I hereby announce that the construction of the LUT is now complete.
Ok - here and there are still small details that I will rework, if the corresponding construction section is transferred into the two-dimensional - lighting fixtures and some other knobs, which are spread all over the main spars and whose tasks remain a mystery. Also at the ECS pipes are still numerous valves, which are only visible on the historical photos and will therefore find their way into the model.
Finished Launcher Platform, Side 4/1
Back to the beginning. The starting platform, the first and at the same time last section is in the box, now with the still missing features. Unique among the three LUTs is the three-dimensional font for the '1'. LUT 1 also had a marker for the north and south side, as you can see when you enlarge the image. Apparently someone was afraid that the launch tower might be set inverted at some point.
Finished Launcher Platform, Side 2/3
In the magnification, the gutter along sides 2 and 4 is also clearly visible. And when NASA develops gutters, it starts where the normal plumber has thrown the pipe wrench already long ago.
The bright green of the hold down arms had already faded a bit in 1969, and the plateau around the engine chamber was no longer yellow but grey at LUT 1 at the time of Apollo 11. Strangely enough there are not many photos from the rollout of the Apollo 11, where the launch platform can be seen from above, but here is a good example:
Rollout of Apollo 11. Courtesy of NASA
When you zoom in on the picture, you'll see 2 dark beetle-like humps on the platform that put me in a kind of decision-making dilemma. It's about the pre-launch equipment, which was romping around on the platform, but was removed before the launch - including the winches, access ladders for the TSMs and HDAs, covers for the engine chamber, living containers etc. etc. etc. etc. I made up my mind to omit this for the time being, but to submit it later as a download. Here is my version ;) :
Rollout of Apollo 11. Courtesy of Mischa
Unfortunately, my rendering knowledge is too bad to get the dynamics and light conditions right. But the will counts for the work. And finally some renderings, that were more successful:
LUT Side 2
Side 2 - I have hidden the Saturn to make the swing arms more visible.
LUT Side 1
Without the side buildings on the launch pad it looks a bit naked, but I don't have the plans nor the time to construct them - especially since the launch pad in 1/96 would be several meters big, which could cause some marriage crisis.
LUT Side 1
Finally my favorite picture, now with the completed LUT. For comparison the original (Courtesy of NASA). In the photo the damper arm is already folded up, and the counterweights are visible. And yes, the Saturn V is not finished yet. Otherwise - if you find any errors, please report them immediately.
What is the next step? - First, systematize the consolidation layers in the Rhino model in order to keep an overview somehow. Then finish the Saturn, then the 2D work with test constructions. But this will probably end in 2019.