Lunar Module 5 (LM5 - Eagle)

By Ron Denning

This is a 1:32 scale scratch built model of LM5 (Eagle) from the Apollo 11 moon landing.

I always wanted a LM to go with my 1:32 scale Command/Service module by Revell. Since I could not find a 1:32 scale LM model, I decided to build my own. I scaled up the ever popular 1:48 Lunar module and started in.

The basic frame is 3/32" plastic bulkheads covered with a .020 thin plastic skin. The landing gear legs are tube plastic. The gear pads are plastic vessel ends. The thrusters are from another 1:32 scale service module kit. The foil covering is florist foil that is gold on one side and aluminum on the other. The descent engine nozzle is the main engine from a 1:48 scale service module. It was the perfect size. The ascent stage engine nozzle is the 1:48 scale LM descent engine nozzle. It too was the perfect size. The red/orange foil was developed from a red magic marker thinned with paint thinner. That gave it the translucent look of the real thing. The tape on the gear legs is scotch tape marked with a red marker. Again creating a translucent look of the real tape used. The US flag emblem and United States emblem on the descent stage are decals enlarged on a copier and applied to .010 plastic and glued to the foil.

Researching and building this piece of space exploration history was a great time. I still remember exactly what I was doing 40 years ago when Neal Armstrong stepped foot on the moon on July 20th, 1969.

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© Ron Denning

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This article was published on Friday, September 27 2013; Last modified on Saturday, May 14 2016