The NASA model building thread

[BenB5150]

Well I've been working on these models off and on for a few years and had a chance to make some progress on them this past weekend.  I wanted to do more detail but now I just want to finish them.  I still have some painting and decals to apply but wanted to share my progress.

Ben

[nethegauner]

I'm building a 1/200 Hasegawa shuttle with the on orbit config for STS 125 including the HST in the payload bay myself and I will put up some pics soon

Wow. That sounds interesting. Can't wait to see Your images.

That cockpit looks pretty good ,

Thanks. I am not a master painter, so I am glad the Revell guys came up with such nicely detailed decals. Never before have I had to attach so many decals to such a limited place, however. It was great fun nonetheless.

I still have some painting and decals to apply but wanted to share my progress.

Those look fine -- even at this stage.

Talk about parallel processing!

[rkoenn]

I do modeling as well and have a number of real space kits in my stash for my impending retirement.  This past weekend though I finished my Atomic City 2001 TMA-1 and astronaut resin kit.  It is unique and from probably my favorite scifi movie of all time due to the realism and intelligence of the movie.  I saw it the first time in the summer of 1968 when it was released in Tampa at a special Cinerama theater and it was truly amazing seeing it that way.  And of course I have seen it numerous times since and have the DVD as well.  Anyway, here's the almost completed model, I need to build and add the environmental control hoses that are not included in the kit.

[BenB5150]

I still have some painting and decals to apply but wanted to share my progress.

Those look fine -- even at this stage.

Talk about parallel processing!

Thanks!

I built Columbia and Challenger at different stages a few years back and realized I could save time by starting the last three at the same time and do an assembly line to build them all together. The tanks were a different story.  They took longer since I removed the rings from the tank.  I did the first three with an exacto knife, ouch!, then got a dremel on the last two.  I ruined one tank until I figured out a technique to remove the rings without damaging the tank.  Much easier on the fingers with a dremel.   

Looking forward to seeing more of your model.  Keep up the good work!

Ben

[MikeyJames56]

Greetings all! I've only recently discovered a long lost interest in NASA and space in general. I road-tripped to the other side of Florida (I'm in the St. Pete/Tampa area) with a bunch of friends to see Endeavour back in February, but missed it due to the weather canceling the launch and conflicting schedules with my friends. I'm currently planning to see Endeavour again for the July launch.

I've read through this entire thread, and I decided to order the Revell 1/144 stack, and I plan on building it as Endeavour as she looks presently. But I don't plan on making it exact down to the last detail like many of you do here (I'm certainly not that good!), but I'd like to get it close. Are the decals in the box enough for that? I don't want to have to order a set of decals from Real Space Models if I can help it, I'd prefer to use whats in the box.

I'm also curious as to how those of you with the 1/144 shuttles paint the nose area, do you just mask it carefully using blue painter's tape? Thanks a lot anyone and everyone, I'll gladly post pictures when the time comes!

[nethegauner]

Are the decals in the box enough for that? I don't want to have to order a set of decals from Real Space Models if I can help it, I'd prefer to use whats in the box.

I'm also curious as to how those of you with the 1/144 shuttles paint the nose area, do you just mask it carefully using blue painter's tape? Thanks a lot anyone and everyone, I'll gladly post pictures when the time comes!

The Endeavour from the shots on the very first page of this thread was built using the in-box decals of the current 1:144 Revell shuttle w/boosters only (no additional decals), so that should be good news for You. I've always had more or less severe difficulties with paint jobs, so I loved those new decals that were not included in the previous Revell releases.

Actually, the whole nose section is decal-based -- the white and black areas, the lines, a black "ring" around the grey nose ...

I am sure that You will enjoy your new shuttle. I loved building mine -- as much as I enjoy assembling the current 1:72 re-release. I hope my Discovery will be ready before STS-133 ...

[Downix]

I want to order the 1:72 kit, but I don't want the shuttle, just the tanks and SRB's for building a DIRECT Jupiter.  Anyone looking for just the shuttle want to split the cost?

