The NASA model building thread

[Commander Keen]

To nethegauner:

Wow!  Beautiful model building!!!

All:

Question about decals.  I have a few old 1/72 Shuttle models but they all have the old decals.  Anyone know how to get the more current decals (meatballs,etc)?  I've looked into making my own by buying decal paper online but I suspect someone here might have a better suggestion.

Anyone know if there are any intentions to build 1/72 shuttles in the future?

Thanks!

[Bubbinski]

Re: 1/72 shuttle decals - RealSpace Models prints out a set.  They're very good.

[nethegauner]

Thanks, guys -- that is very kind!

However, I noted in one or two shots that the nose cap looks a bit "irregular". I remember having a bit of a trouble with the masking tape there. Interestingly, there is no decal for the nose cap rim. The 1:144 Revell shuttle has one.

Whatever: I took some corrective action yesterday. Here's the result. Is there some improvement visible?

[Frandolf]

Awesome model of Endeavour from Bandai.  Complete with Astrovan and astronauts, but a bit pricey.  Sorry it it's been mentioned before.
http://tamashii.jp/special/o_chogokin/spec/index02.php


Ben

[url http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum16/HTML/000599.html]Collectspace[/url] knows a little bit more. Looks like a nice xmas present 

[Chandonn]

Awesome model of Endeavour from Bandai.  Complete with Astrovan and astronauts, but a bit pricey.  Sorry it it's been mentioned before.
http://tamashii.jp/special/o_chogokin/spec/index02.php


Ben

[url http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum16/HTML/000599.html]Collectspace[/url] knows a little bit more. Looks like a nice xmas present 

Is that 2 RMS's, or is the MPLM hanging on the OBSS?  Otherwise, it looks amazongly accurate!

[Commander Keen]

Re: 1/72 shuttle decals - RealSpace Models prints out a set.  They're very good.

Thanks!  I did contact Realspace and the 1/72 decals are currently out of stock.  They hope to get some later in the year.  At least I now know where to go.

[Commander Keen]

Thanks, guys -- that is very kind!

However, I noted in one or two shots that the nose cap looks a bit "irregular". I remember having a bit of a trouble with the masking tape there. Interestingly, there is no decal for the nose cap rim. The 1:144 Revell shuttle has one.

Whatever: I took some corrective action yesterday. Here's the result. Is there some improvement visible?

Do you have a good shot of the belly?  I looked, maybe not well enough, but did not see a full belly shot.  I would be curious to see your color scheme.  Thanks.

[dhanners]

Found a high res photo of the ATV in space and discovered I had the colors wrong for the arms that hold the solar arrays. They should have been a bronze color with silver wiring; I'd had the reverse on the model originally. So I used some bronze metallic paper and made "sleeves" that slipped over the arms. I then cut some silver metallic paper in v-e-r-y thin strips and curled it around the arms to replicate the wiring. I was able to keep it all paper.

So now the thing is more accurate....

[Mark Dave]

Hey guys any suggestions on modifying the Mach 2 1/72 Luna Semiorka booster to that of the Soyuz? The first stage is already set anyway, but the second stage, I'm stuck on.

[BenB5150]

As if I don't have enough NASA models to complete with my 1/144 shuttle stacks and my 1/72 orbiter.  I've added another project to my bench.  The NASA Huey!  Not so much building just painting and applying decals.  Hopefully I can finish this one in a reasonable amount of time.  I know the NASA Huey is a UH-1H but it's almost impossible to find a UH-1H so I'm using a UH-1D which is very close.  Should be fun!

Ben

[dhanners]

I'm contemplating building a card model of Orion but I need to figure something out before I launch (no pun intended) into the project The questions concern the Service Module. And yeah, I know that despite the hardware that's been built, there is much that is still largely conjectural and the thing may never fly.

That said, here goes....

Virtually all of the artist renderings I've seen show the SM as a gray color. Yet I'm trying to think of what gray spacecraft there are; None come to mind. The closest thing to the Orion SM, the Apollo SM, was metallic with white radiator panels. Then again, when we're talking about modern vehicles that are somewhat similar, the exterior of ESA's ATV is covered with insulation blankets. So what would an educated guess be for what Orion's SM might actually look like?

Thanks.
 

[Downix]

I'm contemplating building a card model of Orion but I need to figure something out before I launch (no pun intended) into the project The questions concern the Service Module. And yeah, I know that despite the hardware that's been built, there is much that is still largely conjectural and the thing may never fly.

That said, here goes....

