Author Topic: The NASA model building thread (Read 1083616 times)

BenB5150 · « **Reply #200 on:** 08/09/2006 06:09 pm »

Quote

MarkD - 9/8/2006 12:25 PM

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.

I would scribe them in using a file or a dremel. I've also seen styrene used to raise the innertank area. Good Luck!

Ben

Paul Adams · « **Reply #201 on:** 08/09/2006 06:34 pm »

How big is your check book? I have two spare kits but I'm not letting them go for the same price as the one on ebay!

Paul

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #202 on:** 08/09/2006 06:41 pm »

*Site commercialisation hat on*

Are these models pretty much in demand? I'm a bit surprised to hear the "only on Ebay" comment.

Sounds like a obvious commercial deal to be made between someone/some company that does supply such items, but doesn't have exposure - with this site.

Get in touch if that's you

*Site commercialisation hat off*

kraisee · « **Reply #203 on:** 08/09/2006 08:37 pm »

Quote

Chris Bergin - 9/8/2006 2:28 PM

*Site commercialisation hat on*

Are these models pretty much in demand? I'm a bit surprised to hear the "only on Ebay" comment.

Sounds like a obvious commercial deal to be made between someone/some company that does supply such items, but doesn't have exposure - with this site.

Get in touch if that's you

*Site commercialisation hat off*

Chris,
The precise kit being talked about above (Monogram 1:72 scale Space Shuttle Stack) is actually an out-of-production, rare and highly sought-after kit.

This may not be quite what you're looking for as a commercial opportunity for the site, but I personally might recommend bolstering the NSF Shop with commercially available models (mine too!). Perhaps you could attract interest by having a Wanted / For Sale section in the forum?

Ross.

Mark Dave · « **Reply #204 on:** 08/09/2006 11:25 pm »

I'll go with just adding a layer of plastic for the effect.

Yeah, the kits on Ebay are very expenssive. The reason I don't bother with going there is the price changes and the bidding contributes to that and also I might not get it if out bid. At the hobby store the kit was around $75.00 or so. Ebay has them at a larger price up to $100.00 or more. I'd rather get what was available at the store prices than on Ebay.

Mark Dave · « **Reply #205 on:** 08/11/2006 05:38 pm »

Yep, that's the one I wish to get.

Gene DiGennaro · « **Reply #206 on:** 08/11/2006 07:24 pm »

The Monogram 1/72 shuttle stack makes for an impressive dispaly model. Do be warned however, there is little "play" value in the assembled model. By this I mean that the SRB's, ET and Orbiter are permanently attached and will not seperate if you follow the instructions. This may limit the model's use as an educational tool.

About 5 years ago I purchased the model when it was re-released by Monogram. I started working on it about a month ago. I intend to build this model so that the SRB's, ET and Orbiter will seperate. To accomplish this, I bought 1/8" stereo headphone jacks and plugs from Radio Shack. I will mount jacks in the fuselage of the orbiter and SRB's. Stereo plugs will be mounted at the attachment points on the ET. The robust metal plugs and the snug fit of the jack should allow things to stay together....I hope

Gene

Paul Adams · « **Reply #207 on:** 08/11/2006 07:56 pm »

Quote

Gene DiGennaro - 11/8/2006 2:11 PM

The Monogram 1/72 shuttle stack makes for an impressive dispaly model. Do be warned however, there is little "play" value in the assembled model. By this I mean that the SRB's, ET and Orbiter are permanently attached and will not seperate if you follow the instructions. This may limit the model's use as an educational tool.

About 5 years ago I purchased the model when it was re-released by Monogram. I started working on it about a month ago. I intend to build this model so that the SRB's, ET and Orbiter will seperate. To accomplish this, I bought 1/8" stereo headphone jacks and plugs from Radio Shack. I will mount jacks in the fuselage of the orbiter and SRB's. Stereo plugs will be mounted at the attachment points on the ET. The robust metal plugs and the snug fit of the jack should allow things to stay together....I hope

Gene

That's a great idea!!

Has anyone found a way to replace the 'pebble dash' finish on the tank with something more accurate. The pebble-dash is not bad, but looking at close-up photos the insulation appears to be in bands wrapped around the tank, probably something to do with its application.

Paul

chksix · « **Reply #208 on:** 08/12/2006 12:01 am »

There are powerful magnets you can glue to the inside of the detachable pieces. Might be easier than stereo plugs. I'm not sure exactly how powerful they are however.

kraisee · « **Reply #209 on:** 08/12/2006 03:57 am »

For my models which aren't designed to separate, I've simply drilled holes which align, and use a piece of Brass Rod to put them together - works like a charm, and is very cheap and simple.

