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

• #1860 by roma847 on 01 Jun, 2020 16:23
• Hello everybody on Whit Monday,
  
  after the spray adhesive has certainly dried, I've picked up the soft long-haired brush and carefully brushed off the excess flour. This was followed by a gentle Peeling with a pointed tweezer, with which small lints were removed.
  And this is how the LH₂ Tank now looks after the Flour coating.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Here is a cut-out at higher magnification.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I'm very satisfied with this result, so that the priming can now follow. 
  
  
• #1861 by EG on 02 Jun, 2020 08:10
• Superlative!
  
  A perfect example of sorting out the solution to a serious modeling problem.. all that work done months ago to figure out the best way to do this has paid off!!!
  
  Once painted brother, I want a copy of that miniaturizing machine..... {chuckle}
  
  Beautiful Job!!!!
  
  EG
• #1862 by roma847 on 02 Jun, 2020 13:04
• Thanks EG for your nice compliments.
  
  First of all I will test once again with the Vallejo Primer from the can on my Intertank Dummy, which is no longer needed anyway.
  
  
  
  Then I'm only considering whether I shouldn't first flour the LO₂ Tank too and then prime the entire ET?
  
  
• #1863 by Naito on 02 Jun, 2020 13:06
• Every time I check this thread I am just astounded at the meticulousness and amount of detail you put in this.  Simply amazing!
• #1864 by llanitedave on 02 Jun, 2020 14:26
• It's not just the attention to detail, it's the skill and artistry with which the detail is implemented.  Absolutely gorgeous result!
• #1865 by roma847 on 02 Jun, 2020 16:38
• Thanks Carl and Dave for the great appreciation of my work.
  
  I'm often thinking for a long time until I've found a solution that I choose, because it convinces me.
  
  
• #1866 by roma847 on 02 Jun, 2020 23:18
• Hello eberybody,
  
  in the meantime I had wanted to make the priming of the Intertank Dummy, wherefore I had already prepared everything in the next room. 
  
  
  
  
  
  But somehow the hint of a friend in our German Raumcon Forum regarding the "furry" appearance of the tape spiral did not wanted go out of my mind ...
  And then I suddenly got the idea with the fine Tamiya Sanding Sponge Sheet, with which one could perhaps mitigate this effect a little bit if one would gently sand the floured ET before priming and/or afterwards with a fine Sanding sponge ...  
  
  
  
  And that then I tried it out with the Sponge 2000, which I had recently used, while the Sponge 3000 is still up one's sleeve.
  
  In order to be able to assess the effect better, I only slightly sanded half of the Dummy (right).
  
  
  
  After priming,
  
  
  
  unsanded half,
  
  
  
  sanded half,
  
  
  
  upper half sanded - lower half unsanded,
  
  
  
  unsanded half,
  
  
  
  sanded half.
  
  
  
  Probably the differences can only be seen more clearly at higher magnification,  therefore here again the direct comparison,
  
  upper half sanded - lower half unsanded.
  
  
  
  It would also be conceivable to slightly sand the LH₂/LO₂ Tank only after complete priming and then to paint the entire ET by airbrushing.
  
  Whoever has the choice has the torment ...
  
  Definitive clarity one will only have after painting, but since I will do that with the airbrush that only creates a very thin layer, it will probably not change the final look of the SOFI texture much.
  
  I also think that with it I can get even closer to the original ET-8.
  
  
  Source: forum.nasaspaceflight.com (Jester)
  
  
• #1867 by roma847 on 03 Jun, 2020 21:09
• Hello everybody,
  
  without the final paintwork one cannot make a final judgment, because it will of course effect the perception of the surface texture, and could enhance or mitigate the flour effect, which is why I'm going to do a test airbrush at my IT Dummy.
  
  For this I'll look at my color sample tests from the last year once again and choose a suitable color, for the Intertank probably the Vallejo Model Air 71.077 (Wood).
  
  
  
  Then we'll have a look at, I'm curious myself ...
  
  
• #1868 by EG on 03 Jun, 2020 21:26
• Yep once the color is added and the overcoat complete some of the grainyness will go away and it should leave a real good impression of the foam covering in scale....
  
  Waiting with you my friend......
  
  (I have lots of faith)
• #1869 by roma847 on 04 Jun, 2020 07:49
• Thanks my friend,
  
  that's exactly how I imagine it ...
  
  
• #1870 by roma847 on 04 Jun, 2020 20:35
• Hello everybody,
  
  after the LH₂ Tank was floured, it was now the turn of the LO₂ Tank and first waited for his demasking, 
  
  
  
  which was done quickly.
  
  
  
  Then the rear, already floured tank was taped,
  
  
  
  and the ET impaled onto the bamboo stick for flour coating.
  
  
  
  And then I went back to the flour cellar, only this time with reversed arrangement of the holding jig, since I am right-handed.  
  
  
  
  Afterwards the warmed spray adhesive can was shaken vigorously again and the LO₂ Tank was sprayed all around and dusted abundantly with the rice flour, which was pressed on with the fingers.
  
  
  
  The excess loose flour was then shaken off by tapping lightly.
  
  
  
  And so everything should dry properly before the remaining flour can be brushed off. 
  
  
  
  Until then we still have to be patient a little bit. 
  
  
• #1871 by roma847 on 08 Jun, 2020 13:50
• Thanks Guys for liking.
  
