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Posted by: Loiserl Feb 7 2011, 10:54 PM

Hi, I have a question: do you know any good source from where I could obtain plans from spacecrafts? I want to make some 3D models and I still couldn't get good plans of Saturn V, Space Shuttle, Soyuz, etc.

I mean, I found some sites, but the images have not been very useful. I hope somebody knows.

Regards.

Posted by: Astro0 Feb 7 2011, 11:50 PM

Google and ye shall find...that the job has been done for you
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/3d_resources/models.html

Posted by: Loiserl Feb 8 2011, 12:09 AM

Thanks, I didn't find that page. Very useful.

Posted by: djellison Feb 8 2011, 12:40 AM

Also good is - http://www.ninfinger.org/models/vault.html

Posted by: Juramike Feb 8 2011, 12:44 AM

Awesome! They have the "Valley Forge" (from "Silent Running")

Posted by: Loiserl Feb 8 2011, 01:01 AM

I was looking for drawings (plans), just like the ones on this page: http://www.apollosaturn.com/modeling/dwsatv.htm

The problem is that they're low resolution and apparently if you want enlarged versions then I supposed they're for sale. I don't understand how could it be possible I can't find detailed plans from Saturn V, for instance.

From side to side, not with perspective or isometric drawings.

Posted by: djellison Feb 8 2011, 01:11 AM

It's taken someone a lot of time and effort to prepare the ones you linked to - hence the fact that you can buy them. The resources to make them are out there.

If you're expecting a complete library of CAD drawings just to be sat there waiting for you, you're going to be disappointed. You're going to have to do some work yourself on this.

Posted by: Loiserl Feb 8 2011, 01:27 AM

Of course, I never said I wanted things the easy way. What I want is to work. I want to make my own 3D models, but first I need to vectorize the existing drawings.

I know, for instance, that Apollo plans were lost. I don't know if all of them or how the situation is like exactly, but copies should be free at some official site or something like that.

Posted by: djellison Feb 8 2011, 02:45 AM

Read the top of the page
http://www.apollosaturn.com/modeling/dwsatv.htm

"Six years of research has finally paid off for space modelers: David Weeks has brought forth a ten sheet set of drawings detailing the exterior and interior of the most powerful operational launch vehicle ever produced."

That research had to take place because the drawings were simply not available. They exist, because something free doesn't.

The full set is available here : http://realspacemodels.com/html/satv.htm

Posted by: Loiserl Feb 8 2011, 04:34 AM

I thought all documents from the US government released or eventually released with historical value go straight to the public domain license.

Thanks, anyway.

Posted by: stevesliva Feb 8 2011, 05:52 AM

Sure, you can get physical access to lots of crap. And you can probably use a coin-op photocopier on it. But that hardly means that what you're looking for is going to be online in convenient, modern, easy accessible format.

I guess there's currently a price for the results of that footwork.

Posted by: DDAVIS Feb 10 2011, 12:46 AM

It is a pity that it is harder to get engineering drawings of particularly unmanned spacecraft now, it is a less friendly world for independent space mission visualizers than in decades past. The Yahoo group 'Space Modelers' has many resources and files of relevant pictures. Doug had already posted their archives link above. A query there is likely to be fruitful.


David Week's drawings are worth the money, BTW.