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

• #280 by roma847 on 09 Aug, 2013 15:41
• All right, let's go on, both options have advantages and disadvantages.
  
  This multiple bending of such pipes in one piece is quite stressful and has remembered right back with horror at the bending of the pipes on the two LOX- and LH2-Valve skids on Side 1.
  
  Therefore, I've inserted in between yet another detail. These brackets are, so I would guess, located above the folding service platforms, where during work then railing be plugged. These railing sit on four small props, I wanted to also indicate. They stand out but only approx. 1,5 mm from the flap at 1:160 and are thus quite tiny.
  
  These props there are also on the middle service platforms on the inner sides of the TSMs, maybe I also leave off the brackets, because should be also not exactly easy to sink that, all uniformly to approx. 1,3 mm.
   
  
  Quelle: NASA
  
  For these parts, I have used steel wire 0,35 mm.
  
  
  
  Here the bracket is already provisionally plugged into, must be painted but before the final installation yet.
  
  
  
  So, and now back to the pipes, that at the end about the umbilicals almost are remindful of "antlers".
  Now I will use plastic rods (1,2 mm) for the thicker tube,
  
  
  
  in which a 0,5 mm plastic rod is glued at the end as a rejuvenation. I have pre-drilled a hole for first carefully with 0,4 mm. Since you have to aim really with 1,2 mm pipe diameter with the drill, to meet in the middle and not to slide off.
  
  
  
  Then I got bored after again with 0,5 mm,
  
  
  
  then plugged the 0,5 mm pipe, and made a first fitting.
  
  
  
  And then, the interplay between measurements, bending and trying on really went in slightly to get sweat.
  
  
  
  Especially for the front bends of the antlers ends, you need a lot of patience and steady hands for measurements, fitting and corrections.
  
  
  
  The thicker pipe is missing only the small junction prior to the rejuvenation, which I will glue but as a precaution until after installation.
  
  
  
  Then I have bent the front plugged part of brass because the hooked end still bends up, which then is also stable and looks better. However I can save the previous painting of such parts of me, which must be bent with the tweezers still several times because the color it too wears off.
  
  
  
  
  
  So, and now follows the same procedure with the thinner pipe, for which I've used 0,5 mm brass tube in the front as a rejuvenation 0,35 mm steel wire is inserted.
  
  
  
  And here is the fitting, but so far very good looks.
  
  
  
  
  
  Thus, the two pipes were now almost done, only missing the painting. On the thicker pipe, the last lower bow is broken off while, but he gets it back.
  
  
  
  So Guys, until soon then!
  
  
• #281 by RichO on 12 Aug, 2013 19:46
• MANFRED,
  
    Good bending techniques. I have been experimenting with brass rods and find them much easyer to work with. Thanks for the advice!
• #282 by roma847 on 12 Aug, 2013 20:46
• Richo,
  
  I'm glad, if I could help, yep brass is a nice ductile material and easy to bend.
  
  
• #283 by roma847 on 19 Aug, 2013 13:54
• Hi there,
  let's go on with the TSM pipes to fill the troublesome summer hole a bit ... 
  
  Although it is not a spectacular progress, but these small parts can be quite a deal, and small livestock also makes known to quite a lot of crap.
  
  First, the support bracket (0,35 mm steel wire) on the back of the LH2 TSM was adapted.
  
  
  
  And then it went to the pipes on LOX TSM which has the same details without the arched sheet-metal hood and the outer lateral line bundle, the pipes but with mirror-course.
  
  
  Quelle: NASA
  
  Here are first the thinner pipes from 0.5mm brass tube with the taper at the end of steel wire 0,35 mm,
  
  
  
  here, with the corresponding pipes of plastic rod 1,2 mm,
  
  
  
  and here with the front Antler Coat elbows made ​​of brass wire 0,5 mm.
  
  
  
  In these elbows, the front spray nozzles are indicated by thin insulating hose. In front of it are the branch ducts that come off each shortly before the end of the thicker pipes.
  
  
  
  And now the next step will be a larger painting action with all these pipes and other, already prepared small parts, before I have a bit of jitters.
  
  Then everything can finally be installed, and then we'll see ...
  
  Until next time then, all your faithful companions!
  
  
• #284 by RichO on 19 Aug, 2013 17:59
• MANFRED,
  
    I think I'll give you a new nickname "Bender". (In the U.S. "Bender" is a cartoon robot on that bends piping.)
  
