Plywood, Chicken Wire and Fiberglass Mercury Capsule

I went with my daughter Whitney and her boyfriend Paul to the Orlando History Center Museum on Sunday August 17. My daughter is a big fan of "Gone With The Wind". They had the touring display of movie props.

On the first floor was a small NASA space program display.
Along with plastic models of manned space vehicles there is a Mercury capsule. I had to get inside of it. The plaque states:
"This is a recreation of the actual Mercury capsule. It is constructed of plywood, chicken wire and fiberglass and is approximately 98% scale of the actual Freedom 7."

Only 98% scale? I thought the fit was a little tight.
Inside the capsule is a small TV screen where you can actually play Space Invaders.
Just like the real thing!

Ranger Picked for Seattle Museum Of Flight

Jeff Taylor sent me a message at TRF about my submitted Ranger at NARAM . . . 

It was picked for display at the Seattle Museum of Flight Model Rocket Display!

Jeff's Steam Punked ACME Spitfire (featured on this blog) will also be there! 

Air and Space Museum, San Diego

While the ship was docked in San Diego I took a shuttle to Balboa Park. I'd heard of the Balboa Park for years but had never been there. It was a great surprise!
I stopped in at the Air and Space Museum for a quick tour.

In front was the predecessor to the SR-71, the Lockheed A-12.
I'd always thought the corrugations on the Estes SR-71 Blackbird were too shallow. But, when you see the wing surface up close, the Estes kit was about right.

While the museum features more historic planes, there are some rocket displays.
Someone built a beautiful Saturn 1B. There were a few shims around the fin root edges and scalloped shroud.

An Apollo Command Module and Gemini space suits are displayed.
In the center rotunda are a mock up of the Mercury capsule and tower.

All the miniatures were well made except for the two Saturn V models.
They looked like the wooden models made in the Philippines and sold on Ebay.
I'd rather see a Dr. Zooch Saturn V in this display window! It would be much closer to the truth.