Author Topic: The NASA model building thread (Read 1083639 times)

Bubbinski · « **Reply #1560 on:** 03/31/2012 10:40 pm »

I don't know about sci-fi but I am working on a 1/72 collection of manned spacecraft. It is a scale small enough to fit the Space Shuttle Orbiter in with all the others and there is now a decent selection of US spacecraft kits thanks to Dragon. The Shenzhou is also available in that scale. I'm still trying to source a 1/72 non resin Soyuz and I'm not sure what I'll do for Vostok/Voskhod.

Mark Dave · « **Reply #1561 on:** 03/31/2012 11:13 pm »

There is also the Mach 2 Semyorka aka R-7 rocket you could get and modify to be the Vostok- Soyuz versions. The only 1/72 scale kits of this model are the Luna and Sputnik kits.

Bubbinski · « **Reply #1562 on:** 03/31/2012 11:30 pm »

Thanks...I'll keep that in mind if I want a companion to my Space Shuttle stack. But I'm more interested in the spacecraft itself right now. I know the Real Space kits are out there but I haven't achieved the necessary comfort level in resin yet. (I tried the Real Space resin ISS kit and I messed up the Russian modules). I can check for paper kits but I'm not sure there are any out there in 1/72 (though there are in other scales).

clongton · « **Reply #1563 on:** 03/31/2012 11:37 pm »

Quote from: Bubbinski on 03/31/2012 11:30 pm

Thanks...I'll keep that in mind if I want a companion to my Space Shuttle stack. But I'm more interested in the spacecraft itself right now. I know the Real Space kits are out there but I haven't achieved the necessary comfort level in resin yet. (I tried the Real Space resin ISS kit and I messed up the Russian modules). I can check for paper kits but I'm not sure there are any out there in 1/72 (though there are in other scales).

Delta 7 Studios ( http://www.delta7studios.com/Delta_7_Studios/Delta_7_Studios_Paper_models.html ) has some very nice paper models of both the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft. One of the Geminis has a nicely detailed interior. They can be scaled up or down to suit your project.

Mark Dave · « **Reply #1564 on:** 03/31/2012 11:51 pm »

Here is an old photo of the R-7 kit with the shuttle kits. I modified the truss. http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/275/d/3/soyuz_half_done_by_onigojirakaiju-d2zy12c.jpg

http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/189/3/8/soyuz_truss_model_by_onigojirakaiju-d3le6mo.jpg

I prefer plastic kits as there is more detail to it when you build it. I feel clumsy if I made a paper model and it might get damaged easily.

Bubbinski · « **Reply #1565 on:** 04/01/2012 02:03 am »

I actually have the Delta CD and have thought about trying to scale the Mercury to build it. I have built the new Gemini kit by Dragon so that's covered. And I do have the Soyuz download from Marscenter.it so I'll see if I can do something there as well. Here's a pic of my 1/72 collection to date.

jgoldader · « **Reply #1566 on:** 04/01/2012 02:36 am »

Quote from: clongton on 03/31/2012 10:18 pm

I would like to pose a 2-part question.

Part 1: If one were to select a common scale to build detailed models of all real manned spacecraft (not the launch vehicles), (1) what scale would you choose, and more importantly, (2) why?

Part 2: Same as above except include "good" sci-fi spacecraft.

Chuck,

1/72 for crewed spacecraft, since there is now a good selection. (Though I'm still filling out my 1/144 launcher collection and haven't really gotten serious on a collection of spacecraft yet.). I have a half-built Dragon CSM/LM on the bench and an unbuilt Mercury/Redstone waiting for me.

For robotic probes, generally 1/24, as RealSpace Models has so many of my favorites, and it is a scale big enough to easily work with for scratchbuilding, but small enough to easily display. Also, there is a 1/27 Mercury capsule (Hallmark ornament) and 1/24 Gemini capsule to give scale to the robots. There are also the Code3 pre-builds, I'd love to have their CM.

