LEM (Lunar Excursion Module)

Now that LEGO(r) has issued its official and pathetic LEM model (I was refering here to an early 2000 model of Apollo hardware, cannot find the set number), I'd like to share one I did a while ago. It has much more authentic details. (Since 2029 we have 10266, which is also decent of course, but less classic.)

(Picture thanks to Jennifer Clark 2004; unfortunately I did not notice that the platform in front of the hatch had fallen off...)

I started some drawings on the construction, but they are rather incomplete. Here they are anyway. The LEM is lit from the inside, so that you can see Aldrin rather jealously looking out at Armstrong.

(Finally in 2006 I made LDRAW files of this model: LEM.ldr, consisting of lemtop.ldr, lemlegs.ldr, lembottom.ldr, armstrong.ldr. Does anybody have a USA sticker that I could use in LDRAW?)

I paid special attention to the legs, since they are so characteristic. They don't fold, but they look pretty good.

A model with folding legs was made by Nico from Strassbourg, who controls them from the descent engine exhaust. (But be careful in the details such as the leg bottoms, Nico is someone who sometimes reshapes his Lego pieces -- which is of course illegal.)