Soviet Lunar Lander- Rushed into production?

[Andrew Gorman]

I've always liked the speculative sketch of what a Soviet Lunar Lander would look like that showed up in
Chariots for Apollo" in the 1970s.  More of an educated guess than a real project, it's something I've remembered.  It only has a vague similarity to the actual Lunnyi Korabl, kind of like an early development model of the LEM. Even though it's bee a while since I was spending time on PSR, this contest and a couple of Heller 1/125 Soyuz/Progress kits in the stash have lit a fire under my tail.  I think it's do-able in the next 6 weeks.  Wish me luck!

[Rick Lowe]

Y'all have fun wi'dat, y'heah?   

[kerick]

I seem to remember an article about the Soviet moon lander that had hand turned valves inside that looked like they were taken from your grandmother's basement plumbing.

[Rick Lowe]

Hey, Old School still works... and it's cheaper, and keeps the State Industries going... 

[Weaver]

In all seriousness, reliability through simplicity is a key principle in real-world spacecraft design, both for light weight and safety. A hinged, circular airlock door with mechanical dogs (like a submarine door) has FAR less to go wrong with it, and is FAR easier to fix, than a fancy sliding door repleat with motors, switches, solenoids and wiring, and that matters when a broken door is the difference between breathing or not.

[Mossie]

Cool project, nice to see something from the residents of the curtain.

I think it's do-able in the next 6 weeks.  Wish me luck!

Good luck! 

[Old Wombat]

Luck!

[Andrew Gorman]

Thank you!  Made a little progress(groan) last night, but noting worth taking a picture of. These kits are super simple- I'm going to have to shave off an extra couple of hatches, add some more hatches, portholes and accoutrements.  I see a lot of stretched sprue in my future. These are a little smaller than I remembered, so I had to make a trip to my favorite local source for modeling supplies for some more Mardi Gras beads for tanks, The Scroungers Center for Re-Useable Art Parts:
https://www.scrap-sf.org/
If there is an equivalent near you, they are well worth checking out!  There is a good preview of the little Heller kits at:
http://www.starshipmodeler.com/real/pre_hel_soyuz.htm
More news as it happens...

[Andrew Gorman]

Did a quick Sunday morning web search and found a directory of Scrapstores in Britain.  No idea what they are like on the ground, but good luck and good hunting!
https://www.reusefuluk.org/directory

[Gondor]

I will keep an eye on this build to see how much Progress you make 

[Andrew Gorman]

Some PSR, some rooting through the spares for parts today.  Some parts from an Airfix R-7, descent and ascent engines from an abandoned project and a Glencoe Ferry Rocket.  I recently gave away a lot of spare parts, so the lunar insertion section will be cut down from a 20 Mule Team borax kit for some cognitive dissonance.  The actual block D assembly used on the real Lunniy Korabl is a lot cooler looking:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blok_D
But I'm sticking with the 1970s educated guess.  I don't like the Apollo style RCS blocks so I won't make them.

[perttime]

Spherical shapes is what I expected when I saw the title.
I suppose Soviets found it a good shape for containing pressure differences.

[RAFF-35]

I'm looking forward to seeing this one built 

[Rick Lowe]

Spherical shapes is what I expected when I saw the title.
I suppose Soviets found it a good shape for containing pressure differences.

A sphere is supposed to be the best type of pressure vessel... something all deep submergence vessel makers should know...

Actually, there is some footage on the Tube of how they make spherical vessels, using a welded construction, water and high explosives... fascinating and really cool.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yheJXYbk-QI

[Weaver]

Did a quick Sunday morning web search and found a directory of Scrapstores in Britain.  No idea what they are like on the ground, but good luck and good hunting!
https://www.reusefuluk.org/directory

That's damned handy - thanks!