SIVB 205, 206 & 207 (L to R) October 1967

Saturn Third Stages: SIV and SIVB
Web site by: Phil Broad

Saturn SIV:
The original six engined Saturn third stage design (used on Saturn 1 and 1B).

Saturn SIVB:
The Saturn V third stage production design (used on all Saturn V stacks).

Skylab Orbital Workshop Mock-up:
America's first orbiting space station as built from a modified SIVB stage.

Sacramento Engine Test Stands:
The test facilities used to develop, test fire, and verify SIVB systems before delivery.

"Super Guppy" Transport Aircraft:
The oversize cargo planes built from Boeing 337s specifically to transport the SIVB stages by air.

Barge Transportation:
Moving the SIVB stages by sea.

Factory Models and Proposals:
Models built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. of production and proposed subjects.

Links Page:
Other Project Apollo History Web sites

About These Web Pages

The images seen on this section of the Model Builders Reference Vault were taken from the original notebooks of photos once kept by the Douglas Aircraft Co. Space Division (Huntington Beach, CA).  The captions seen with these photos have been taken directly from the caption lists contained in those books.  Originally intended as periodic photo "progress reports", these books possibly form the only surviving record of the SIVB's construction and testing.  All the books (approximately 1,500 photos in all) were later donated to the Santa Monica Air Museum in California which then decided that they were no longer worth keeping.  During an auction the books were put up for sale and would have been disposed of, possibly never to be seen from again.  This has been the fate of 95 percent of the U.S. space program legacy and represents an appalling lack of responsibility on the part of the caretakers of Untied States history.  There is only one beginning of any "age" and this represents the beginning of humankind's move into space.  In the decades and centuries to come, people will look back in awe at the courage and audacity required to go first to Earth orbit and later to the Moon with such primitive vehicles.  It is up to all of us to preserve the remaining evidence of these endeavors so future generations can learn about their forefathers abilities, courage and dedication.  Because of my desire to present more than just model building reference about this subject I have included much material illustrating the methods used to build and test this portion of the Saturn booster.  My hope is that visitors will gain some appreciation of tremendous effort required to build these boosters and pause to consider the positive results which come when a nation decides to pull together in a common cause.

Model Building

As you look through these photo pages you may be struck by the realization that the tooling used to build the SIVB presents as interesting a subject for model building as the rocket itself.  What better way to display a model of the SIVB than on its transport trailer behind a truck or on its roll-over handling jig or in the final assembly high-bay?  The possibilities are endless.  Fortunately you will find more than enough reference material on these pages to model most situations the booster was found in.  Don't forget to order copies of David Weeks outstanding plans of the Saturn V from Real Space models as a starting point for any scratch build or super detailing project!

Please contact Phil Broad if you have comments about these images or corrections to the information presented here via E-Mail.  Enjoy your visit.