Dunno if anyone here recalls a company called Rho-Models, run by a very nice guy named Julius de Roo, well he did a 1:144 scale Energiya/Buran model in resin. It was designed to be glued entirely together, but using this technique, mine comes apart and goes neatly back together again any time I like

Ross.

Mark Dave · « **Reply #210 on:** 08/12/2006 03:51 pm »

There is this guy who built a flying model http://members.aol.com/narshuttle/shuttlehome.htm He even has diagrams on how he got the model to fly just like the real thing.

Ross for the 1/72 scale MLP you are planning I was once thinking of drilling holes in the SRB hold down locations of the aft skirt of the boosters so small pins can go in and hold the stack on the pad without any other support. Well also because I use to have the Revell 1/144 stack kit with launch tower as a kid and the model kept falling over unless the LOX vent hood was extended over the ET to make it stand.

kraisee · « **Reply #211 on:** 08/12/2006 06:01 pm »

Yes, I've seen that Shuttle model site before - awesome job he's done in making a Shuttle model fly and stage - wish I had the time to try it myself!

The MLP kits are going to be interesting from that PoV. We've got a few alternatives we're considering, from pins around the skirt, to rods stuck up the nozzle, to having some piece of Ground Support Equipment in just the right position to be touching the Orbiter's rudder and supporting it there instead. While I don't think the latter will be used, the two other choices are going to be examined in detail before release. At this stage I'll just say "watch this space".

Ross.

Mark Dave · « **Reply #212 on:** 08/12/2006 08:42 pm »

The idea of pins through the skirt supports seems best IMO as that would hold the model up and also the TSMs of the MLP could hold the orbiter, just like the real thing, with retracting hold down posts inside the TSM, again like the real one.

That's my idea though to keep the MLP as realistic as possible, but also be able to hold the model up. For the TSM attach points, the part that touches the orbiter is a sort of L shape so the bottom of the L could hold the orbiter's weight. The SRB attach pins can hold the rest of the stack. Though I'd put more strength in the TSM internal pivot arms as the stack will tend to lean to the orbiter side. Another problem I found with the small 1/144 kit.

Paul Adams · « **Reply #213 on:** 08/12/2006 09:54 pm »

How about including some of the ducting that runs from the pad to the rear umbilicals on the aft end of the orbiter? If stiff enough these could be used to steady the stack on the MLP.

Paul

Mark Dave · « **Reply #214 on:** 08/12/2006 10:41 pm »

Yep.

From what I can tell on the LCM site, it will be highly detailed kits for the launch complex.

kraisee · « **Reply #215 on:** 08/13/2006 03:17 am »

How about including it all - accurately?

Here's an example of the accurately reproduced hydraulic pipework on Service Arm #4 for my 1:144 scale Apollo LUT - it should show the level of detail I'm including...

http://65.33.118.71/Pics/SA4_001.jpg">

Ross B Tierney.
Owner, CEO
Launch Complex Models (UK)
Launch Complex Models, LLC (USA)

kraisee · « **Reply #216 on:** 08/13/2006 03:26 am »

One trick for keeping the CofG right, is to borrow the balancing trick from the real-world.

While they appear a lot smaller, the SRB's mass way more than the ET plus Orbiter (in fact each segment weighs about the same as the ET+SHuttle!), that's why the stack is stable during rollout, even with 100 tons of mass riding on the side.

Fill up the lower sections of the SRB's with very heavy material (lead shot, fishing weights, sand etc) and seal it in tight. Do the same with the ET and the whole stack will become stable, just standing on the SRB's alone.

Ross.

astrobrian · « **Reply #217 on:** 08/13/2006 03:29 am »

That is one detailed piece Ross.......Wow

erauskydiver · « **Reply #218 on:** 08/13/2006 08:15 pm »

Quote

Paul Adams - 9/8/2006 1:21 PM

How big is your check book? I have two spare kits but I'm not letting them go for the same price as the one on ebay!

Paul

Paul,

I'm interested. Give me a quote. I'm sick of dealing with E Bay. I amost got one of those kits today, but was beat during the last remaining seconds of the auction. I think the guy uses one of those auction stealer services because his history shows that he wins all of his auctions only several seconds before they win, and always by 2 dollars.

erauskydiver · « **Reply #219 on:** 08/13/2006 08:19 pm »

LaunchComplex models or RealSpace models should consider producing a 1:72 scale external tank and booster kit. There are plenty of orbiters of that scale on the market already. I'd bet that just selling the tank and boosters would be profitable. Also, has anybody tried to build them from scratch?