[MikeyJames56]

Are the decals in the box enough for that? I don't want to have to order a set of decals from Real Space Models if I can help it, I'd prefer to use whats in the box.

I'm also curious as to how those of you with the 1/144 shuttles paint the nose area, do you just mask it carefully using blue painter's tape? Thanks a lot anyone and everyone, I'll gladly post pictures when the time comes!

The Endeavour from the shots on the very first page of this thread was built using the in-box decals of the current 1:144 Revell shuttle w/boosters only (no additional decals), so that should be good news for You. I've always had more or less severe difficulties with paint jobs, so I loved those new decals that were not included in the previous Revell releases.

Actually, the whole nose section is decal-based -- the white and black areas, the lines, a black "ring" around the grey nose ...

I am sure that You will enjoy your new shuttle. I loved building mine -- as much as I enjoy assembling the current 1:72 re-release. I hope my Discovery will be ready before STS-133 ...

Thank you very much! I'm greatly looking forward to receiving her so I can start 

[Bubbinski]

Ok, here are a couple of pics of my Hasegawa 1/200 shuttle Atlantis and Hubble.  The Hubble telescope comes from a boxed INAIR toy and will be heavily modified and repainted before I mount it in the payload bay. 

I will build up the rest of the payload as well with scratchbuilt parts using the Monogram 1/200 shuttle kit payloads as a base.  (Or I may go ahead and get the AXM STS-125 kit payload and try to downscale it, then cover it with orange-gold foil, we'll see.)  I'll also need to scratchbuild some radiators for the payload bay doors and the KU band antenna, I've already scratchbuilt the airlock and OBSS.

[Bubbinski]

Also, a couple of months back I picked up a 1/72 cutaway shuttle for a 40 percent off discount at Hobby Lobby and built it out of the box.  Here she is.

[rkoenn]

Also, a couple of months back I picked up a 1/72 cutaway shuttle for a 40 percent off discount at Hobby Lobby and built it out of the box.  Here she is.

That's very nice Bubbinski.  I guess I didn't realize there was a kit out there like that.  And I know that it is fairly accurate having been around and in almost every area of the orbiter at one time or another.  I even remember on STS-1 crawling all around inside the wing all the way back to the back to the rear riser along the trailing edge.  Is this model still available?  I will start looking around for it now that I know it is out there.

[Bubbinski]

Thanks rkoenn.  It's available, it's from a company called 3D vision and I know Hobby Lobby stocks it.  It's prepainted and snap together, although I suppose it could be modified.  (I thought about doing that but decided against it).

[BenB5150]

Are the decals in the box enough for that? I don't want to have to order a set of decals from Real Space Models if I can help it, I'd prefer to use whats in the box.

I'm also curious as to how those of you with the 1/144 shuttles paint the nose area, do you just mask it carefully using blue painter's tape? Thanks a lot anyone and everyone, I'll gladly post pictures when the time comes!

The decals that come with the Revell model are excellent.  Beware of the the backwards flag for the current orbiter name.  It has been fixed on some sheets but I'm sure there are still some out there that are wrong.  Easy to fix with the earlier markings flag. 

I started using Real Space and Cutting Edge (no longer available) because I needed the updated Columbia markings that are not available from Revell.  When I got the sheets I noticed some decals were better that others so I used all of them to get what I though were the best.  I've also used the after market Main Engines for better detail.

I used painting masks to help when I painted but unfortunately they are no longer available. I've also painted with blue painters tape.  It just takes a little longer to prep.  The instructions have some reference on where to mask to use the included decals for the nose, tail wings etc.  An example of what I did to paint my orbiters can be found here : http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=1806.msg290393#msg290393

Look forward to seeing your model here soon!  Happy to offer any assistance if you need it. 

Ben

[BenB5150]

Also, a couple of months back I picked up a 1/72 cutaway shuttle for a 40 percent off discount at Hobby Lobby and built it out of the box.  Here she is.

