Author Topic: The NASA model building thread (Read 1083630 times)

FatherRob · « **Reply #1340 on:** 07/21/2011 05:17 pm »

I am currently building the 1:288 orbiter model from Academy. I found it on closeout at Hobby Lobby for under $7.00 last week. I am making it a bit more fictional than real, as I am using it to decorate the baby room for my son (to be born in October).

I am having a lot of trouble with painting the thing... I managed to get the base color down, but the detail work on such a tiny model is crazy. Any hints on handling this kind of small scale?

If I succeed at this, I plan to assembly a 1:288 Buran I have had on the shelf for the better part of a decade.

Rob+

Bubbinski · « **Reply #1341 on:** 07/22/2011 01:17 am »

Father Rob, you might try microbrushes. I'm a big guy with big hands but the combination of microbrushes and Tamiya masking tape worked well on my Academy stack. The brushes are in packs called Microbrush and have several different styles.

GaryE · « **Reply #1342 on:** 07/24/2011 01:39 am »

Microbrush is the brand name? I'm getting supplies together and this may fit the bill. I'll see if my local hobby shop has them if this is the correct name for the manufacturer.

jgoldader · « **Reply #1343 on:** 07/24/2011 02:24 am »

If you're painting, masking is your friend. Get good masking tape--I love the Tamiya stuff.
Jeff

thorst · « **Reply #1344 on:** 07/24/2011 02:18 pm »

Hello,
This is my first post here at nasaspaceflight.com, a member on another forum recommended to ask here. I hope this is the correct thread to post this.
I'm designing a free papermodel of the space shuttle orbiter since one year now, and I'm looking for further accurate measurements and drawings of the vehicle, especially of the aft fuselage. It seems that I have collected most what is available for free on the web, and also bought the plans from up-ship.com and the book about the first 100 flights by Dennis Jenkins, but in some areas, this is not sufficient.
Can anyone here point me to a source where I could find more detailed data? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

For all interested, you can see the build thread here:
http://www.papermodelers.com/forum/pasa-paper-aeronautical-space-administration/13771-1-48-space-shuttle-orbiter-under-construction.html

and pictures at my account at photobucket:
http://s741.photobucket.com/albums/xx54/Herr_Bpunkt/card%20models/1to48%20STS/

Best regards,
Thorsten

clongton · « **Reply #1345 on:** 07/24/2011 03:25 pm »

Quote from: thorst on 07/24/2011 02:18 pm

Hello,
This is my first post here at nasaspaceflight.com, a member on another forum recommended to ask here. I hope this is the correct thread to post this.
I'm designing a free papermodel of the space shuttle orbiter since one year now, and I'm looking for further accurate measurements and drawings of the vehicle, especially of the aft fuselage. It seems that I have collected most what is available for free on the web, and also bought the plans from up-ship.com and the book about the first 100 flights by Dennis Jenkins, but in some areas, this is not sufficient.
Can anyone here point me to a source where I could find more detailed data? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

For all interested, you can see the build thread here:
http://www.papermodelers.com/forum/pasa-paper-aeronautical-space-administration/13771-1-48-space-shuttle-orbiter-under-construction.html

and pictures at my account at photobucket:
http://s741.photobucket.com/albums/xx54/Herr_Bpunkt/card%20models/1to48%20STS/

Best regards,
Thorsten

WOW Thorsten. NICE work! Welcome to NASASpaceflight. Be careful. This place is addicting!

JJ.. · « **Reply #1346 on:** 07/24/2011 07:45 pm »

Thats a really interesting "little" project there !
1/48 is huge for a shuttle :-)

JJ..

GaryE · « **Reply #1347 on:** 07/27/2011 02:42 am »

I just received my Revell 1/144 shuttle stack. I ordered the Real Space decals. I'm still considering the underside tile decals for the model. I'm still waffling on adding underside tile decals.

I'm going to need some help from the experienced model builders here. I want to build some railing for the platform, and add the tail service masts. Evergreen sells the styrene, but does anyone have a recommendation on the water suppression piping and railing I should use? I want to keep with the scale, but I'm new to modeling. Links to your vendors would be helpful as well as links to tutorials.

I still plan on adding led spot lights for the platform (which wont be canon) for display purposes. I'll wire them to a wall wort from Radio Shack so I don't need batteries.

