Instrument
Unit
The instrument unit on top of the S-IV stage contains guidance and
control systems for the Saturn V. It is divided into 24 sections including
access door and umbilicals. Electronics, computers etc. are mounted on 22
separate panels.
Notes 15
August 2004:
Materials used: styrene and small pieces of wire. So far 180 separate
parts... It's simpler than it may look, patience is very important!
The part shown in the first picture - a cable tray - was done by
glueing the small parts shaped like "square A's" and then connecting them with
a long piece of styrene bent into shape on the the way around all the A's.
The pieces of wire supporting the cable tray were installed in pairs 180 degrees apart. This helped to keep the whole
IU circular.
Dave Weeks
has helped me with some great diagrams of the IU of the Apollo 10 Saturn V.
The Apollo 8 IU is described in the
SA 503 Flight Manual
available from NASA (large pdf...). Comparing the two shows some
differences, but I suspect the Apollo 10 IU to be almost identical to the Apollo
11 IU. - Anyway: who will be able to tell
the difference..?
Note 29 March 2005: The Apollo 11 SA 506 Flight Manual can be found on the Apollo Maniacs
web site. (Note that the documents available change
from time to time. A huge amount of Apollo related documents has been collected
on two cd-roms available from the Apollo Maniacs. Great work!) It turns out
that the Apollo 10 and 11 IU's look identical.
Notes 5 October 2004:
Some of the panels have been installed and the outside has been
painted.
Notes February 2005:
The IU is now complete. All the panels are installed and position marker decals have been applied. Painting the panels in slightly differerent shades of grey improves realism.
Notes April
2005: The colour of the antennaes has beens changed to to
correct chromate yellow so here are some more
pictures...
