Skylab

thingiverse

I've always been frustrated by the lack of a decent model from a major manufacturer featuring Skylab. 3D printing has finally given me the chance to solve this problem. Here's my interpretation of the Skylab orbital space station, designed to match the 1:72 scale of other Apollo spacecraft models available from Dragon Models. This way I can finally have everything at the same scale for the first time in my life! This project is more complex than any model I've built before, but if you're looking for a good-sized, nicely detailed Skylab model, I think this might be just what you need. I certainly hope so anyway. The model parts are divided into three subassemblies, and I recommend building one at a time, then connecting them all together. I've also included parts that allow you to build it as designed or as flown - with either both solar panels intact or one missing. A decal sheet is provided for detailing the solar panels. The truss supporting the solar science section (subassembly 3) is the most challenging part to assemble, so I've included several files to help guide you through the process. It's best to build each section of the overall truss independently before gluing them all together. Keep in mind that the pentagon truss part (Skylab Part 2-01) should be used only as a reference for aligning and assembling the first truss section, and will need to be cut off once the entire truss has been built. The truss won't fit over the cylinder until this part is removed. Additional details are included for subassembly 1, but unfortunately I couldn't find any specific references on where they should go, so you'll have to consult online pictures and decide for yourself. The real truss was made of round pipes, but the flatter pieces used here are much easier to create and work with. Despite taking a long time to get right, this project was a lot of fun for me, and it finally scratched an itch I've had for a very long time!