Some facts about the Saturn Ib:
It was used to carry the first Lunar Module (referred to here as "lem") into orbit for testing. (it was correctly stated that the Ib never carried a Lunar Module on a manned flight - it was not powerful enough to carry both the LM and the CSM into orbit. However, the SLA (Saturn Launch Adapter) used for Apollo flights was exactly the same as the ones used in Saturn V flights, as the Ib's second stage was almost exactly the same as the Saturn V's 3rd stage.)
It carried the first Apollo Command and Service modules into orbit for testing.
It carried the first manned Apollo spacecraft into orbit. (Apollo 7)
It carried all three Skylab crews to the station in their Apollo spacecraft.
It carried the US part of the Apollo-Soyuz joint project with the Soviets (an Apollo Command and Service Module and the Docking Adapter) into orbit.
So, it did carry a "lem", and it did carry "real spacecraft". It was a very important vehicle in the American space program. I've built the old Centuri 1/100th scale flying model of it, as well as the much larger Estes kit. I've known about the Airfix kit, and even held it in my hands once, but it was too expensive for me to purchase at the time. I'm looking forward to this, as well as the other announced kits!!!
BTW, does anyone know if the Saturn V/Skylab kit is just the Skylab forward shroud or does it include the station itself? (with solar wings, Apollo Telescope Mount, etc.)
Larry
