A second take on the first launch

Challenge: In Early November 2007, Masterpiece Models was contacted by Nick Proach Models to build a 1:1 scale model of a rocket and launch frame built by Robert Goddard. Goddard's creation was the first liquid fueled rocket ever launched, reaching a height of 150 feet when it took to the sky on March 16, 1926. He is credited as one of the earliest scientists and visionaries who laid the foundation for modern missile and space rocket technology.



Solution: For an event that we now look back on with such awe, it is surprising how little accurate documentation there is on the rocket. The above picture was the main source of information for the rocket's design and scale. Masterpiece Models was able to learn, however, that Goddard used 1/2" plumbers pipe to construct his frame and we used exactly the same material in our replica. The rocket was created with ABS plastic, sheet metal and coarse wrapping to simulate the asbestos Goddard used for heat shields - something we did want to remain historically accurate to.





Result: The 12' model was designed and built in two weeks and has been shipped to its permanent home at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum.

Bringing the past to life for a crewman of the USS Nashville

Challenge: John S Brown commissioned Masterpiece Models to build a 1/350 scale model of the USS Nashville - a ship on which he served from July 1943 to December 1945 during WWII. John was kind enough to share his story and his reasons for wanting the model with us and has given us the privilege of now sharing it with you:

"I was a 18-year-old boy, right out of boot camp (S/2C), when I went aboard the USS Nashville at Mare Island Naval Yard in July, 1943. I was assigned as a deck hand to the 2nd Division, which had the responsibility for the aft portion of the Main Deck (fan tail). We saw to the maintenance and operation of turrets #4 and #5, the launching and recovery of aircraft and the maintenance and operation of the catapults and aviation crane.

I was promoted to S1/C after eight months and was then assigned as a gunners mate stryker in turret #4.



The following eighteen months I worked as a powder handler in the magazine, shell handler on the shell deck, powder passer and shell loader in the gun turret, gun captain, gun pointer and turret trainer of the turret. I functioned in every job in the turret except turret captain. I was promoted to GM/3C(temporary).

I was in a protected environment of the turret and too young to realize the hazards of war. I was not a hero; I was just very, very fortunate.

The following is a list of the Nashville's citations:
American Defense Service Medal
Presidential Unit Citation (Doolittle Raid)
Philippine Liberation Medal
Navy Occupation Service Medal (Asia)
China Service Medal

In April of 1942, the Nashville was part of the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo, escorting the USS Enterprise. It sank two Japanese picket ships, alerting the Japanese that the US Navy was five hundred miles from Tokyo. This siting forced the Doolittle Raid to
launch early, 150 miles short of its departure point.




The ship received ten battle stars for combat operations from Guadalcanal to the invasion of the Philippines. It served as General MacArthur's flagship for several invasions of islands in the southwest Pacific area. It also served as the flag ship for MacArthur's return to the Philippines at Subic Bay in October, 1944.

Major battle damage sustained was a very near-miss air attack (bomb) in June, 1944 off Biak Island.

On December 13, 1944 the Nashville was hit by a kamikaze plane, causing the loss of 133 men and injuring 190 more.

I will display the ship to my local shipmates and take it to the national reunion in Houston in April, 2008. At our last reunion we had forty men well enough and
able to attend. This is reported to be the last reunion as the average age of the remaining shipmates is eighty five years."




Solution: John Geigle personally constructed this model over 100 hours. Though it was based on a kit originally, Geigle ended up scratchbuilding 40 percent of the pieces to make the Nashville something Brown would be proud of. The model itself is made of urethane resin and brass.



Result: Brown is immensely pleased with the model. We'll let him share his own words and his own story here:

"The USS Nashville arrived yesterday, it's breath taking. You did a wonderful job on a very difficult project. I am very pleased with the results.

Vascular Watering System

Challenge: Inventor Eric Peters contacted Masterpiece Models to build a prototype of his automatic vascular watering system for home gardens. His two innovations were being able to choose where to plug the hose nozzles in and the option to make the reserve tank in a variety of decorative shapes to blend in.



Solution: Like many inventors, Eric came to us with just rough drawings and an idea. Masterpiece developed detailed technical drawings, which underwent revision before building the prototype. During this phase, design elements such as the convex base (to prevent pooling) and protective overhang for the nozzles were developed.



Result: Made on time and on budget, Eric was thrilled with our work. He is currently looking to license the product.