    This is getting me excited about my next chapter to build. I'm watching intently to get all the hints I can. Thanks-keep bending!
• #285 by roma847 on 20 Aug, 2013 06:30
• Hello Richo,
  
  thanks for the compliments, then you will be the next "Bender"!
  
  Welcome in our Club of Benders!
  
  
• #286 by Overflow on 20 Aug, 2013 19:52
• Whoo! Glad to see this project back on track.
• #287 by roma847 on 21 Aug, 2013 17:56
• Hi there,
  
  because the guys in the paint shop have yet to replace a defective O-ring at the gun, I've taken a few more TSM details in attack. These are but this time no pipes, but the lines and junction boxes of the electrical installation, running on the front and back from the box behind the door by the lifting bracket up.
  
  
  Source: NASA
  
  That takes a line and three distribution boxes, the parts can be seen here. For the line I have taken 0.35 mm steel wire, and for the boxes U-beam 1,5x1,0 mm, to each a snippet from Evergreen strip 1,5x0,35 mm is glued. Through this hollow profile can be guided the line. This procedure seemed easier than to drill through square profiles.
  
  
  
  And so the line section is then seen on a trial basis on the TSM.
  
  
  
  The whole thing had now only be repeated three more times, because such lines also running on the back side.
  
  
  
  Above the line section are already two small structures that are located at the back of the TSM's above the umbilical flap whose purpose I do not know, however.
  
  
  Source: NASA
  
  And then there are on the front and back of the TSM's still such a small control boxes that I also wanted to build, here you can see the box on the front left of the thinner pipe.
  
  
  Source: NASA
  
  I have cut me a piece of sheet, on the front of the box is cut from the paper kit and glued.
  
  
  
  And so that then looks something, the boxes in the back, the two line sections, and above the two small boxes.
  
  
  
  Since some paint missing everywhere yet, but I hope so, that the paint guys are ready for use again soon.
  
  
• #288 by RichO on 26 Aug, 2013 02:12
• Where's the paint guys when you need 'em?
• #289 by roma847 on 26 Aug, 2013 20:41
• Hi Rich,
  
  maybe the paint guys are ready for a vacation.   But before they have even replaced the defective O-ring on their gun, and it could finally be painted again. It had been now accumulated quite some small parts.
  
  Advance a small addendum to the line bundle on the side of the LH2 TSM. Since I have glued before painting still missing bottom clamps, but that was quite a puzzle, because the 1 mm midgets can not hold with tweezers. And somehow still had to fill adhesive between what but finally succeeded.
  
  
  
  Then the electric lines were there initially to prepare. But the upper junction boxes I could not stick, since there still the transport brackets must be threaded. To the left of the switch boxes lay for the front and back sides of the TSMs, which I now can glue before.
  
  
  
  And here is the full range of parts to see that I had all individually mounted for painting on toothpicks and wires.
  
  
  
  And here are the somewhat unwieldy pipes.
  
  
  
  The line bundle has survived everything good, and the clamps are all still there.
  
  
  
  
  
  And it looks really good on the TSM, I think, so that the effort was well worth it.
  
  
  
  Next, I can make the installation of the pipes now, I'm already excited to see how this is going.
  
  
  
  And if the pipes are then even installed, the small parts come next, but take it easy.
  
  
  
  So, I can not complain about being bored me straight!
  
  
• #290 by RichO on 31 Aug, 2013 16:51
•   PAINT MEISTER BENDER, Can't waite to see how your TSM's look with all the accoutrements attached.
• #291 by roma847 on 31 Aug, 2013 22:39
• Do you still have a bit of patience, because I need just to do another task, but it soon goes on.
  
  BTW, as I have just seen on the last photos, missing a clamp on the lateral line bundle that I need to replace.
  
  
• #292 by roma847 on 05 Sep, 2013 20:50
• So now it can finally go on with the details of the TSMs . I had once tried a lot in the meantime with the bending of the FireX lines because there were problems again with the bending back effect of the pipes especially in the 90° elbows. And that's really annoying, because then you have to bring the bow back into shape before gluing.
  
  You should probably take brass profiles but rather. The thinner line is indeed made ​​of brass, and will maintain its shape.
  
  Well no matter, the thicker of the two lines on the LH2 TSM but is now installed, which shows that it is yet. But even sticking of the line is only piecemeal from one to two support points, making the whole procedure but is quite cumbersome.
  
