Frank May's Orbital Space Station Custom

Orbital Space Station Exterior

Submitted 2008.02.01 by Frank May

To me, von Braun's wheel-shaped space station epitomized the space stations of the '60s, as several plastic models & numerous books chose that design over other designs. About 4 years ago, I began the task of making our Major & crew an Orbital Space Station. (Sorry, Pat, but yours has a too 'modern' feel to it, IMHO.)  On & off, over the last 4 years, I've worked on this. 

My original plan was to use a large tractor tire inner tube for a pattern & lay fiberglass over it, much like paper mache' is done over balloons. I soon found that would be way too much trouble & reconciled myself to having flat surfaces. It's just under 4 ft in outer diameter, & the compartments are 7 1/2 inches high & deep. It's made of plywood & PVC pipe & just about anything else I could conjure up. I did, however, strive to maintain my 'pre - 1970' (AKA 'stuck in the '60s') rule regarding interior equipment & furnishings. I don't think I have anything in it that would look out of place prior to 1970. 

I was going to originally have all 8 sections opened, & just partitioned off, but decided blocking off 4 would be easier to conceal the PVC supports & I could add markings & flashing beacon lights. Also, you know, in the '60s, everything in space 'beeped'. I found an old beeper from a vehicle, like a key warning or something, & it sounds just like Sputnik! The automotive strobes I adapted for the flashers have an adjustable flash rate, so they are timed nearly perfectly with the 'transponder beeper'. 

The whole thing is mounted on a stand made from an office chair roller frame bottom & tubing. This isn't a tabletop toy! So, finally, here it is. Additional photos will follow. Hope y'all enjoy them.

Frank's Orbital Space Station - Space Control Room

Frank's Orbital Space Station - Navigation Room

Frank's Orbital Space Station - Rec Room

Major Matt Mason shows us the Lunar Control Room, Sgt. Storm shows us the Space Control Room, Jeff Long is shown in the Navigation Room & Doug Davis is in the Rec Room. The consoles are reworked GI Joe Adventure Team Mobile Support Vehicle consoles, other images are from various internet sources, John Eaton's site (thanks John & Pat, I used Pat's grills) & Google Images & my trusty ol' scanner, the ol' fashioned 'cut, copy & paste' method. The Rec Room is equipped with dollhouse stuff. That's one advantage of MMM & dollhouses! The closed-off sections of the Station can be anything else we want, kitchen, lavatory, lab, observatory, etc.

Frank's Orbital Space Station - Space Walk

Frank's Orbital Space Station - Space Walk 2

Here are some exterior shots showing the flashing red lights (yeah, I managed to catch them in mid - flash!) & also showing an astronaut doing a spacewalk. "Spacewalk wires" are made from 1/16 inch stainless steel rod & just slip in place. The umbilical cord (kinda like what's in the Start Seeker Spacewalk set.) is just orange latex tubing.

2010.12.02: This video was produced by Peter DiBenedetto using Frank's station:

John's Notes

Love the Space Wheel - I remember building a Lindberg kit and this certainly evokes the same feel.

You can write Frank about his amazing custom here, but please note that he built the Space Rover for his personal collection, and doesn't intend to offer any for sale.

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