For sci-fi--what kind? There are nice 1/72 Star Wars fighters out there from Fine Molds. But if you want capital ships, then 1/1000 is the biggest (the Polar Lights/Round 2 Trek ships) 1/2500 is another popular Trek scale, and you might have to go below 1/10000 for Star Destroyer-type sizes.

Jeff

mike robel · « **Reply #1567 on:** 04/01/2012 12:23 pm »

Chuck,

Do you mean from kits, build from scratch, or both.

I would choose 1/48, except for the Space Shuttle. it would allow you to include a lot of detail. There are several kits available for the craft from both garage kit manufacturers and mainline companies, together with detail sets to improve them.

Russian Spacecraft in 1.48 seem to be lacking at present, but I have a thought that Dragon is going to improve this situation, even though their space kits are something of a disappointment.

If you want to include the shuttle in a common scale, I would say 1/72. Still big enough for a lot of detail, and fairly well supported by both garage and mainline suppliers.

As a model rocketeer, you are probably comfortable working with a variety of materials, so you could explore that, in which case you can usually print out the craft in whatever scale you choose.

As for Sci-fi, it depends on the genre, For example, ST:TOS does well in 1/1000, but TNG needs 1/2500 as their ships are so ridiculously large. Star Wars needs smaller scale yet, since their ships are the size of plannets.

Prober · « **Reply #1568 on:** 04/02/2012 01:11 am »

Quote from: mike robel on 04/01/2012 12:23 pm

Chuck,

Star Wars needs smaller scale yet, since their ships are the size of plannets.

I agree on the size, yet something very beautiful in the Imperial shuttle I have.

shulevski · « **Reply #1569 on:** 04/07/2012 10:59 pm »

Realspace, 1:72. Appllo - Soyuz Test project.

rocketguy101 · « **Reply #1570 on:** 04/07/2012 11:50 pm »

Quote from: clongton on 03/31/2012 11:37 pm

Quote from: Bubbinski on 03/31/2012 11:30 pm
Thanks...I'll keep that in mind if I want a companion to my Space Shuttle stack. But I'm more interested in the spacecraft itself right now. I know the Real Space kits are out there but I haven't achieved the necessary comfort level in resin yet. (I tried the Real Space resin ISS kit and I messed up the Russian modules). I can check for paper kits but I'm not sure there are any out there in 1/72 (though there are in other scales).

Delta 7 Studios ( http://www.delta7studios.com/Delta_7_Studios/Delta_7_Studios_Paper_models.html ) has some very nice paper models of both the Mercury and Gemini spacecraft. One of the Geminis has a nicely detailed interior. They can be scaled up or down to suit your project.

Funny you should mention Delta 7... I re-scaled their 1/96th scale Mercury Redstone to make wraps to fit a 1/100th scale flying model I just built to sit next to my 1/100th Saturn 1B and Saturn V...hope to fly at our club meet at the end of the month

jgoldader · « **Reply #1571 on:** 04/08/2012 01:10 am »

My 1/144 shuttle-derived lifting body is finished! This is based on a Rockwell design shown in a paper presented at the AIAA. I used the forward fuselage of a Revell kit, built the rest, and molded and cast it. This is the first time I've tried to do any molding and casting. Decals were from the spares box with a few done on my printer.

The TPS mimics the X-37B TPS, and I'd intended to print decals for the tiles and blankets but my printer went all flaky and ruined my last few sheets of decal paper, so there's just some paint, with battle scars added using pastels.

Jeff

mike robel · « **Reply #1572 on:** 04/09/2012 01:27 am »

Here are some in progress photos of my 1/72 MEM. Its been through 3 or 4 rebuilds and it will probably go through another. The shots show early stuff, some intermediate, and the ascent stage being mostly, sort of done. You can see in the first photos a 1/72 astronaut from a shuttle module for size, as well as a comparison with an Apollo CSM.