Great model!  If you like cutaway models you really need to see this scratch built cutaway model that is in progress.  It is awesome!

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=198071&st=0

Also, You should check out this hand tiled Discovery Model.  Very detailed!
http://www.astrazoic.com/Space-Shuttle-Discovery.html

I wish I had enough skill and patience to tackle either of these projects.

Ben

[nethegauner]

Progress in my very own OPF is slow but steady. The cockpit and payload bay are now happily together. While I painted the bay matt white as instructed, I chose silk white for those cable housings in oder to make the PLB look more interesting. It is a sublte difference, of course.

Most of the time, I am painting the starboard section of the orbiter body. While waiting for the paint to dry, I continue with some get-ahead tasks like the second and third SSME and the vertical rudder as shown in the second photo.

Actually, this item was simply painted black according to the paint scheme. The white areas are decals. True masters of model building would have painted the item, I guess -- but those decals make life easy for guys who only build models once every few years ...



I hope to have that huge part of the fuselage ready over the weekend.

[MikeyJames56]

Are the decals in the box enough for that? I don't want to have to order a set of decals from Real Space Models if I can help it, I'd prefer to use whats in the box.

I'm also curious as to how those of you with the 1/144 shuttles paint the nose area, do you just mask it carefully using blue painter's tape? Thanks a lot anyone and everyone, I'll gladly post pictures when the time comes!

The decals that come with the Revell model are excellent.  Beware of the the backwards flag for the current orbiter name.  It has been fixed on some sheets but I'm sure there are still some out there that are wrong.  Easy to fix with the earlier markings flag. 

I started using Real Space and Cutting Edge (no longer available) because I needed the updated Columbia markings that are not available from Revell.  When I got the sheets I noticed some decals were better that others so I used all of them to get what I though were the best.  I've also used the after market Main Engines for better detail.

I used painting masks to help when I painted but unfortunately they are no longer available. I've also painted with blue painters tape.  It just takes a little longer to prep.  The instructions have some reference on where to mask to use the included decals for the nose, tail wings etc.  An example of what I did to paint my orbiters can be found here : http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=1806.msg290393#msg290393

Look forward to seeing your model here soon!  Happy to offer any assistance if you need it. 

Ben

Thanks for that Ben, I'm greatly looking forward to starting when it comes! If worst comes to worst I can always order the real space decals, and I will take plenty of time to mask it correctly with painter's tape. Good looking orbiters btw, and a great reference for me 

[Bubbinski]

Ben, those are jaw dropping projects!  Absolutely what I aspire to, but I don't know if I'll ever get to that point.

Anyway, here's a better picture of my 1/200 shuttle, with some additional painting and payload bay work.

[BenB5150]

Ben, those are jaw dropping projects!  Absolutely what I aspire to, but I don't know if I'll ever get to that point.

Anyway, here's a better picture of my 1/200 shuttle, with some additional painting and payload bay work.

Yeah I wish I had the talent to do that kind of work too.

You're model is looking good!  I've never tried to make a 1/200.  Might need to build one of those.  I'd really like to try a 1/72 stack.  Wish the would reissue that one.  Do they make a 1/144 Hubble model?  I might need to get one of those to make an Atlantis Hubble mission or something.

Ben

[Bubbinski]

I've only heard about the 1/72nd scale Skilcraft Hubble model and I think Real Space was going to do a much more realistic Hubble model in that scale as well.  But www.hubblesite.org has a 1/48th scale paper model that could maybe be downsized.

Yeah, I'd love to see a 1/72 stack reissue....but they should redo the molds and make a more modern "fall together" kit.  If Tamiya would do something like that I'd fork over the bucks.

[Mark Dave]

Same here a re-issue f the Monogram 1/72 scale Stack kit. This time it will be for a replica of STS-1, but if the kit was made again.

I am building a model of the Valkyrie shuttle from Avatar to go with my shuttle models. as an example here's a photo someone posted of the Valkyrie shuttle http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af111/CJ1290/S08.jpg