N-1, Seldom seen factory photos

And not one, but two 3d printable N1 models!

Sep 27, 2024

This edition gets you a bumper bundle of little-known photos of N-1 Hardware!

A note of introduction:

The quality of the source images was not great, they were small and scratched. In this case I have used AI tools to recover details, it worked fairly well, but be aware that fine details are not to be trusted 100%. In particular the software is fond of adding slight curves to straight elements at the smallest scales.

The captions under each image are directly translated from the source.

The photos:

Assembling a grid fin / stabiliser

Shop 4 (2232) - stabiliser manufacturing area. Welding and assembly bench for steel honeycomb structures of the grid fin stabilisers

View of factory floor:

This seems to be a fairly early stage of assembly the big tank, (rear and centre), has only the bottom half built, and the stuff to the right looks like frames for building stages one and two.

Perspective of the MIK low zone section of Pl. 112

Tank assembly frame:

This is some sort of construction frame for assembling tank segments into larger sections, for transportation for final assembly.

Unique machine for welding of spherical petals into transportable elements.

Assembled tanks:

Here we see two fuel tanks, and the supports that hold them against the thermal bridge.

Shop 17. Process vessels (tanks) of Block A of the N1, product 11А52.

Tank interior structure:

Fuel and oxidiser tanks in different stages of assembly. The photo is fairly badly scratched, but provides a great view of the internal structure of the tanks. Apparently this is where the tank were assembled into hemispheres, for transport to the final assembly site.

Shop 32, Building 1A. Production area for transportable elements for the N1

“Power rings”

And another frame that looks like it’s for assembly tank segments. I think the “power ring” refers to the strong frame around the “equator” of hull, on which the main tanks are suspended.

Stages 1 and 2 main hull:

First stage is on the right, second stage on the left. The fuel line covers have yet to be attached, but the telemetry antennae are clearly visible.

Assembly benches for inter tank compartments of Block B (left) and Block A (right) of product 11A52A (The N1).

Blok B / Second Stage:

This photo seems to have been taken from close to Block A in the previous shot, looking towards the second stage.

Tank-to-tank assembly bench, Block B / Second stage.

Skirt section with 4 engines:

Perhaps my favourite photo from this set, a segment of the skirt and engines from the base of the first stage / Block A.

Factory branch. Stand for incoming inspection and assembly of sections of the power (propulsion) unit of block A

Fully assembled Block A skirt with engines.

And finally, an assembled skirt with the outer ring of engines. You can see the two rings of hatches around the skirt, (though it’s a little overexposed).

Stand for general assembly of Block A (first stage) of the N1 (11A52) with main remote control units.

In the unlikely event it is of interest…

Many of my readers will know that I do work for the Enzmann Archive, making videos of their starship designs, and that kind of thing. Michelle Snyder of the Foundation asked to interview me, and this is the result.

It covers how I ended up specialising in Soviet Spacecraft, and has some advice for those getting started in 3d graphics!

This Edition’s Cool image:

This was a serious proposal for a 50 rouble banknote, from 1990. It would feature the cosmic visionary Tsiolkovsky, and Buran /Energia amongst other elements.