# Rocketeer finishes the Saturn Weekender **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 27, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462 "2017-09-27T20:11:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/1 "2017-09-27T20:11:37Z")
This morning I finished my latest project. The local hobby shop, the superlative Galaxy Hobby, is having their annual Sci-Fi and Fantasy model contest in a couple weeks, and this year’s theme class is Space Yacht. So after a couple false starts, I dug out a blimp kit and bought a 1952 Chevy kit, and here’s the result. It has a number of LEDs here and there; the Space Car’s headlights, taillights, dome light, and engine exhausts light up, and so do the Weekender’s interior lights and taillights. Some of the windows in the space-station base light up, too. [Overall view, lit up](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4446/37310874546_9c7bc220a4_k.jpg) [Tow vehicle](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4408/37310877776_550be836ec_k.jpg) [Saturn Weekender](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4454/37357663891_32430c3261_k.jpg) [Base](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4503/37357663601_1282fd0287_k.jpg) [A peek through the windows](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4512/36688080723_2a044a9c5a_k.jpg) [Link to album, with some construction pics](https://www.flickr.com/photos/150559382@N07/albums/72157683380025230/with/37310874546/) Incidentally, if any of you know the origin of the term “Saturn Weekender”, let me know. I remember it from some sci-fi novel or another, possibly something by Vance (since I read a lot of him), but the exact source eludes me. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/2 "2017-09-27T20:16:24Z")
It’s from Bester’s _The Stars My Destination_. And your model looks fucking fantastic, as always. The tow vehicle makes it for me. Again, this totally fucking rocks! ETA: Wait… you carved that dog yourself? [EATA](http://www.myths.com/pub/fiction/science-fiction/bester/the_stars_my_destination/chapter_07.html): > [@](#): > > The Saturn Weekender was built like a pleasure yacht; it was ample for four, spacious for two, but not spacious enough for Foyle and Jiz McQueen. Foyle slept in the main cabin; Jiz kept to herself in the stateroom. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/3 "2017-09-27T20:18:22Z")
Having the thrusters lit up while Ashley and Astro are outside on the tether gives entirely the wrong impression, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/4 "2017-09-27T20:21:38Z")
And, uh, wow… Jiz McQueen is a name that really doesn’t work well in modern times. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/5 "2017-09-27T20:33:54Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > It’s from Bester’s _The Stars My Destination_. > > … > > ETA: Wait… you carved that dog yourself? Thanks for the kind words and for the quote source. I’m gonna have to re-read _Stars_ again. Soon. 🙂 No, I didn’t carve the dog; I started with a little 1/35 resin figure of a dog, and dressed it in an epoxy-putty spacesuit. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/6 "2017-09-27T20:35:03Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Having the thrusters lit up while Ashley and Astro are outside on the tether gives entirely the wrong impression, I think. I worried about physics even less than usual on this one 😉 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/7 "2017-09-28T00:37:59Z")
Is that a Bussard collector under the hood of the automobile? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/8 "2017-09-28T00:41:58Z")
Is this the first known instance of someone walking the dog…IN SPACE??? Seriously, great work as always. I expect to hear you’ve taken first prize. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/9 "2017-09-28T00:43:23Z")
**Rocketeer** , have you ever considered trying to get a gig with a practical effects company? Ya know, like making models for movies? ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/10 "2017-09-28T02:09:34Z")
Another great one! How did you choose that color? ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/11 "2017-09-28T03:15:52Z")
> [@Isamu](#): > > Another great one! How did you choose that color? Believe it or not, it’s exactly the same shade of blue as the Buick that almost ran me over when I was six or seven. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/12 "2017-09-28T05:39:20Z")
This is gonna end up on Reddit’s retro-futurism subreddit before long. Beautiful work! ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/13 "2017-09-28T16:05:25Z")
You should do the rocket from [Dancing on the Moon](https://youtu.be/VqNEuFJxOIE). ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/14 "2017-09-28T16:25:19Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > **Rocketeer** , have you ever considered trying to get a gig with a practical effects company? Ya know, like making models for movies? But, but, but that would be work! > [@Isamu](#): > > Another great one! How did you choose that color? I had been building a lot of green stuff lately, so I thought I ought to branch out a little. And when I saw that lovely blue (Tamiya spray can), I knew it was just the ticket. Had I known about the bad associations it carries for **terentii** , I might have reconsidered 😉 > [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > You should do the rocket from [Dancing on the Moon](https://youtu.be/VqNEuFJxOIE). Yes, that’s a lovely Thirties design; I’ve go a couple pics of it stashed on my computer here, just in case 🙂 The other old rocket that might make an interesting model is the [Buck Rogers](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4481/36704155553_6ec5fcca13.jpg) battlecruiser, (and here’s a handy [cross-section](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4466/36704168723_1e1e92fa65_b.jpg)), designed before they realized that you could put the rocket exhaust at the rear of the rocket and still have it be stable. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/15 "2017-09-28T18:28:59Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > The other old rocket that might make an interesting model is the [Buck Rogers](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4481/36704155553_6ec5fcca13.jpg) battlecruiser, (and here’s a handy [cross-section](https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4466/36704168723_1e1e92fa65_b.jpg)), designed before they realized that you could put the rocket exhaust at the rear of the rocket and still have it be stable. I like the “Crew’s quarters.” Apparently, this futuristic battlecruiser has the men sleeping in canvas-sheet bunks stacked about a foot apart, like on WWII troopships. No bridge, but a “Periscope steering” section amidships. Was this supposed to be an _Unterwarpenboot_? (The “Gravity section” must have served as an inertia dampener as well.) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/16 "2017-09-28T18:41:03Z")
Putting the rocket motors on the bow of the ship instead of the stern actually makes a lot of sense: (a) You wouldn’t have to swing the tail around 180 degrees every time you wanted to decelerate, and (b) you wouldn’t have to worry about the ship toppling over while you’re landing it on its tail. I always wondered how the hell you could keep a ship like the _Luna_ in _ **Destination: Moon** _ balanced enough to set it down like that. Yes, I know about attitude thrusters, but still… 😕 The Apollo LM was squat with widely-spread legs, so the designs just aren’t comparable. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/17 "2017-09-28T18:41:12Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I like the “Crew’s quarters.” Apparently, this futuristic battlecruiser has the men sleeping in canvas-sheet bunks stacked about a foot apart, like on WWII troopships. Those aren’t even bunks. Those are hammocks. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/18 "2017-09-28T18:45:14Z")
Makes sense. When it’s not sleepy-time you can pull the hammocks and use the room for another purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/19 "2017-09-28T20:26:24Z")
> [@](#): > > I always wondered how the hell you could keep a ship like the Luna in Destination: Moon balanced enough to set it down like that. Yes, I know about attitude thrusters, but still… And yet, SpaceX does it. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2017, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462/20 "2017-09-28T20:29:41Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > Those aren’t even bunks. Those are hammocks. Hammocks stacked like bunks, then. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocketeer-finishes-the-saturn-weekender/797462.md?page=2)