Pat LeBlanc's Lunar Module Custom Part 4 - The Aft Equipment Bay

Pat LeBlanc's Lunar Module Custom Part 4 - The Aft Equipment Bay

Continuing Pat's journey in building an MMM-scale Lunar Module...

Panel Layout

Well this is the home stretch (for the ascent stage anyway).  There are no internal details for the AEB but it does include the remaining RCS thruster quads.  The construction of the AEB is similar to the midsection.  I started by laying out the front and back panels of the AEB on Plexiglas.

More Construction

According to the references, the AEB is approximately 3 feet "thick" from front to back (which is 3" at this scale).  I used a plastic cup and a couple of pieces of Plexiglas to achieve the proper separation between the panels.  I cut pieces of balsa wood to jut out where the RCS quads would be.  I measured the distances between the Plexiglas and/or the balsa wood and trial fit pieces of construction paper.

Covering the Pieces

Using the construction paper pieces as guides, I cut and attached Styrene sheets to cover the AEB. The Styrene is held in place with strips of metallic duct tape.

As on the midsection, I glued the pieces of construction paper to aluminum foil and used them to cover the styrene.  I then repeated the process I used for the RCS quads on the crew cabin.

Antenna and Light Construction

Once I attached the AEB to the back of the midsection, I added the following finishing touches:  

Front View

This front view shows white and yellow docking lights and the inflight S-band antenna.  The "lights" are 1/8" wooden dowels painted the appropriate color.  The antenna is a 5/16" wooden dowel sanded  down to a point and covered with a piece of wire.

Side View

Docking Lights

These side views show the red docking light on the commander's side and the green docking light on the pilot's side.

Back View

This back view shows the other in-flight S-band antenna, a white docking light (on top of the AEB) and the EVA antenna which is a 1/8" dowel covered in metallic duct tape.

The following link has some great views of the ascent stage and has been very
useful: http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/models/vault/LM-5%20Apollo%2011/index.html

From start to finish, the ascent stage has taken about 17 weeks to construct. It's been very interesting and sometimes frustrating but overall I've learned a lot about about why the lunar module looks the way it does.  I encourage anyone interested in the space program (past, present or future) to get out there and
make something for the Major to continue his journeys.

Of course I'm not quite finished with this project yet.  I've still got the descent stage to complete.  Until next time.

Continue to Part 5 - The Descent Stage

You can contact Pat through Facebook about his amazing custom here.

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