Apollo 7 (CSM and Saturn IB S-IVB)

For Apollo 7, the first manned mission in the Apollo program, here’s my diorama of the CSM manoeuvring to approach the S-IVB for a simulated docking procedure, as seen in photo AS07-03-1530.

This was the first flight of a Block II CSM, though it lacked the High-Gain Antenna that was present from Apollo 8 onwards, and also the Docking Mechanism that was first flown on Apollo 9.

In my own build of this model, the miniature forced-perspective S-IVB uses custom printed “USA” tiles from Millionprints.com – which are available for anyone who’d like to go that route instead of the round plates and brick used in the instructions. For the version with printed tiles, omit the following parts:

• 2 of 4032 (White)
• 1 of 4032 (Black)
• 1 of 3941 (White)

…and instead use:

• 1 of 18674 (Black)
• 1 of 4733 (White)
• 2 of 3024 (White)
• 4 of 3069b (White, with red “USA” print, ordered from Millionprints.com)