Our new Exhibit Designer: Greg Garrett

We've always been lucky to work with amazingly talented artists and craftsmen at Masterpiece Models and we've recently begun a new relationship with Exhibit Designer Greg Garrett.

Greg started his career at OMSI in 1990 and has since worked for other prestigious design companies in Oregon and Washington. We could tell you more about how great Greg is, but really looking at his work explains his talent better than we ever could.

Welcome to the Masterpiece team, Greg! We're lucky to have you.

New Commission from the Mubarak Museum: Part 3 - Ping Pong Launcher

Challenge: After completing two space-related models for the Mubarak Museum in Cairo, Egypt, we were happy to receive an additional commission for three new exhibit pieces. There's always a special validation of our work when people choose to use our services again, and we were eager to exceed their expectations. This new order was for three interactive exhibits that would illustrate various scientific principles to children. The final exhibit we'll look at is the Ping Pong Launcher.



Solution: Though the end effect of blasting something in the air is much the same as the Air Rocket Launcher, the way it is achieved is greatly different and much more exciting. The ping bong ball is launched by a hydrogen explosion - though just a small one. A cathode/anode system of our own proprietary design rests in a small reservoir of water at the exhibit's base. Pressing a button on the exhibit surface releases an electric charge into the system, which separates the hydrogen and oxygen from the water. There are circular windows around the base of the exhibit so this process is visible.

A spark ignites the hydrogen, and the resulting pressure change launches the ping pong ball up the 7' tall tube. The tube is capped, as there's more than enough force to send the ball higher. Meanwhile, the hydrogen recombines with oxygen and returns to its water state.

Even though the explosion is small, we built the exhibit out of polycarbonate material used in bulletproofing applications.



Result: The most technical and exciting of the three exhibits we created for this commission, the Ping Pong Launcher is sure to be a hit at the Mubarak Museum.

New Commission from the Mubarak Museum: Part 2 - Air Rocket Launcher

Challenge: After completing two space-related models for the Mubarak Museum in Cairo, Egypt, we were happy to receive an additional commission for three new exhibit pieces. There's always a special validation of our work when people choose to use our services again, and we were eager to exceed their expectations. This new order was for three interactive exhibits that would illustrate various scientific principles to children. The second exhibit we'll look at is the Air Rocket Launcher.



Solution: The principle demonstrated by this exhibit is the difference between thrust and weight by launching rockets with measured amounts of compressed air. We made two rockets, with identical tails and nosecones but with greatly different shapes in middle. The “skinny” and “fat” rockets quickly convey the principles of mass to the children using the exhibit. Both rockets are housed in 5’ tall clear cylinders for protection and connected to 10’ guide wires that will connect to the ceiling.

Those wires are very necessary because the two small air compressors powering the rockets could easily shoot them 30 feet. The compressors are turned on for as long as the user presses down the yellow “charge” button, with a pressure gauge showing how many PSI will launch the rocket. People can shoot the rockets with various forces by pressing the green “launch” button at any time. However, being as the exhibit is for kids, we expect most of them will want it to go as high as it can, which is why we used compressors with an automatic safety feature shutting them off at 125 PSI.



Result: As with the Magic Mirror, we didn’t get much chance to play with the Air Rocket Launcher before shipping it off to Cairo. But we know the kids who play with it at the museum will enjoy it more than we ever could.

New Commission from the Mubarak Museum: Part 1 - The Magic Mirror

Challenge: After completing two space-related models for the Mubarak Museum in Cairo, Egypt, we were happy to receive an additional commission for three new exhibit pieces. There's always a special validation of our work when people choose to use our services again, and we were eager to exceed their expectations. This new order was for three interactive exhibits that would illustrate various scientific principles to children. The first exhibit we'll look at is the Magic Mirror.



Solution: The goal of the Magic Mirror was to combine 12 fun house mirrors in one box. By watching the mirror change shape in front of them, children will better understand the principles of reflected light and what we see. We chose a flexible reflective plastic to withstand the transformation into different shapes. Behind the panel, 18 small motors were attached to press or pull on the mirror. The 12 buttons on the right side of the mirror were each programmed with an individual configuration of the 18 motors, giving the mirror its array of shapes.



Result: The Magic Mirror had to be shipped off so quickly, we didn't even get a chance to play with it in the workshop. As with all interactive exhibits, we built the Magic Mirror to be durable and expect it to have a long life triggering giggle fits in Cairo.