Author Topic: Modelling Mars  (Read 221378 times)

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #340 on: 04/09/2015 11:09 pm »
Well, technically, we do have a billionaire donating money to Mars, LOL.

A lot of those details are just in one line, maybe a bit of dialogue by the characters.  Even after reading it 3 times, I missed many of the little details about what was going on in the background with NASA.  But between Mike and I searching for those details, we have managed to find them.  Plus, having a digital copy I can search REALLY helps a lot. 

I never realized missions to Skylab were flying 3 times a year for 10 years and a Moonlab once a year for 5 or 6 until Mike found the reference. 

Here is the quotes for the MEM test flights:
We’ve defined six preliminary classes of mission, designated here A to F. They are mostly Earth-orbit tests of the system components. But they lead up to the final flight — mission class F — which will be the full Mars landing attempt.
" The C mission is another unmanned shakedown, this time of a MEM test article in near-operational condition. The D mission will be the first manned MEM flight, to Earth orbit; this will be a long-duration mission to test for space soak.
“The two E-class missions will be further manned MEM tests; we’re intending to trial the new descent systems with lunar and/or Earth landings. Also in this period we expect to confirm orbital assembly procedures. Finally, the F mission will be the Mars flight itself, and it’s got to be ready to depart on March 21, 1985. Otherwise we wait two more years for the next opposition. The precise sequencing of the other missions, and their dates, is to be determined; we’re intending to take advantage of success…”
« Last Edit: 04/09/2015 11:41 pm by Ronpur50 »

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #341 on: 04/09/2015 11:49 pm »
And about the Command Modules, Ares was Block V not IV, sorry.

"But this Apollo — called a “Block V” design by the Rockwell engineers who had built her — was put together very differently from the early models, the old Block IIs, which had flown to the Moon in the 1960s, and even from the later Block III and IV Earth-orbital ferries."

and
"The irony was that the Apollo system had been heavily upgraded in the last few years. Rockwell had stretched the original lunar flight design, making it more robust and reliable, and increasing its capacity; Apollo was mostly used as an orbital ferry craft for taking crews to and from the Skylabs, but even flying solo it was capable of supporting as many as four men for eight days in orbit. Rockwell was even trying to make the Command Module reusable, by providing saltwater protection and modularizing its components — so a module could be cannibalized after splashdown, even if the whole thing couldn’t be flown again."

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #342 on: 04/13/2015 01:35 pm »
Working on the booster stage:
An oxygen tank, the end caps for the hydrogen tanks and all of the tank cylinders.  And finally, the four hydrogen tanks together.

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #343 on: 04/14/2015 12:13 am »
I painted the hydrogen tanks orange and want to make them the same color as the shuttle tank insulation.  I assume it would get very dark after exposure to sunlight even in space.  I will do more weathering on it later.  I attached the oxygen tanks temporarily to see how the fit is progressing.  After I finish the hydrogen tanks, I will glue them and work on struts and fuel lines to the engine.

 

Offline mike robel

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #344 on: 04/14/2015 02:12 am »
I used Rust for my first ET's.

But now I use my dwindling supply of Sloth Brown or Yellow Ochre which Testors no longer makes.  It can still be found on E-Bay though.

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #345 on: 04/14/2015 11:33 am »
I used to have yellow ochre too, but it is gone.  I also had a terra cotta brown which looks good too.  I still have some of the paint I used for my Delta IV, I may dry brush that on the tanks.  It is really impossible to match a paint to something that changes color over time!  I just pick  a favorite photo and try to match that.

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #346 on: 04/14/2015 11:32 pm »
Well, with today off and watching a Falcon take flight, I did some more work on Mars One.  I dry brushed the orange tanks with the paint left over from my Delta IV model.  After that dried, I attached the LOX tanks between each LH2 tank.  Some Plastruct trusses were put in between the tanks.   I then worked on the main engine assembly, making the section of the truss that extends around the engine mount.  I attached the engine to the tank assembly and added fuel lines from the LOX tanks.  Then put the whole ship together to see how it looks!  I added an airlock module to the design just to the aft of the modules.

Solar arrays and more details are next.

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #347 on: 04/15/2015 11:42 pm »
I made one solar panel extended and one collapsed.  This way, it will be easier to handle and display with only one sticking out of the top.  I also made the radiators for the top and bottom.  There are still some tanks to make for the crew module exterior and some details on the fuel tanks left to do.  A few weeks ago, I didn't think I would ever get this close to finishing the ship.

Mars One is almost ready to fly to Mars! ( I wish it had another name, since Mars One is in use today)
« Last Edit: 04/15/2015 11:42 pm by Ronpur50 »

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #348 on: 04/15/2015 11:54 pm »
And this vacuum formed cone will be the MEM!

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #349 on: 04/16/2015 01:49 am »
There are four "storage tanks" on top of the central tunnel.  I used tanks from the destroyed Pilgrim 1 model and cut them to size and wrapped them in gold mylar.  I think that is all the work for today.

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #350 on: 04/16/2015 03:56 pm »
Here is the MEM.  It is very light weight, so it attaches and stays on the forward docking port easily.  The retro pack is the top of a cap from a tube of model cement.  It is the perfect shape and size.

Offline RichO

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #351 on: 04/16/2015 06:01 pm »
Very Cool  Ron!!
OMG, I finally discovered what's wrong with my brain: On the left side there's nothing right, and on the right side there's nothing left!

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #352 on: 04/16/2015 08:18 pm »
Thanks, Rich! 

Here are some picture of the whole ship together.  I still need the comsat and the decals are drying after printing.

I can't wait to put this into orbit around Mars!
« Last Edit: 04/16/2015 08:25 pm by Ronpur50 »

Offline mike robel

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #353 on: 04/16/2015 09:03 pm »
Nice work!  What scale do you figure it is.

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #354 on: 04/16/2015 09:12 pm »
Nice work!  What scale do you figure it is.

I scaled it to 1/144th scale.  To compare to everything else.  The tubes are the same diameter as the Spacelabs in the Revell Shuttle. 

Offline mike robel

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #355 on: 04/16/2015 10:37 pm »
Cool.  I was thinking the MEM was a lot smaller than it is.

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #356 on: 04/16/2015 11:15 pm »
Actually, this MEM is small.  According to the manual, it is suppose to be 30' in diameter which would be 2.5'' in scale.  The cone and dish I got from Plastruct is 2'' in diameter.  This MEM would be 24' in diameter. 

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #357 on: 04/17/2015 01:22 am »
These pictures will give you an idea of the scale.  This is the ship next to the actual manual and an in scale Revell Shuttle: the Independence.  The Independence has the crew transport module in her payload bay.  I took one of my really old shuttles and put a new name on it.  It's door hinges were broke, so I glued the doors open.
« Last Edit: 04/17/2015 01:23 am by Ronpur50 »

Offline roma847

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #358 on: 04/17/2015 06:07 am »
Come on Ron,
I can't wait to see this in orbit around Mars!   

The green men surely will be amazed and have a lot of fun - stunning stuff.

***************
Regards from Germany

Manfred

Under construction:
1:144 Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6

Offline Ronpur50

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Re: Modelling Mars
« Reply #359 on: 04/17/2015 04:14 pm »
Soon, Manfred, soon!

These are the decals I printed, but they didn't show up well on the metal hulls of the modules.  I will have to think of something else. 
« Last Edit: 04/18/2015 02:59 pm by Ronpur50 »

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