Posts Tagged models

Golden LEM

Posted by Danielle in Books & Literature, Museums, Exhibits & Parks on April 26, 2011

Scale Replica of the Lunar Module, Cartier Paris 1969

Scale Replica of the Lunar Module, Cartier Paris 1969

It’s rare that I upload a photo that’s AWESOMELY HUGE, but today is a day for such uploads, and this is a picture you want to see at 3307×4692 pixels! I first heard of these exquisite gold replicas of the Lunar Module while flipping through a large Cartier exhibit book. I was there to feast my eyes on fabulous jewelry, and finding a space object was literally the last thing in the world I expected.

From the book:

Three individual 18-karat gold LM models were made in 1969 by Cartier Paris on behalf of “Le Figaro” newspaper and presented to the three Apollo 11 astronauts during their postflight tour in Paris. This example was presented to Michael Collins.

15.0 x 10.0 x 25.0 cm. Yellow gold, white gold, lacquer, red, white and blue enamel.

I also found an article from the Ohio Historical Society with a more detailed description and history of the scale replicas, and a small image of Neil Armstrong’s replica, showing the custom box it came in. Very cool, check it out!

Awesomely large version of the image found here. Image from Cartier: The Power of Style, published in January 2011.

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Scaled Endeavour

Posted by Danielle in Collectibles on July 13, 2010

Space Shuttle Endeavour 1/144 model

I’ve long been a fan of Japanese goods—the detail, the quality—but this scale model of Space Shuttle Endeavour goes beyond anything I’ve seen. It’s simply gorgeous, and perhaps the most amazing thing is the amount of texture. No smooth-surfaced orbiter here:

Detail of OMS pod, Space Shuttle Endeavour 1/144 model

At nearly $500, it’s out of my price range, but if you find yourself with the funds necessary this December, DO pick one up! (Hat tip to collectSPACE for the link and info!)

Space Shuttle Endeavour 1/144 model

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Paper Universes

Posted by Danielle in Crafts & Hobbies on May 26, 2010

Copernican System paper model Ptolemaic System paper model

One of the things I adore about the Japanese is their near-magical ability to transform, manipulate and just plain BUILD with paper. Take this person, for example, who has concocted mechanical paper models that move, including the astronomical models shown here. A delightful project for children and adults — download the printable PDFs here (zip file, 4.4 Mb. Thanks to Debbye for sending me all the files!) The instructions have lots of diagrams, so you should get by without a reading knowledge of Japanese. (I hope!)

Copernican System paper model, in action Ptolemaic System paper model, in action

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Moon, circa 1908

Posted by Danielle in Museums, Exhibits & Parks, Picspam on November 30, 2009

A large model of the Moon, circa 1908

This mysterious image came from the bottom of a Dark Roasted Blend post, and is attributed to this LiveJournal community (though I couldn’t find the original post; perhaps they couldn’t either.)

Perhaps one the most striking examples of astronomy science visualisation is this humongous model of the Moon from 1908, almost a surreal doorway to another world, a snapshot of bizarre art/science history.

Does anyone know where this model was, or anything more about it? So far my online searching has turned up nothing…. (I’ve tagged it in the “museums” category because it seems far-fetched that a model of this size would not be in a museum, but I’m prepared to reclassify it if I find out it’s from something else!)

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