  To facilitate the installation process something, I then disconnected the line at the middle support point on the side and first glued the upper part, which was not easy particularly at the short upper elbow.
  
  
  
  Tis seam on the side will not be seen later anyway, because there is still a thin clamp get over it, like the other supports too, which I'll try at least.
  
  As you can see, the lateral electrical system is already installed and the larger of the front hoisting lugs.
  
  And here are just the fitting of the thinner FireX line that already fits quite well.
  
  
  
  If this line is then mounted, it can then proceed with the remaining tiny parts further, including before the umbilical opening, so to speak, with the antlers, and with the other parts, which is also likely to be stressful again. And I must namely be careful to install the most stable parts first and most fragile at the end, so that nothing can break again.  
  
  So long for today.
  
  
• #293 by RichO on 07 Sep, 2013 12:07
• MANFRED,
  
    The details of your TSM's are just great! I can tell from the photos that the shadow lines add some real depth to this part of your build. Really good work!
• #294 by roma847 on 07 Sep, 2013 22:18
• Thanks Rich for the kind words, that's what I want to show with the details.
  
  And here is the next step.
  
  Before it went to the assembly of thin FireX pipe, I have mounted the brackets on the thicker line. For this I used thin lead wire 0.25 mm, which can be put well to rounding to follow when one end is stuck with superglue. And that was as similar as threading a piece of string into a bottleneck.
  
  First, a tiny droplet superglue on the support, and then you have to hold the wire end already a few seconds, without trembling, until the adhesive has cured. Otherwise, the wire does not stick and you have to repeat the procedure. And it can happen that the superglue do not want to stick properly, which I have experienced at least. Then you have to try to remove the old adhesive residue carefully, and with fresh superglue it bonds then usually better.
  
  But after several failed attempts, the bonding was then gradually getting better, first a droplet superglue on the wire beginning, after bending the wire was cut with the cutter, and a droplet at the wire, and is what it looks like this.
  
  
  
  Then I have glued three little supports (1,0x0,5 mm) for the antler below the umbilical opening and made ​​a fitting which has worked well.
  
  
  
  And now on with the installation of the thin FireX pipe that should be trickier than I thought.
  
  The fitting looked quite well, but now how to glue best?
  
  
  
  Of course, again with superglue because the line is made ​​of brass, but that's impossible at all supports at once. That one would not unravel with certainty, and the delicate line would be waste.    So I started at the middle support on the side,
  
  
  
  So I started at the middle support on the side, and then it went point by point down first, and then to continue upward until it was finally done.
  
  
  
  However, this was not without little damage in the paint that still need to be repaired.
  
  
  
  Let's see if I can build the clips around the thin line ...
  
  Then I can finally glue the line package on the side, but first I had to replace a lost clamp.
  
  
  
  And with the line package the LH2 TSM looks always better, though still missing some parts, such as the ladders etc. ...
  
  
  
  
  
  But up to this point I'm already very satisfied, although it is taking much longer than I initially thought.
  
  
• #295 by RichO on 08 Sep, 2013 05:15
• MANFRED,
  
    Very impressive, your skill with the small bending and placement of these very small parts. Much delicacy is needed when handling the antlers and others.
  
    BTW, I to have had problems with superglue. It seem to stick to everything but itself.
  
    Keep up the great work, I always look forward to your next posting.
• #296 by roma847 on 08 Sep, 2013 19:46
• Thanks Rich for your appreciative words.
  
  Yep, the installation of the small retaining brackets on the supports of the thicker FireX line (1,2 mm) was pretty tricky.
  
  The bending is not the problem because I use lead wire, which is buttery soft. But sticking with Superglue is pretty stressful and not always succeed immediately.
  
  But the following installation of the retaining brackets around the thinner FireX line will become even more difficult, because is only 0.5 mm. Since I'm not sure whether I will succeed. 
  
  
• #297 by Overflow on 09 Sep, 2013 23:21
• Hey Roma, have you made Challenger?
• #298 by roma847 on 10 Sep, 2013 15:39
• Not so far, after the MLP will be finished, the Launch tower (FSS/RSS) will be the next steps.
  
  
• #299 by Overflow on 10 Sep, 2013 20:50
• Keep up the great work!
  
  I can't wait to see the amount of detail you put in the other components.