Author Topic: The NASA model building thread (Read 1083596 times)

imfan · « **Reply #180 on:** 08/05/2006 10:18 pm »

wanna paper model!!!

BenB5150 · « **Reply #181 on:** 08/05/2006 11:43 pm »

Earlier in this thread someone mentioned using model railroad paints for the color of the ET. I decided to check this out and found that FLOQUIL Railroad Colors has some paints that are very close to the color of the ET. The ones I found are #110168 "Union Pacific Light Orange" for the innertank and light colors on the tank and #110134
"Southern Pacific Daylight Orange" for the darker parts of the tank. I'm not finished with the tanks yet but here's what it looks like with the first coat of SP Daylight Orange.

Ben

spaceshuttle · « **Reply #182 on:** 08/05/2006 11:46 pm »

Quote

MarkD - 5/8/2006 2:24 PM

Nah, it's cool dude. Besides a plastic model has less risk of being damaged by a mistake. Say you're trying to fix soemthing on it and the paper rips.

Amxor61's tutorial helps IMO for whatever scale or type of model you intend on making.

oh, i was just saying that i was doing one. i probably was going to put it on some yahoo! group or whatever...

kraisee · « **Reply #183 on:** 08/06/2006 12:05 am »

Quote

norm103 - 5/8/2006 4:29 PM

hey guys any one ever think of doing a VAB model? and what size are the boxes?

Putting my company hat on:

I've been asked to do some models of the VAB, but the only problem seems to be in what scale to do it in.

Currently the smallest reasonable scale, where there are Shuttle and Saturn-V models also available in, is 1:288; but that still results in a VAB which would be 29.9" long, 21.6" wide and 21.9" tall! That not exactly desktop scale, for sure!

Even battleship model scales (1:400 or 1:535) result in a model which is just too large. If one were to make a 1:1000 scale version, it would produce a VAB model about 8.6" x 6.2" x 6.3", but there are no rocket models available in that sort of tiny scale.

There's demand, but people want the rockets to go with it, and they don't want to have a dedicated room to house it...

I would be more than willing to make a VAB model for people, if a good compromise could be found.

Ross B Tierney

Linden · « **Reply #184 on:** 08/06/2006 12:53 am »

Ross,

If small rockets to go with it are all that are holding you back from considering a VAB kit I'm sure there are plenty of good master modelers out there who could help you out.

Linden

kraisee · « **Reply #185 on:** 08/06/2006 02:43 am »

Hey Linden, good to see you on the forum again

Hope the IPMS nats are fun

My basic plan is to produce any models people want, as long as I can cover the costs involved. For the VAB, an externally detailed model is far cheaper than an internally accurate one, so that's a major factor I need to consider. Other than that, I just need to ensure sufficient sales to keep the costs to individual customers as low as poss.

For a simple external-only VAB model, the costs wouldn't be all that high, so I could do it in any scale, on condition that there are a handful of customers ready to buy it. There are probably some for 1:288 scale, and maybe a few 1:144 scale too, but without available rockets "out there" already in a scale like 1:400 or 1:1000, I just can't speculatively build and hope to get more than just 3 or 4 sales.

I'm personally going to build myself a single VAB Highbay facia, in 1:144 scale for a diorama of the Apollo 11 rollout, to go with the LUT kit.

Ross.

norm103 · « **Reply #186 on:** 08/06/2006 05:22 pm »

ross
do you know the size of the steel fram work of the vab? like if you look at photos theres a box with an x in it.

kraisee · « **Reply #187 on:** 08/06/2006 06:03 pm »

Norm,
Not off-hand right now, but I have access to a full set of the original blueprints on microfilm, so if/when there's interest in a fully detailed VAB model, I can get it correct - down to the bolt patterns on the framework.

Ross.

FatherRob · « **Reply #188 on:** 08/06/2006 09:06 pm »

I'm really impressed with your models, Ross... I'd love to hear more about the planned CLV / CaLV models...

Rob+

astrobrian · « **Reply #189 on:** 08/06/2006 09:34 pm »

Ross, Were you planning on waiting until a more "finalized" version of the VSE craft are decided upon or going with them as is currently designed?

kraisee · « **Reply #190 on:** 08/06/2006 10:34 pm »

Thanks guys.

The 1:144 CLV and CaLV models are based on the original ESAS versions precisely because they kept changing, but that's the one the press and thus the majority of the public are familiar with.

Regarding the CLV, changing to 5-seg SRB isn't a difficult thing to do, and ditto for shortening the Upper Stage. Above that needs changes, with alterations to the upper fairing, SM, CM and also the LES. It's not an extreme job, but I'll do it only once the design seems fairly solid (next DAC perhaps).

CaLV is ESAS spec, because I'm personally far from convinced that the tapering fairing up to the EDS is going to remain. I believe the design is just extremely fluid currently, but if I can get some confidence in the revision, then I'll look at a revision myself.

The 1:288 versions of CLV and CaLV I'm considering have not yet been started.

The 1:48 CEV model needs changing to represent 5.0m, instead of 5.5m.

The 1:48 LSAM will stay as it is for the forseeable.

I should have photo's to show people shortly.

Ross.