Virtually all of the artist renderings I've seen show the SM as a gray color. Yet I'm trying to think of what gray spacecraft there are; None come to mind. The closest thing to the Orion SM, the Apollo SM, was metallic with white radiator panels. Then again, when we're talking about modern vehicles that are somewhat similar, the exterior of ESA's ATV is covered with insulation blankets. So what would an educated guess be for what Orion's SM might actually look like?

Thanks.
 

I have seen several SM's for the Orion, some white, some grey, even an Orange one. 

It depends on which SM is finally authorized.  I am rooting for the ACES derived (orange) one personally, as it would reduce the cost of operation, production, and improve the performance of our EELV's at the same time, by having a common, high-performance upper stage.

So first you need to decide, which SM model.

I can give educated guesses why the various colors, it depends on which insulation is used.

[simonbp]

I'm contemplating building a card model of Orion...

There are two here: http://jleslie48.com/gallery_models_postapollo.html#m41

The second is very good, and close to the design as of the start of the year.

[dhanners]

I'm contemplating building a card model of Orion...

There are two here: http://jleslie48.com/gallery_models_postapollo.html#m41

The second is very good, and close to the design as of the start of the year.

I'll be using Ton Noteboom's model (which is on Jon Leslie's site) for the Crew Module, but scratchbuilding everything else. Hence the questions about the Service Module.

The ACES 41 things looks cool, but it is more than what I want to model right now.

Any thoughts on colors are welcome....

[Mark Dave]

Guys checkout this  person's shuttle model http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=198071&st=80

Guys any ideas  for scratchbuilding the escape tower for the Soyuz? I'm already sketching out the "new" Soyuz modification for the Mach 2 R-7  model kit. The model only comes as the Sputnik or Luna kit. Soyuz will have to be built from scratch.

I might also build the launch complex for it.

[dhanners]

Finished my Orion. It is card, 1/48th scale. I used the kit by Ton Noteboom for templates for my own parts, with plenty of scratchbuilding and tweaking. I went on the assumption that the Orion's Service Module will be entirely covered by a shroud or adapter at launch, so I covered the whole thing with insulation blankets, which in this case is two different types of toilet paper stiffened with a 50-50 mix of white glue and water. I used several different types of papers throughout, including metallic paper.

And yes, I'll go back and "flatten" the UFSAs so they don't look so kinked. I just wanted to get the photos taken. Once all the glue is dry and cured, I'll flatten them so they look more realistic.

[Mark Dave]

My Mach 2 1/72 scale Semyorka rocket kit.



I plan to modify this kit from the original Luna kit to the Soyuz TMA.

Two pieces next to the Monogram shuttle kits to show scale.



And a drawing I did as a guide.



Any suggestions fellas on scratch building the fairing? That area is the only difficulty with this new project. Also Any suggestions on scratch building new engine nozzles for teh escape tower and third stage of the Soyuz? The Luna upper stage has only one engine, the Soyuz has four large engine like the core first stage and four smaller thrusters around them.

I also plan to make the launch complex of the Soyuz as well.

[luke strawwalker]

My Mach 2 1/72 scale Semyorka rocket kit.



I plan to modify this kit from the original Luna kit to the Soyuz TMA.

Two pieces next to the Monogram shuttle kits to show scale.



And a drawing I did as a guide.



Any suggestions fellas on scratch building the fairing? That area is the only difficulty with this new project. Also Any suggestions on scratch building new engine nozzles for teh escape tower and third stage of the Soyuz? The Luna upper stage has only one engine, the Soyuz has four large engine like the core first stage and four smaller thrusters around them.

I also plan to make the launch complex of the Soyuz as well.

Paper nozzles are easy to make, especially if you have some cardstock and a handy dandy hemostat with the teeth ground off...

The other alternative that jumps to mind is, sharpening a small wood dowel or even a bamboo skewer in a pencil sharpener-- makes dandy quick nozzles without a lot of effort.  Only thing is they're not hollow, but you can paint the bottoms black and never notice it, especially if they're small...

That's what I did on the tower of my 1/100 Ares I...

Later!  OL JR

[Mark Dave]

Hmm, maybe thin styrene sheet. I have some paper thin styrene left over from building my Titanic model I can use.

Ares, my next project after this is my 1/72 scale Ares 1. I decided to use the left over SRBs from a kit years ago. My cousin's little kid decided to break one of my models years ago.  Well, at least now I can build an Ares model.

[rocketguy101]

Not sure if it has been posted in this thread already, but Estes is re-releasing their 1/100th Saturn V flying model.  The kits started arriving this week (mine came in Thursday).  I got mine from Tower Hobbies, but there are other outlets.