Apollo Command Module

Next on my Apollo mission recreation list is the Command Module—the cramped, scorched capsule that brought three astronauts home. It wasn’t just a “cockpit”; it was the only piece that returned to Earth.

As with the Lunar Module, I spent a lot of time digging through research. The Smithsonian’s archives were the most useful, especially for dimensions and equipment placement.

With that in hand, I recreated my own version: the interior with its panels, buttons, and labels, and the exterior with the ablative heat shield and the docking probe. Everything was modeled in Blender and textured in Substance Painter. The goal isn’t a one‑to‑one CAD replica, but a clear, faithful visual representation. For materials and textures, I prioritized convincing visual read over exact material fidelity: surfaces look like the real thing at viewing distance, but they aren’t one‑to‑one reproductions. In practice that means simulating scorched ablative, the soft sheen of anodized panels, and worn stencils for effect rather than matching specifications exactly.

There are limits to both sources and practicality, so some parts are simplified. The biggest compromises: wiring harnesses and cabling aren’t modeled in detail—there’s too much complexity and not enough reliable reference, and it doesn’t change the read of the interior at my target scale.

Whether I tackle the Service Module next is an open question; for now, this Command Module stands on its own—visually faithful, readable, and honest about its limits.