One-Quarter Scale 1963-1964 LEM Model
A Lunar Module of much larger scale
Exploring the intersection of spaceflight history, pop culture, and space art.
In the previous edition of Creating Space, I shared a 1:12 scale model of a 1963-1964 Apollo Lunar Excursion Module design. Now, I take a look at a model that is much larger in scale.
Are you new to Creating Space? It’s the NERDSletter that explores the intersection of spaceflight history, pop culture, and space art. You can find this and all past posts at creating-space.art.
Model of the Month
Readers of the previous edition of Creating Space saw a recent addition to my contractor model collection – a 22 inch (56 cm) tall model of an early Apollo Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) designed by Grumman. Topping that one, this time, is a model of greater scale ... too big, even, to fit in my collection.
In the 1960s, manned spaceflight was taking off and NASA not only took on missions into space, but had as part of their charter a mission to make it known to the American public what they were up to. One of the most effective ways NASA used to educate people about what they were working on was by way of eye-catching informational displays in museums and NASA centers around the country. These displays often included as their focal points impressive scale models of spacecraft.
One of the advantages large museums have over most private home-based collections is that they have lots of space to display big things. As is often the case, the availability of lots of space leads to making big things to fill that space.
Such is the case with the 1963-1964 one-quarter scale Apollo Lunar Module model. At that scale, the model stood over 5 feet (1.5 m) tall.
I have been able to find several appearances of this model spanning the mid-1960s to the present.
Pacific Science Center, Seattle, Washington, 1968
If you lived in the Pacific Northwest in the mid-1960s and made a visit to the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington (a building built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair), you might have encountered this one-quarter scale version of the 1963-1964 LEM. And, if you were a provisional member of the Junior League of Seattle participating in a docent program in 1968, you might have found yourself modeling for a photographer taking this photo with that very model. (Photographer: “Miss, would you please point toward the reaction control thrusters?”)
In the photo are (as identified on the reverse), kneeling, Mrs. Albert Fessler, left, and Mrs. Edward R. Wolfe; and standing, from left, Marcia Watt and the Mesdames Douglas DeForest, Arthur Blakeney, Dennis Dunn, Eben Carlson and Stephen Davis.
Incidentally, the Junior League of Seattle is still going strong, today, and celebrated its 100th anniversary this year (2024). I wonder if any Creating Space readers know any of the women pictured.
Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas, 1965
If you were one of the lucky kids whose parents worked for the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas, in 1965, you may have attended a children’s open house. And, in the lobby of the auditorium, you certainly would have been immediately drawn to the big white bug-like contraption on display. That’s right, it is another appearance of a one-quarter scale version of the 1963-1964 LEM. Just as with the Pacific Science Center’s copy, this one is performing its mission to educate and inspire those who view it.
These three kids were in the right place at the right time to be captured in this photo. Left to right, are Deborah C. Carr, Teddy Youngblood, and Neyland Youngblood. (Photographer: “Young men, would you please point out the rendezvous radar antenna?”)
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Alabama, 1964
So far, we have seen that people both young and adult can be fascinated by such models. Now we have an example of interest extending internationally.
The next photo shows the same type of LEM model at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in September 1964. Evelyn Falkowski is pointing out features to British Colonel John Stevenson at Marshall’s Space Orientation Center, the forerunner to what is now the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
Something tells me that the photographer didn’t need to ask Evelyn to use her pointer for this shot.
NASA published a biography of Evelyn on their history website, which is well worth reading. Here is an excerpt describing her work at Marshall Space Flight Center.
Falkowski started work at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in March 1962, accepting a position as an historian. While her work also included compiling the illustrated chronology of Saturn program development, Falkowski’s primary responsibility was as curator at the Marshall Space Orientation Center (SOC) – the museum which opened in February of 1963 and was the forerunner to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Located in Building 4471 and operated by the Historical Office, the SOC housed exhibits consisting of rocket engines, nose cones, and scale models of satellites and rockets including the full-scale models outside the building in Rocket Park.
