Ariane 44LP kit resources
The world's most successful commercial launcher is a major improvement
on the Ariane 3's. By stretching the first stage, improving the engines,
adding larger solid and liquid strap-ons, and a much larger fairing with
dual-launch capability, customers lined up for launches.
The Ariane 4 is scheduled to be phased out and replaced entirely by
the Ariane V.
Model is 16 1/4" tall and comes with 19 parts, decals, and instructions.
$35
The Ariane 44LP Model
The Ariane family lineup
Nomenclature:
Ariane 4x, where x is the
number of strap-ons (0, 2, or 4).
Strap-ons are either L (Liquide,
or liquid-fuel) or P (Poudre, or solid-fuel), and are represented by a
suffix on the end. Both suffixes mean two of each type.
Ariane 40
No strap-ons, the least powerful configuration. To lift off the pad,
the propellant tanks are less than completely filled.
Ariane 42P
Two SRM's
Ariane 42L
Two liquid boosters
Ariane 44P
Four SRM's
Ariane 44LP
Two SRM's and two liquid boosters (the configuration of the model)
Ariane 44L
Four liquid boosters, the most powerful configuration
I chose to model the 44LP
configuration simply because it was the most visually interesting, in my
opinion.
The launch modeled is V42,
the first flight of the 44LP configuration. It launched an Astra
direct-broadcast TV saatellite, and a Meteosat weather satellite.
Links:Ninfinger's Quick Look review of the kit (Sven "Ninfinger" Knudson is an independent reviewer).
