Author Topic: The NASA model building thread (Read 1083581 times)

Bubbinski · « **Reply #280 on:** 09/18/2006 05:07 am »

On my Revell and Airfix (1/144) kits, I'm using Plastruct corrugated metal siding (N scale) for the main ribbing and Evergreen styrene strips for the SRB attachment areas.

Mark, as for your Monogram orbiter door closing issues, I could benefit from the answer also, as it's been a while since I've built one. If you want to glue the doors shut it might be a good idea to try to glue the doors together at the point where they join each other (making a line down the center of the fuselage) before gluing them to the sides of the orbiter. I did that for my Tamiya 1/100 orbiter and it worked well for that kit.

Mark Dave · « **Reply #281 on:** 09/18/2006 06:05 pm »

I see. Though with the Monogram kit midway down the payload bay, the width narrows slightly. To fix that, add piece of thick 1.0mm tube or box beam plastic strip to widen the space. If I can, I'll get a photo of my new model of Atlantis to show what I did. Here's what my model of Discovery looks like http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/models/html_pix/mdDiscovery.html You can see the problem I have with it. The front end of the doors fit fine, but the aft end doesn't. Gluing the doors before ading them to the fuselage won't work as then the sides wouldn't align. Also a tip my friends, for the LH2 cable tray, the one for the kit is too big. I removed it and got 3/32" U channel strips to replace that. As you can see in the photo, it fits well with the LO2 cable tray the kit has.

norm103 · « **Reply #282 on:** 09/19/2006 05:31 am »

Am thinking of under taking building a model of the Vehicle Assembly Building in 144. My plan is just the high bays on the east side of the building. So I need help with the size of the cross beams and stuff like that. I have an over all under standing of the floor plan from photos although there are parts is not to shore about. And also what would you all recommend using to build this in? thanks

Mark Dave · « **Reply #283 on:** 09/19/2006 06:15 pm »

The intertal structure has some photos, but not enough to get great detail. I know I thought of such a project for my 1/72 scale model stack. One Hi-bay for it to sit inside of, that's it.

For building it, sheet styrene is the best material, light weight and easy to get the prefabricated pieces for the scale.

Mark Dave · « **Reply #284 on:** 10/10/2006 02:06 pm »

Say guys how much wider is the new CEV upper stage for Ares 1 compared to the SRB? I'm trying to draw 1/72 scale designs for a new model project. What scale what diameter pipe should I get? I also too a wild guess and think for the Ares V aka HLV core stage to the same scale would equal the diameter of a paint can. Is that about right?

Linden · « **Reply #285 on:** 10/12/2006 02:24 pm »

"Say guys how much wider is the new CEV upper stage for Ares 1 compared to the SRB? I'm trying to draw 1/72 scale designs for a new model project. What scale what diameter pipe should I get? I also too a wild guess and think for the Ares V aka HLV core stage to the same scale would equal the diameter of a paint can. Is that about right?"

Mark,

The SRB is about 3.7 m in diameter and I think the Ares I second stage will be 5.5 m in diameter. At 1/72 that would be 5.1 cm (2 in) and 7.6 cm (3 in) respectively. I hope this helps.

Linden

imfan · « **Reply #286 on:** 10/12/2006 02:43 pm »

IMHO it is 5m as well as CEV is.

Jim · « **Reply #287 on:** 10/12/2006 03:01 pm »

Quote

imfan - 12/10/2006 10:26 AM

IMHO it is 5m as well as CEV is.

No, the upperstage is 5.5m and the CEV is 5m

Mark Dave · « **Reply #288 on:** 10/12/2006 09:08 pm »

Thanks.

I'll get to sketching out the design.

Jason · « **Reply #289 on:** 10/21/2006 11:41 pm »

I thought I would post some pre completion (soon to be) Atlantis photos. I've finished building the model, but the decal set that came with this model sucks. So I've ordered the decal set from the Discovery with boosters model set to finish it. I have to wait 6 weeks however for them to ship the decals from Germany.

mastronaut · « **Reply #290 on:** 10/22/2006 02:03 am »

That looks sweet! Nice so far...

Mark Dave · « **Reply #291 on:** 10/22/2006 06:05 pm »

I never liked the Revell version of the 1/72 scale kit. I have finished my 1/72 scale model of the Atlantis stack (Monogram) and have all four vehicles. As you know Discovery is my other stack kit.

Hey guys how would I scratchbuild the lunar rover in it's stowed position in 1/48 scale? I just finished building the LM Challenger, and it has a spot for the LRV to fit.

Jason · « **Reply #292 on:** 11/10/2006 05:09 am »

I just completed the 144 scale Atlantis model that I've been working on. Here are a few pictures. The 3rd picture is the Atlantis model with my Discovery stack of the same scale.

chksix · « **Reply #293 on:** 11/10/2006 07:43 am »

Just a quick pointer, the NASA worm logo isn't used anymore on the payload bay doors. Very nice model otherwise. Much better than the one I built when I was a teenager

Mark Dave · « **Reply #294 on:** 11/10/2006 03:16 pm »

Yep, also the drag chute modification is missing.

Jason · « **Reply #295 on:** 11/10/2006 03:19 pm »

Quote

chksix - 10/11/2006 3:26 AM Just a quick pointer, the NASA worm logo isn't used anymore on the payload bay doors. Very nice model otherwise. Much better than the one I built when I was a teenager

Damn, I followed the decal instructions without double checking everything. Thanks for the tip. I don't know how the hell I'm going to get them off of there now. I put them on both models.

Jason · « **Reply #296 on:** 11/10/2006 03:21 pm »

Quote

MarkD - 10/11/2006 10:59 AM Yep, also the drag chute modification is missing.

The model didn't come with the mod and I'm not any good at fabricating. So it's probably missing a few things.

spaceshuttle · « **Reply #297 on:** 11/10/2006 05:24 pm »

Quote

Jason - 10/11/2006 10:04 AM

Quote
MarkD - 10/11/2006 10:59 AM Yep, also the drag chute modification is missing.
The model didn't come with the mod and I'm not any good at fabricating. So it's probably missing a few things.

yeah, it sux how inaccurate these model kits are (labels and modifications), still. RARELY follow the decal instructions because 95% of the time, they're DEAD wrong. also, you may want to scratch off the red line decals on the boosters as the stripes are white nowadays. GREAT job, though!

Mark Dave · « **Reply #298 on:** 11/11/2006 05:07 pm »

I'd paint over the red stripes. The 1/144 stack looks good,but the color for the ET might need to be changed. If you look at my 1/72 scale stack, the chrome yellow I used for the darker foam more or less fits the photos. I'm going to post more photos of the stack later today. Also on the ET nose of your kit, the darker more rust color foam isn't there.

Sorry, I kind of have this habit of showing accurate details when it's modelling the shuttle.

spaceshuttle · « **Reply #299 on:** 11/12/2006 04:49 am »

looking at PAO pix, rust, golden brown (caramel), golden orange, soft orange, peach, or a burnt orange is most suitable for the tank...also consider RSS tanlines and/or the sunburnt nose...