Parts include 1/72 Real Space Apollo Recovery CM, Drago CM and LM parts, plastruct. The hardest part is getting the lower hull cut out correctly followed by foiling the interior.

The hab module (45 degree pipe in the bottom part) is a plumbing piece that has been cut down to fit.

I'm still waiting for Glenn Johnson to send me the Descent Module fuel tanks and landing gear I made up for him to cast. Had I thought about it, I would have had him cast the ascent fuel tanks too. How the fuel tanks fit in the Descent Stage will be critical as to how I place the hatch and some other details on the hab, as well as constructing ladders for the astronauts to get down to the surface.

A better way to mount the AV fuel tanks would have been to drill in at a 90 degree angle and then use nesting tubes for the mounts so they could be easily removed.

I'm still looking for documentation of the design. I have the Mars One Crew Manual, which has a little bit, plus I found the MEM design of experiments, and a few other documents on NTRS that have provided relatively good overhad and side views, but it is just tantellizing enough to know there was other stuff produced. perhaps I will have to go to the NASM and see if I can get into the library there. Sigh.

I think it is a real candidate for a 3D drawing and then getting the parts printed, if I can find the time to learn/master one of those.

Bubbinski · « **Reply #1573 on:** 04/10/2012 05:24 am »

Great job scratchbuilding the MEM and the shuttle lifting body. I've never seen those before. And good luck on flying that Redstone!

I've got some more pics of my nearly finished 1/72 Amodel SpaceShip One. It's been a difficult build, the fit isn't the greatest, and I wish they had included some masks for the circular windows. The ones I improvised weren't completely up to snuff.

mike robel · « **Reply #1574 on:** 04/11/2012 12:24 am »

Nice job yourself!

jgoldader · « **Reply #1575 on:** 04/11/2012 02:43 am »

Quote from: Bubbinski on 04/10/2012 05:24 am

Great job scratchbuilding the MEM and the shuttle lifting body. I've never seen those before. And good luck on flying that Redstone!

I've got some more pics of my nearly finished 1/72 Amodel SpaceShip One. It's been a difficult build, the fit isn't the greatest, and I wish they had included some masks for the circular windows. The ones I improvised weren't completely up to snuff.

Is that the one with the carrier? I've thought about it a few times. I'm starting a bunch of 1/72 X-planes, it would be at home in the new collection. Wish I could either get SS2 in 1/72 or SS1 in 1/144, though, as I already have the Fantastic Plastic 1/144 SS2.

Jeff

Bubbinski · « **Reply #1576 on:** 04/11/2012 04:31 am »

Thanks Mike.

Jeff, yes it does have the White Knight 2 included. But I'm not building that yet.

Bubbinski · « **Reply #1577 on:** 04/14/2012 04:46 am »

Ah...I finally got done with a difficult build. The Amodel SpaceShip One was certainly very challenging. My build is far from perfect and likely would not win any contests but it is done and sitting proudly in my growing 1/72 crewed spacecraft collection.

It's a tail sitter so I had to use some blue-tack to set it properly on the shelf. Here's the finished product and the collection. Hoping to get the Mercury, Vostok, Voskhod, and Soyuz added soon but built with my own hands. I feel no satisfaction in buying a premade diecast off the shelf.

mike robel · « **Reply #1578 on:** 04/14/2012 06:52 am »

I'd say your ready to give Resin a whack. Real Space Models are well detailed and if you have mastered basic model techniques, there is no reason you cant do as well on them as you have on these.

Start off with a Vostok. Glenn would probably just sell you a Mercury if you wanted.

http://realspacemodels.com/html/catalog1.htm

Mike

Bubbinski · « **Reply #1579 on:** 04/14/2012 03:32 pm »

Thanks Mike for your vote of confidence

My big stumbling block with resin is the parts preparation, namely cutting and trimming the pouring stubs. That got me in trouble with Glenn's ISS modules. But maybe I bit off too much too soon. And maybe the Vostok would be a good place to start. I'll see.