Along with Paul Satterfield, Falkowski was assigned the task of gathering material and working with artist and illustrators to develop exhibits for the SOC. A brochure from the era declared the SOC home to “some of the world’s most historic rockets and many other tools of space flight,” a place which allowed visitors to “share in the exploration of space.” Each year more than 200,000 visitors from Huntsville and around the world came through the doors of the museum to take in the latest and greatest advances in the space program.
Here are a couple additional photos of Evelyn in action with her trusty pointer.
Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas, 1966
Meanwhile, back in Houston at the Manned Spacecraft Center, we have Max Faget, himself, serving as a tour guide for a group of VIPs through the facility in 1966. Maxime Faget was a key figure in U.S. manned spaceflight history. He has many design and engineering credits to his name. Chief among them are responsibility for the blunt-body shape for the Mercury and follow-on space capsules, the concept of using launch escape towers, and one of the early designs for the Space Shuttle orbiter.
For more about Maxime Faget and his long career at NACA and NASA, including the Space Task Group, read NASA’s full biography, here.
Where Are They, Now?
If you are wondering, like me, if any of these models survived the passage of time, you might be surprised to find out that there are at least two still in existence and on (or nearing) public display.
One of these quarter scale LEM models is on display at the Historic Attractions museum in Roscoe, Illinois. It stands in their Space exhibit along with a replica Apollo Command Module and other space artifacts of that era. From the images I have found, the LEM model appears to have been well preserved in its original state.
The second surviving quarter-scale LEM model that I have located is currently in storage, but is planned for display, at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Science Museum.
I reached out to the museum in Lafayette and was put in touch with the former curator of the planetarium. He, in turn, connected me with someone who worked at the South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium in Bradenton, Florida. The two of them were able to trace the history of the quarter-scale LEM model as far back as the mid-1960s, and through its journey through three museums in three states to where it is today. Along the way, the model was painted silver, the descent stage was covered in gold-colored foil for the twentieth anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, it had lights installed in its engines, and it served as a promotional display at a movie theater advertising the 1984 film, Starman.
This is certainly the most detailed history that I have heard for any Apollo model. It is typical, when purchasing contractor models from auction houses, to be given very little, if any, information about where the models have been used or who the models’ previous owners were, except in some rare occasions when the previous owner is widely known in the public sphere.
I am glad to know that some examples of this incredible model still exist. Some may see them as only models, but I view them as artifacts of the Space Age. While it may be true that they cannot be compared to actual spacecraft hardware, I think they speak to the larger effort to inform, educate, and inspire the public about NASA’s activities.
And, from an engineering history point of view, it is well worth preserving as part of the story of the Lunar Module’s design evolution. While this LEM model does not depict the final ‘as flown’ configuration, it does represent a key moment in history when Grumman engineers reimagined their first prototype ‘bubble’ design into something much more practical. In that one 1963/1964 concept revision, they completely revamped the design and came up with nearly all of the breakthroughs that made it into the final design. I think without those design changes, Apollo may not have been as successful.
Merch of the Month
Moonshot 1970: Moments to Touchdown Acrylic Print
Even if you don’t have space for a quarter-scale LEM model, you can still hang this high-quality wall art in your Rocket Office.
As a special thank-you for reading Creating Space, I am offering a discount on my artwork. Simply use code CREATINGSPACE15% for 15% off your entire order from the Pixel Planet Pictures shop.
My space-inspired art portfolio can be found at pixel-planet-pictures.com. You can also follow me on Instagram (pixelplanetpics).
Do you know fellow Space Geeks who might enjoy Creating Space? Invite them into this space, too!
Did you miss a post? Catch up here.
If you enjoyed this article please hit the ‘Like’ button and feel free to comment.
Dave, you might enjoy “Across the Airless Wilds” by Earl Swift, about the development of the lunar rover. It discusses, for example, the engineering and testing of the mesh tires, including the initial proving grounds along Hwy 1 in Santa Barbara. An interesting story about cutting edge technology for space vehicles.