My next model will be a 1/72 shuttle of Columbia (no stack). I may try a more detailed approach. This size seems to be good for details. I'm really digging the great models shown in this thread. Very inspiring!

JayP · « **Reply #1348 on:** 07/27/2011 04:14 pm »

There iis a lot of information and diagrams about the MLPs on this site;
http://www.capcomespace.net/dossiers/espace_US/shuttle/index.htm

Note that the platform in the revell kit is not the correct size (in scale) for the whole MLP. Since the stack is located closer to side 1 of the MLP, there is a lot of open space towards side 3 that they chose to not include.

msc · « **Reply #1349 on:** 07/27/2011 04:21 pm »

I guess this counts as a model?

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/07/buttery_space_shuttle_featured.html

GaryE · « **Reply #1350 on:** 07/28/2011 02:16 am »

Thanks for the information and for the link Jay! It is very helpful. I may just hold off on any modifications to the MLP.

I'm now wondering how one of the paper (foam board) models of the MLP would hold a styrene model. The paper ones I've seen on ebay look nice, and supposedly to scale.

Bubbinski · « **Reply #1351 on:** 07/29/2011 02:46 pm »

Well I've finished the physical assembly of the orbiter. Now I'm doing the long slog of priming and getting the seams out. I ran into a few issues but am overcoming them.

JayP · « **Reply #1352 on:** 07/29/2011 03:02 pm »

Quote from: GaryE on 07/28/2011 02:16 am

Thanks for the information and for the link Jay! It is very helpful. I may just hold off on any modifications to the MLP.

I'm now wondering how one of the paper (foam board) models of the MLP would hold a styrene model. The paper ones I've seen on ebay look nice, and supposedly to scale.

Don't bother buying one off e-bay, Heres a link to one you can download and print out;

http://www.axmpaperspacescalemodels.com/MobileLaunchPlatform.html

Foam core might work if you put in some internal supports. I wouldn't try it with just card stock.

If your thinking about buying sheet styreen and are ambitios to try it, you could use the paper model as a template to scratch build the whole thing.

saturnapollo · « **Reply #1353 on:** 07/30/2011 12:22 am »

Having finally completed my ISS kit after working on it for nearly 13 years now, here are the first batch of the final photos I will take of it.

Keith

saturnapollo · « **Reply #1354 on:** 07/30/2011 12:23 am »

Bubbinski · « **Reply #1355 on:** 07/30/2011 02:59 am »

Sweet pics and nice job on the ISS Keith. I'd love to get another ISS model finished sometime. I built one in 2002 in the old config (modifying the Revell kit) but it was too flimsy on its stand.

Dyna-Soar · « **Reply #1356 on:** 07/30/2011 05:05 am »

Mars Science Lab (1:12, cardstock)

GaryE · « **Reply #1357 on:** 08/03/2011 12:48 am »

I've been busy starting my Revell 1/144 stack. I've changed my mind mid stream, and decided to do Columbia STS-107. I've decided to do Atlantis in 1/72 on her last mission (no stack) later.

Can anyone give me some advice on the tail tiles for Columbia? The manual with the kit doesn't give the specifics on how to paint them on. The model doesn't outline the "shark fin" (extra black tiles) that she had. I want to get it right, so any help on how to do go about doing it in this scale would be appreciated.

Paper Kosmonaut · « **Reply #1358 on:** 08/04/2011 10:14 am »

This is my 1/400 rendition of Columbia on the MLP and carried by the Crawler to LC39 for the first time. Made in paper, while the base is on a picture frame.
I named it "the 5º slope to the stars"

Paper Kosmonaut · « **Reply #1359 on:** 08/04/2011 10:19 am »

Quote from: GaryE on 08/03/2011 12:48 am

I've been busy starting my Revell 1/144 stack. I've changed my mind mid stream, and decided to do Columbia STS-107. I've decided to do Atlantis in 1/72 on her last mission (no stack) later.

Can anyone give me some advice on the tail tiles for Columbia? The manual with the kit doesn't give the specifics on how to paint them on. The model doesn't outline the "shark fin" (extra black tiles) that she had. I want to get it right, so any help on how to do go about doing it in this scale would be appreciated.

Alfonso Moreno has a very comprehensive page on his site covering all the different appearances of the shuttle fleet. He also has a busload of beautiful downloadable paper models of them:
http://www.axmpaperspacescalemodels.com/REFERENCE.html

Good luck with the build!