Mark Dave · « **Reply #191 on:** 08/07/2006 06:59 pm »

Cool ET photo there. It looks very close to the actual photos (such as the on orbit daylight images after ET sep). The Model Master Chrome Yellow is the same color as the SP orange you used. Though on my models it looks like the ET as seen in the rollout photos of STS-114 and 121. And sorry for repeating myself, but if you're making the ET as it is now, the small pressurization line has to go. Amxor61's ET/SRB markings will explain why.

A VAB model? Dude that would be nearly the height of a door! Up to you if you wish to do that.

Me? I have four 1/72 scale orbiters and two ET/SRB sets for two of the four orbiters. For that scale just a small part of one of the hi bays of the VAB would do, and for the orbiters a 1/72 scale OPF.

BenB5150 · « **Reply #192 on:** 08/07/2006 07:34 pm »

Quote

MarkD - 7/8/2006 1:46 PM

Cool ET photo there. It looks very close to the actual photos (such as the on orbit daylight images after ET sep). The Model Master Chrome Yellow is the same color as the SP orange you used. Though on my models it looks like the ET as seen in the rollout photos of STS-114 and 121. And sorry for repeating myself, but if you're making the ET as it is now, the small pressurization line has to go. Amxor61's ET/SRB markings will explain why.

Thanks Mark and yes I know the line should be removed but right now I don't care I'm not going for total accuracy at this time. Maybe later when I have more time I'll do a more accurate ET without the pressure line and more accurate foam shading. And Thanks for the heads up about the ET/SRB markings. I knew about the Shuttle markings but didn't know he had added the ET/SRB markings!

Ben

Mark Dave · « **Reply #193 on:** 08/08/2006 04:57 pm »

No problem.

The 1/144 kit is ok, but until recently after finding this place and other space modelling sites I knew I had major work to do. Besides, the panel lines on the LO2 and LH2 parts of the ET are another removal to be done.

Yeah the ET/SRB portion has the information up to the current design. The SLWET has only one intertank panel, the older tanks had two. Well I'll just let you see what I mean.

I am still wondering how to add the instafoam on the SRB aft segment with the stiffener rings. Anybody? Please.

What orbiter are you adding to the stack?

BenB5150 · « **Reply #194 on:** 08/08/2006 06:41 pm »

Quote

MarkD - 8/8/2006 11:44 AM

No problem. The 1/144 kit is ok, but until recently after finding this place and other space modelling sites I knew I had major work to do. Besides, the panel lines on the LO2 and LH2 parts of the ET are another removal to be done.

Yeah the ET/SRB portion has the information up to the current design. The SLWET has only one intertank panel, the older tanks had two. Well I'll just let you see what I mean. I am still wondering how to add the instafoam on the SRB aft segment with the stiffener rings. Anybody? Please.

What orbiter are you adding to the stack?

I'm building Columbia as either STS-107-109 or as she was before her markings were changed. Depends on if I can find the correct wing markings for 107-109 or not. I haven't been able to find the "Columbia" name for the wing since none of the models seem to have Columbia on the decal sheet. I ordered the Realspace Sheet but Columbia wasn't included for the wing markings and Cutting Edge isn't available anymore. I'm also building Challenger. Eventually I'll add Atlantis, Discovery & Endeavour.

As for the SRB instafoam I've seen someone use modeling putty to form the foam on the aft segment of the boosters then paint accordingly. I've also seen models that just paint where the foam would be. The new Revell kit has decals to use for the foam area. I'm not sure which option i'll use yet. Hope that helps some.

Ben

Mark Dave · « **Reply #195 on:** 08/08/2006 07:00 pm »

For Columbia sTS-109 and 107 are the same. Here's my model http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/models/html_pix/mdcolumbia.html It wouldn't matter if you had 109 or 107 the orbiter looked the same in both flights. For the wing name decal, I'd suggest cutting letters from the other orbiter names to make the new orbiter decal for Columbia. I did before, but later just got the decals custom made by Tango Papa Decals which is what the model now has- as seen in this photo. Here's Discovery http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/models/html_pix/mdDiscovery.html

spaceshuttle · « **Reply #196 on:** 08/08/2006 08:42 pm »

pretty neat!

BenB5150 · « **Reply #197 on:** 08/09/2006 03:11 am »

Nice models you have there Mark. One detail you might want to change on your Discovery ET is the Bipod fitting. You have yours painted black but it's actually a pale red color. See the photo below for a shot from STS-121. Also here Is a photo that shows the use of putty for the instafoam on the SRB's.

Ben

infidex · « **Reply #198 on:** 08/09/2006 01:59 pm »

Anyone point me to a website where I can purchase a 1/72 scale Stack Model. I see there is one on ebay, but it doesn't end for a few days, hoping to order something today.

Mark Dave · « **Reply #199 on:** 08/09/2006 05:38 pm »

Thanks dudes.

Yeah, I did that to let it match the bottom attach points. I'll repaint it. The other problem I have on my model is the forward attach for the SRBs is smooth just like the older LWET had, the current tank has the same corrugated look now like the rest of the intertank. I have no idea what to do about that.

As to where to buy that large kit, sad to say fellas, but only Ebay has them. The only other way would be requesting Revell/Monogram to renew them again. Though they haven o email contact to easily do that. I know it bugs me when that option won't work. Besides for that large model, I only find photos of other kits on model sites as mine is displayed. That sucks this kit isn't on sale again since the shuttle is back in service, and that was my hope the model kit would be on store shelves by now.