Mackowski Reviewed By Mark McGovern #34707 |
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I’ll begin this review by quoting from the press release that accompanied
the book: “This volume...describes the configuration history of the
Command and Service Module (CSM) that carried astronauts to the moon and
back. The magazine-style publication has 61 pages of descriptive text,
drawings, and photos designed to provide the modeler with all the
information needed to build an accurate scale reproduction of any of the
manned Apollo missions.” There’s more, and I’ll draw a little from it; but what the press release fails to mention is that this book is THE reference for the serious “real space” modeler. As with every other branch of plastic modeling, many modelers desire to have the details of the spacecraft they’re building reproduced with an accuracy that the simple kits of the 1960s and ‘70s couldn’t provide. Nowadays it’s possible to apply photo-etched and resin details to create a much more accurate representation of an Apollo spacecraft. And not just any spacecraft - for with the help of aftermarket decals, a specific craft from a specific mission can be rendered. But to do all that a modeler needs references, and the lion’s share is in this book. There’s all kinds of good stuff in there, including (going back to the press release): “...drawings that show all of the spacecraft’s colors and markings and how they varied from the early Block I vehicles, through the Block II lunar-capable spacecraft, to the variations for Skylab and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.“ Many of these drawings (some of which I hope you can make out in the accompanying pictures) are done in 1/96 scale, perfect for many of the models which have been released of this subject over the years. I know that because of the handy list in the back of the book that gives the manufacturers and scales of the models, along with other useful facts. Well-known spacecraft modelers review some of these kits. Aftermarket kits and decals are also examined. Saving the best for last, there is an article by Karl Dodenhoff that describes the process of building the large 1/32 scale CSM kit by Monogram. Let there be no doubt that this is indeed a model-builder’s reference book! The text can be difficult to follow in places. This is because author David Weeks follows with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) habit of transforming most every item under discussion into alphabet soup. He could hardly do otherwise, or the word count would perhaps have been doubled. Much as I appreciate this difficulty I still had a tough time with phrases like, “...this condition might affect the ability of the CSM to extract the LM from the SLA/IU/S-IVB during the lunar mission...”. Otherwise the book is a fascinating read on its own merits, apart from its main function as a modeling reference work. |
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I can easily recommend this book to anyone who wants to build an accurate
replica of an Apollo spacecraft. (And if the rest of the Spacecraft In
Miniature series, which covers Mercury, Gemini, and Soviet spacecraft
as well as the Space Shuttle, are as well written and illustrated as this
book is I’d recommend them too - sight unseen.) Here’s a last quote from
the press release:
“This new book is available directly from the publisher for $14.00 plus first class shipping...$2.21 per book in North America. To order, or for more information, write to Michael Mackowski, 1022 W. Juanita Ave., Gilbert, Arizona, USA 85233-2558 or via email at mike@spaceinminiature.com. More information is also available on the Internet at: www.spaceinminiature.com.” Many thanks go to Mike for providing his book for review, and to John Noack for sending it on to me. |
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