Occasionally on Moonbase Central we have discussed the black and white chequered pattern found on some Project SWORD toys. A good example is that found on the top of the Probe Force 1.
Having browsed the net for a possible inspiration for these, I came across this comprehensive article called Painting Rockets by Amy Shira Teitel, an eminent space journalist.
If I have understood Amy's article correctly, the black and white pattern is a remnant of early missile tests and rocketry and it aided observation and filming of rocket or missile body rotation in flight.
Other toys similarly mimicked missiles and this very same checkerboard ring too. Dinky's Honest John is a good example.
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But most checkerboards in the toy world are found on plastic model kits, particularly those of US missiles. Take a look at this Monogram re-issue of its vintage missile arsenal to see a variety of black and white patterning.
[flickr]
Have you got any toys pr models with the black and white check* on them readers?
* chequered and check/checked appear to interchangeable. Is that correct?
The black patterns on the SaturnV are to calibrate yaw etc.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great word Kev, yaw! I've never used it and I'm not sure I could. What does it mean exactly?
DeleteLooking at a plane in flight, pitch is nose up or dowm, roll is left wing up or down, yaw is plane's nose points left or right.
ReplyDeleteit also gives an indication of the rate of spin of the rocket, too
ReplyDeletewhats yaws?
ReplyDeleteill have a scotch on the rocks, please
Mine's a pint of rocket fuel! ha ha.
ReplyDeleteSome great info here guys!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ed. Of there are yaw patterns on the LP rockets, which you have the nest photos of on your own blog! Is yaw a word you know?
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