SPACE IN MINIATURE

Scale: 1/72

History

The space shuttle orbiter Enterprise was constructed in the 1970's as a flight test vehicle for the Approach and Landing tests, and had initially been planned to be modified into a full flight vehicle. After deciding to modify the Structural Test Article Challenger for flight instead, NASA relegated Enterprise to various ground testing duties, including facility verification test at the SLC-6 shuttle launch site at Vandenberg AFB.

In 1996, there were proposals that involved refurbishing Enterprise as an additional flight vehicle. Despite the generally favorable results of a JSC inspection, this plan was never pursued.

The Model

If you haven't guessed, I think that the Big E should have been fixed up and be flying missions alongside Columbia while the other orbiters build the ISS.

The model is Monogram's Young Astronauts edition, with nothing really special done to it. The only aftermarket items are RealSpace Models' engine bells. I painted and marked Enterprise to the specs she had as of the SLC-6 test and her subsequent retirement to the Smithsonian. I think that the different FRCS paint scheme looks neat. As for the payload, I have configured it as a "satellite launch mission", using a satellite from the kit and another of the same variety from another 1/72 shuttle kit. I also scratchbuilt a rack for the GAS (Get Away Special) cannisters, which are used for experiments and are kept in the payload bay. The decals on that rack are a chopped up extra I had from my 1/96 Saturn V. It isn't like the real rack, but a semi-close reproduction. The payload bay is obviously purely conjectural, and just something I dreamed up as a possibility.

Reference

Image: Payload bay

Image: Rear view

Image: Top view