  Hello everybody,
  
  after the Flour coating had dried through long enough, I carefully brushed off the excess flour.
  
  While the result on this side looks perfect,
  
  
  
  on the other side there were some strange unevennesses that I didn't like it.  There was probably too much spray adhesive on it, or I had pressed the flour on too hard, which is why I've tried to gently flatten these areas with the abrasive sponge,
  
  
  
  and then to slightly deepen the grooves between the strips again with a needle.
  
  
  
  Let's see what these places will look like after the priming, maybe I have to sand back everything anyway a littlee bit before painting, which I will still test on the Intertank Dummy.
  
  But this looks already better again, and on the Original Tank (ET-8) not all places look the same too.
  
  
  
  Speaking of the original tank, I should have had a closer look at it beforehand, then I would have noticed that the Nose Cone area at the top, immediately after the 12^th Ice Frost Ramp, was applied as Closeout and is therefore smooth.
  
  
  Source: forum.nasaspaceflight.com (Jester)
  
  Therefore I carefully removed the flour layer there again.
  
  
  
  Now I will airbrush the primed Intertank-Dummy to be able to assess the effect with (above) and without smoothing of the flour layer (below),
  
  
  
  after which we're smarter then.   
  
  
• #1872 by EG on 08 Jun, 2020 16:14
• You got this my friend, we both know you do....
• #1873 by roma847 on 08 Jun, 2020 18:17
• Thanks EG for your trust,
  I'll do my thing, you may rely on that!
  
  
• #1874 by roma847 on 11 Jun, 2020 22:09
• Hello everybody,
  
  meanwhile I have airbrushed the primed Intertank-Dummy, which has been sanded on one side, in order to assess both the effect of the floured Tape structure and that of the sanding effect of the flour layer, whereby there were problems with the sprayability of the selected Vallejo Model Air 71.077 - Wood, which surprised me.
  
  But everything one by one.
  
  First a look at my airbrush equipment, this is the Compressor with pressure tank (3 liters) and the high-quality Triplex Spray Gun.
  
  
  
  First I've sprayed a few tests, on the left with the Vallejo Model Air 71.077, and later also with the Vallejo Model Color 70.981 Orange Brown.
  
  
  
  The color difference to my former samples is immediately noticeable, in which the same color sample of the Intertank looked much darker. The basis at that time, however, was the somewhat modified color pattern, as one can see on the homepage of the provider, which actually looks a little different.
  
  
  
  But also the color of the test-drops at the time looked stronger, which is why the sprayed Airbrush color is ultimately decisive for the assessment, which in turn also depends on the thickness or covering power of the layer, which I will have to pay more attention to in the future.
  
  
  
  Then I've started airbrushing the IT Dummy and was surprised when, despite the filled color cup, suddenly there were no color spray, and the gun was clogged and had to be cleaned completely. 
  
  
  
  Although the IT area shown has not gotten evenly much color, the result for the assessment of the SOFI Texture effect is completely sufficient for now, with which I can be quite satisfied,
  
  
  
  because it comes very close to my previous ideas. In my opinion, the pattern structure looks quite realistic and is also gently adapted to the scale.
  
  
  
  This is an image from a distance of approx. 30 cm, on which one can only just see the texture. 
  
  
  
  On this comparison of the macro shots, one can see that the half that has been slightly sanded after priming (top) looks a little more pleasing, which is why I am still considering whether the effort of smoothing is really worth it, but probably already.
  
  
  
  And here is my photo montage at that time with the now painted tank area, which in my opinion fits the ET-8 original photo pretty well, 
  
  
  
  or what do you mean?
  
  Now I've just to take a closer look at the problem of the lack of sprayability of my Vallejo paints and test them once again first.
  
  
• #1875 by jgoldader on 12 Jun, 2020 11:16
• Manfred, did you run the paint through a strainer?  There might have been a clump of pigment big enough to clog the airbrush.  I use these:
  
  https://www.micromark.com/Strainer-Funnels-Set-of-3
  
  Jeff
• #1876 by roma847 on 12 Jun, 2020 22:24
• Thanks Jeff for your tip,
  
  I have not used any strainer so far, as airbrush experts believe that the Vallejo Model Air paints are sprayable.
  
  The colors are only one year old. But maybe one has to test their sprayability again beforehand and dilute the paint if necessary with Airbrush thinner.
  
  
• #1877 by EG on 13 Jun, 2020 02:42
• I think you got it nailed brother...
  
  Looks like the real deal.... Can't ask for any better.....
  
  Great job!
• #1878 by roma847 on 13 Jun, 2020 23:07
• Thanks my friend for your nice compliment,
  
  this snapshot looks very promising, but we haven't yet seen the end of the matter, we say in Germany.
  
  The entire ET is already still a little bit longer than this IT Dummy, but I'm very confident, that I can do it.
  
  
• #1879 by roma847 on 14 Jun, 2020 21:06
• Hello friends,
  
  because the Airbrush painting seems to be a tricky chapter in itself, I have to deal with the sprayability of my Vallejo paints even more closely and will test some options with Vallejo Thinner und Drying Retarder, because with a failed paint job one can ruin everything. And this risk I definitely want to avoid, because the previous effort was simply too great.
  
  Meanwhile I've found this great video Thinning and spraying Vallejo Model Color and Model Air, which I have to study, that gives me hope to understand everything a little bit better.