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US launch vehicles - style/scale adopted from LEGO polybag 11976

© by Ralf Hupertz and Harald Kraenzel (Author), January 2024 (updated March 2024)

The story began in July 2023 when I learned that LEGO has published issue 03/2023 of it’s former magazine Explorer (unfortunately, it was discontinued since the end of July 2023). Attached to it was the polybag 11976 (Space Shuttle) which caught our (my LEGO and space travel friend Ralf and I as the author of this article) attention immediately.



Comparing the assembled LEGO polybag 11976 space shuttle (left image above) with the original one (middle image above) and reading the explanations from the LEGO designer:

"Important to me was that the tank and rocket motors could be removed - just like the real shuttle. The tank should be securely attached when playing, but easy to remove without destroying the rest of the model"

prompted us to adapt or expand the space shuttle according to our ideas.

After we had successfully implemented this (right image above; see also), we developed the idea that we could also create the SLS rockets (Block 1 and Block 1B) in the same scale (approx. 1:510 ). We published both MODs/MOCs on collectSPACE (Forum Space Collectibles - Models & Toys).

December 30, 2023 founder and editor Robert Pearlman stated:

„I really like those Harald! It would be great to complete a full series of U.S. launch vehicles in this style/scale.“

Because that's a good idea, the next step was to check whether these launch vehicles could be realized on such a small scale with LEGO bricks. The result: All launch vehicles can be built that way although - due to the small scale - certain areas cannot be mapped precisely but do allow a specific launch vehicle to be identified.

It's amazing that a small and interesting LEGO polybag can be the beginning of such a story.


And here they are: our MOCs of the US launch vehicles (same scale -1:510- as the LEGO polybag 11976)


each launch vehicle a little bit closer:


Now that all the necessary bricks are in place, here is the result:


Dimensions in cm

Height	24.8
Width	8.4
Length	57.9
total parts / total lots	700 / 135

As always, the building instructions are available free of charge under the following links:

US launch vehicles:

moc_us-launch-vehicles_manned_all_building instructions

Here you will find building instructions for all US launch vehicles shown in the picture above.

A complete list of all needed bricks you can find in xml file for all us launch vehicles (Bricklink format) to upload it to Bricklink.

If interest is limited to certain launch vehicles shown in the building intructions the related xml files can be downloaded individually from the followings links:

Mercury-Redstone:	xml file for Mercury-Redstone
Mercury-Atlas:	xml file for Mercury-Atlas
Gemini Titan II:	xml file for Gemini Titan II
Saturn 1B:	xml file for Saturn 1B
Saturn V - Apollo:	xml file for Saturn V - Apollo
Saturn V - Skylab:	xml file for Saturn V - Skylab
STS - Space Transortation System:	xml file for STS - Space Transortation System
SLS - Space Launch System - Crew Block 1:	xml file for SLS - Space Launch System - Crew Block 1
SLS - Space Launch System - Crew Block 1B:	xml file for SLS - Space Launch System - Crew Block 1B
Falcon 9 Crew Dragon:	xml file for Falcon 9 Crew Dragon
Falcon Heavy - Gateway:	xml file for Falcon Heavy - Gateway
Atlas V - Starliner:	xml file for Atlas V - Starliner
Super Heavy - Starship HLS:	xml file for Super Heavy - Starship HLS
Apollo Command + Service Module and Lunar Module:	xml file for Apollo Command + Service Module and Lunar Module
Skylab:	xml file for Skylab

Update March 2024

International Space Station (ISS)

Dimensions in cm

Height	15.2
Width	18.3
Length	26.4
total parts / total lots	439 / 79

Building instructions:	moc_us-launch-vehicles_iss_building instructions
xml file:	xml file for iss

the planned Lunar Gateway

Dimensions in cm

Height	11.4
Width	8
Length	6.9
total parts / total lots	67 / 23

Building instructions:	moc_us-launch-vehicles_lunar-gateway_building instructions
xml file:	xml file for lunar gateway