The NASA model building thread

[Raumfahrer]

From this pdf have i the most blueprints but there are not the blueprints from the Main Floor and the parts left and right from the PCR inside.

[Mark Dave]

I stumbled on this thread on someone's 1/72 shuttle stack http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/lofiversion/index.php?t142357.html

IMO kudos for the tip there to modify the ET to look like the present SLWET.

[Bubbinski]

Well, guess what?  I've started on a new project.  I call it my "shuttle six pack".

That's right, I'm building 6 Revell 1/144th scale shuttle orbiters (not stacks, just orbiters only).  The orbiters will likely be on their landing gear though I have contemplated making them all on the stand in orbital configuration (or in Enterprise's case, glide configuration).  The wild card is that I already have an Enterprise with tailcone assembled from a prior unfinished project, though it only has its white primer coat on and was intended for install on a 1/144 Revell 747 which got broken and I don't think I'll be able to undo the gear doors to make it a gear down bird.

Anyway, I'm planning on doing the orbiters as follows:

Enterprise - ALT glide tests
Columbia - STS-61C.  This has Columbia in her original markings plus SILTS pod.
Challenger - STS-7. 
Discovery - STS-51A.
Atlantis - STS-125.
Endeavour - STS-49.

This could change, but that's what I'll likely do the orbiters as if I stand them on their gear.  At least for now.

Here's a pic of initial progress.  I've assembled 12 OMS pods, 12 wings, 5 body flaps (trying to hunt down another one).

[Mark Dave]

You should get the Buran kit from Real Space Models to really have a world shuttle fleet.

[Bubbinski]

Now that's an idea.  But the Real Space Kit includes the Energia....well I guess I could buy two, one to display with my 1/144 STS-125 stack and one to display on landing gear if the kit has it.  But I'll need to do more research.  And I think Anigrand has 1/144 Buran kits as standalone orbiters.

[Mark Dave]

Yep. I'm doing that with my 1/72 scale fleet using Amodel's Buran kit. Their model though is the one test vehicle with jet engines on it. Simple, remove the engines and repaint it to resemble the space vehicle. That and scratchbuild the Energia.

[Bubbinski]

I dug up my unfinished Enterprise with tailcone - as I'm kinda short on some parts in my box of 6 kits I think I'll go ahead and use that Enterprise.  I'll see about whether I can get it on its gear or just do it on its stand.  I'm thinking I'll have all 6 kits either on their gear or on stands.  We will see.

I also dug up a 2nd shuttle fuselage that I'd built as one of the later orbiters with drag chute mod on tail but had not affixed wings.  It looks good so I've decided to use that as one of the later orbiters in this build and that will save some time.

[Bubbinski]

While I'm on the subject of building shuttles, I picked up the 1/450th scale 4D 747-shuttle combo from Hobby Lobby and just might build it at work to put on my cubicle, or build it on vacation.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Using the Lego designByME software, was able to make a Lego Model for the Ares I:

http://designbyme.lego.com/en-US/gallery/default.aspx?parameters=2||47135ad3-3369-4c82-aac0-f48ef43f4400

[dhanners]

Here's an X-37B question for anyone out there who might know the answer....

Working on a cardmodel of the vehicle, and in photos of the X-37B that flew recently, it appears the nozzle at the rear is off-center. Instead of being on the vehicle's centerline, it appears, from photos taken after landing, that the nozzle is just a bit to the right of the centerline. While it is possible that the apparent off-center location of the nozzle is a trick of photography and/or angles, it does appear, to my eye, to be truly off-center.

Is it?

Unfortunately, I've not been able to find any straight-on photos that show the rear, or any pre-launch photos that show the nozzle or its location. Does anybody here know of any such photos, or can say with any authority that the nozzle is on the centerline or not?

Thanks.....

[Mark Dave]

My new ET patch on Atlantis http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/015/4/e/et_model_patch_by_onigojirakaiju-d378fri.jpg It's not painted yet. I'll get a better close up of it next time, but now it matches the SLWET.

As the ET looks on this person's model http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l31/JMChladek/Shuttle%20STS-117/117wip-10.jpg  That panel should be removed if you wish to make the current shuttle stack.

[sb]

Here's an X-37B question for anyone out there who might know the answer....

Working on a cardmodel of the vehicle, and in photos of the X-37B that flew recently, it appears the nozzle at the rear is off-center. Instead of being on the vehicle's centerline, it appears, from photos taken after landing, that the nozzle is just a bit to the right of the centerline. While it is possible that the apparent off-center location of the nozzle is a trick of photography and/or angles, it does appear, to my eye, to be truly off-center.

Is it?

The post-landing photos of the X-37 prompted a longish discussion here of whether there was one offset engine or two (just with one hidden).

The photos linked from this post later in the same thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21122.msg670738#msg670738
showed it was a single offset engine, although I don't think anyone came up with a convincing reason for the offset!

[Bubbinski]

Progress report on the shuttle 6 pack: I've got 2 orbiters assembled and the third one is due to get her wings and OMS pods tomorrow.  Then I'm on vacation for a week, then back to the production line.  Hoping for an early spring so I can get some good spraying in soon.

Also thinking of finishing them like this:

Enterprise - ALT flight 1
Columbia - STS-61C (only time shuttle had original markings plus SILTS pod)
Challenger - STS-7
Discovery - STS-81 or STS-114 (only diff between 2 is NASA meatball)
Atlantis - STS-30 (I watched her land at Edwards in May 1989)
Endeavour - STS-88 or STS-130 (not sure there is a diff. between the 2)

[Mark Dave]

Cool ideas man. Endeavour's missions, no outward difference.

To modellers look at my previous post for those making a shuttle stack kit.

[Gene DiGennaro]

Dang Bubbinski, you're stamping 'em out like Kruschev's infamous "sausages"! Keep up the good work!

[Bubbinski]

Thanks Gene and Mark.  I got the wings and OMS pods on tonight.  I've got 2 orbiters built now plus the third (Enterprise) built from a previous project that I couldn't get done (747). 

By the way I remembered the flight I had in mind was STS-82, not 81.  I think that will be a good selection of orbiters and flights, to show the fleet as it evolved over the years.

[Mark Dave]

Bub,  checkout new photos of my  ET  modification finally done.

As Jay's model shows here. This rectangular section should be removed for making the SLWET http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l31/JMChladek/Shuttle%20STS-117/117wip-10.jpg A resin mold made of the stringers  is then made to fill in the hole, as seen below.

I just molded the rubber casting on the bottom of the intertank flange directly below the piece cut out. The result is flawless.

A closeup of the resin patch. http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/022/d/6/et_patch_closeup_by_onigojirakaiju-d37rk8j.jpg

And it painted. http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/022/a/9/et_patch_painted_by_onigojirakaiju-d37rk73.jpg The backside of the tank looks identical, so no real need for a photo.

Discovery's tank is next.

[Mark Dave]

New photo showing the same resin mold on the back of the external tank.

http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/030/4/2/et_back_panel_by_onigojirakaiju-d38f43d.jpg I'm going to modify the LH2 vent to match the photos seen on the GCUP from STS-133. The same goes for the intertank access door.

[Mark Dave]

A great reference site for shuttle modelers at http://homepage.mac.com/georgegassaway/GRP/Scale/ShuttleData/STS47.html

[Gene DiGennaro]

Mark,
 That is a very good site. He also has a very nice Saturn IB drawing there too.