Space Shuttle Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6 (1:144)

• #1100 by roma847 on 03 Dec, 2016 23:42
• Thanks Dave for your nice compliment,
  
  I'm glad if you like it.
  
  
• #1101 by roma847 on 06 Dec, 2016 10:24
• Hello everybody,
  
  but always nice in sequence.
  
  Today, I got to work on the last two remaining Pipe Supports below the 16'' extensions (Ø 2.5 mm) of the ring lines in front of (respectively behind) the TSMs.
  
  As can be seen from the photo already shown, the supports are similar in construction to the 24'' ring line (Ø 4.0 mm), but they are somewhat smaller and have only one sickle for holding the tube (Ø 2, 5 mm). 
  
  In the dimensioning of the support and its individual parts, the clear height under the tube of 2.5 mm was decisive. Since for this smaller support the Evergreen U-profile (2.5 mm) appeared for me too clunky, I have it this time scratched from 0.25 x 2 mm and 0.25 x 0.75 mm strips.
  
  The tiny sickles are punched (Ø 2 mm) and have a web height of approx. 0.5 mm.  Since the initially provided foot parts resulted in a somewhat too high construction,
  
  
  
  I went back again to smaller beads and discs.
  
  
  
  After the substructure was glued,
  
  
  
  the tiny sickle was glued,
  
  
  
  and the first of the two supports was finished.
  
  
  
  And then I finally could exchange the previous dummy and replace with the new support, which fits well with its height under the tube.
  
  
  
  Now I have still to clone this support only.
  
  
• #1102 by roma847 on 06 Dec, 2016 21:31
• Hello guys
  
  and here comes a short update about cloning the second support. 
  
  The second time everything is already somewhat easier, especially since the individual parts were already prepared. Merely the handling of the individual parts of these midgets is not easy, because even holding in the tweezers is not harmless, since they can easily jump away, therefore Safety first!
  
  But if one clamp the U-profile between two rulers, this works quite well. And the small rod to thread the individual parts is, of course, absolutely helpful and therefore indispensable.
  
  
  
  The gluing of the mini-sickle is then again the crowning conclusion. And now the umbilical stick can be separated off.
  
  
  
  Thereby the couple is completed.
  
  
  
  And now it can go on with the missing outlets on the other ring line.
  
  
• #1103 by roma847 on 08 Dec, 2016 22:56
• Hello together,
  
  after the dismantling and re-mantling of the SRB-Supports, the three outer outlets were mounted on the right-hand ring line.
  
  
  
  At it the bend of the rear outlet had to be adjusted somewhat, because it was a bit too long. 
  
  
  
  
  The next outlet has then fitted again right away. 
  
  
  
  And also the front outlet had to be modified several times, until it finally has fitted and I could give him my blessing.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Tomorrow it will go around the corner to the extension of the ring line with the transition to the nozzle pipe behind the LH2-TSM.
  
  
• #1104 by roma847 on 10 Dec, 2016 10:51
• Hi there,
  
  so, then I want to bring the extension of the ring line with the nozzle tube around the corner. 
  
  When looking at some NASAtech.net panoramas, I suddenly noticed again this clamping ring on the extension, which I had actually forgotten on the other side and now has to be installed later. 
  
  
  Source: NASA
  
  It is, of course, easier to mount the extension if it is not yet glued to the ring line. And so I did this, whereby I used Lead wire (Ø 0.4 mm), which I have glued with MEK, yup, with MEK!!!
  
  And that actually works whether you believe it, or not. This astonishing effect I had noticed several times unpleasantly when gluing PE parts on a sheet metal underlay, which suddenly suddenly stuck to the underlay. And this side effect benefited me this time, especially since the clamping ring has nothing great to resist. 
  
  
  
  And here the extension is already glued and fits well around the corner of the TSM dummy.
  
  
  
  
  
  This must now harden in a stable position,
  
  
  
  then it can go on.
  
  
• #1105 by roma847 on 15 Dec, 2016 13:29
• Hello everybody,
  
  since the time for drying was more than sufficient, it has now gone on.
  
  It had still been missing the two remaining 6'' outlts on the ring line behind the LH2-TSM, which got their nipples again,
  
  
  
  and then their clamping rings.
  
  
  
  And the thickenings at the foot points I have also indicated by rings.
  
  
  
  Then the two outlets were glued behind the LH2-TSM with MEK. To get the same clearance height, I have used a 2 mm rod as a spacer.
  
  
  
  
  
  Then followed the installation of the outlets on the other side behind the LOX-TSM.
  
  
  
  And without the annoying Balsa stabilizers it looks much more friendly. 
  
  
  
  Therewith now all the pipes of the SSWS are finished and almost completely installed.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Now I can calmly turn to the remaining 11 triangular supports at the outlets. 
  
  Then both ring lines skeletons have to be removed again and all the transitions must be modeled with Apoxie Sculpt, whereby I'm scared a bit when I imagine that action in detail ... 
  And then follows the exciting chapter Clamping rings. 
  
  
• #1106 by roma847 on 15 Dec, 2016 15:22
• Hello folks,
  but before the pipe skeletons are now removed again, I have set free the wild flock of birds once again.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I always like to look at them again and again.
  
  
• #1107 by Ronpur50 on 16 Dec, 2016 01:11
• WOW!!!!
• #1108 by roma847 on 16 Dec, 2016 13:18
• Thanks Ron for your nice compliment, I'm glad if you like it.
  
  
• #1109 by Davp99 on 16 Dec, 2016 13:20
• I have to say, This Model will BE the Most Realistic Reproduction of a STS Launch ready Pad Ever. Merry Christmas to you & your Family Manfred
• #1110 by roma847 on 16 Dec, 2016 21:30
• Thanks Dave for your great compliment,
  
  but I also deliberately have left me a lot of time to design everything in detail and tried to actually implement this level by means of countless reference photos.
  
  For the SSWS alone a nine-month period has now loosely gone, including Supports and Rainbirds etc., with which I have really gone to the limit of what is feasible for me at that small scale.
  But I think the effort has paid off.
  
  
• #1111 by deadman719 on 17 Dec, 2016 21:04
• You are a master builder! The level of detail you have incorporated is beyond comprehension when one considers the scale involved.
  
  This is one of the threads that I look forward to reading on a daily basis. Once again...we are watching a master at work!
  
  Respectfully,
  Rob
• #1112 by roma847 on 18 Dec, 2016 00:15
• Thanks Rob for your nice hymn of praise  and congratulations on the 1111th reply.
  Thanks for watching, I'm glad if you like it what I'm doing here.
  
  
• #1113 by roma847 on 24 Dec, 2016 20:29
• Hello everybody,
  
  today I would like to present you my Christmas update. 
  
  At first, I fixed the crescent-shaped supports for the three missing rear 18" outlets (Ø 3.2 mm) in a tried and tested manner between two steel rulers and glued with MEK,
  
  
  
  but then laid aside.
  
  
  
  In the meantime, I had once again looked at the supports of all the outlets on the MLP-2, because they have differently shaped stiffening points, at which I had already pointed out in this summer, see Reply #960.
  This image, however, belongs to the MLP-3 and is therefore not relevant to me,
  
  
  Source: NASA
  
  because this support at the MLP-2 looks like this and has both at the rear,
  
  
  Source: NASA
  
  as well as at the front, three such stiffening corners, as can be seen.
  
  
  Source: NASA Street View
  Admittedly, these are all very difficile detail differences, but I'm taking it a bit more precisely, as you know. 
  
  That is why we remain at this support, which I have so far completed as first and used for the test fitting of the outlets. However, he had so far only the two lower triangles on the front (to the LOX-TSM), and now I have glued also the three triangles on the back.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Now only the upper triangle on the front was missing,
  
  
  
  which I have attached now, and with which this support would now be complete. 
  
  
  
  This was followed by the gluing of the filigree frame (0.25 mm x 0.5 mm) for the next support, whereby I initially wanted to go back to my previous gluing and bending technique,
  
  
  
  but which annoyed me as much as the first time, wherefore I have rejected it, because the corners are not bent exactly enough.
  
  Therefore, I have considered the following technique, which initially looks somewhat inconvenient, but ultimately provides better results. 
  
  For this purpose I have glued strips 0.5 mm x 0.5 mm under the two undersides of the angle with a little supernatant, between which I have glued matching strips 0.25 mm x 0.5 mm, everything again with MEK, which has worked well for these minimal gluings.
  
  
  
  
  
  And after the supernatants had been separated, I had this small but fine roof with beautiful square frame edges.
  
  
  
  And now I wish you all Merry Christmas.
  
  
• #1114 by Darren_Hensley on 25 Dec, 2016 02:17
• Merry Christmas Manfred
  
• #1115 by roma847 on 25 Dec, 2016 06:28
• Thanks Darren and Merry Christmas to you too.
  
  
• #1116 by roma847 on 25 Dec, 2016 20:17
• Hello my friends,
  
  only a little Christmas shot from my MLP , where now is also Christmas, as one can see on the true to scale sapling (approx. 15 mm), which would range the Rainbirds only up to the upper cartridge belt.
  
  
  
  In this spirit I wish you all furthermore Merry Christmas.
  
  
• #1117 by Ronpur50 on 26 Dec, 2016 22:57
• Awesome as always, and I hope you had a Merry Christmas!!
• #1118 by roma847 on 27 Dec, 2016 09:16
• Thanks Ron for looking in on my work.
  We had a peaceful and tranquil Christmas, and so a short break can also be good.
  
  
• #1119 by roma847 on 28 Dec, 2016 22:41
• Hello everybody,
  
  I hope you all had Merry Christmas, have no spoiled stomach and are in a good mood.
  
  In order to prevent possible withdrawal symptoms, I have continued after a short breather with the still missing supports for the rear 18'' outlets and attached their frames first and then the tiny stiffening corners. 
  
  
  
  
  
  In the upper row lay the two supports of the outlets behind the LOX-TSM, and below the supports behind the LH2-TSM. After the right support was already finished, now also the last support got his four corners.
  
  
  
  
  
  On these images, the different arrangement of the stiffening corners can be compared once again, first at the outlets behind the LOX-TSM, which are identical on the front and back, both in their number and in shape.
  
  
  Source: NASA
  
  While the arrangement of the corners of the outlets behind the LH2-TSM on the rear side is identical with the corners behind the LOX-TSM,
  
  
  Source: NASA
  the upper triangle is missing on the front of the outer support, as can be seen in this picture. 
  
  
  Source: NASA
  But exceptions famously confirm the rule. 
  
  Then I have glued the crescent-shaped pipe holders.
  
  
  
  And this is how the test fitting of the supports looks at the MLP.
  
  
  
  
  
  Now I can turn to the eight supports for the 12'' outlets, for which I first have to punch the sickles with Ø 2 mm.