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

• #300 by roma847 on 10 Sep, 2013 21:54
• I'll try to do it, still have a little patience, you'll experience.
  
  
• #301 by roma847 on 11 Sep, 2013 06:33
• So it goes on.
  
  With the final assembly of the lateral lines but I have to wait a little longer. Since only still need the mini-clamps are to be installed to the thinner FireX line. And as the TSM must be taken several times in his hand and turned back and forth. Therefore the part but must be still reasonably safe to touch, but do not want anything else.
  
  
  
  So again everything by the book, as with the brackets for the thicker line, only this time everything is going to be a little tighter, because the line is only 0.5 mm thick. So I had  aim more precisely in attaching the lead wire (0.25 mm) to meet the Superglue-splice correctly and right away, which I then also to some extent succeeded 
  
  
  
  Now all we need is the both supports on the vertical line next to the door.
  
  Next, the antler were glued to the three little supports in front of the umbilical opening. Then I have built again the small antler end for the upper thicker line, what is the items under the microscope (barely) be seen here.
  
  
  
  It's brass wire 0.5 mm, and for the nozzle I used the thinnest insulation, which I have.
  
  
  
  And up there in about the part should then sit. But I will probably stick until all remaining small parts are attached. The large bracket on the front and back also have been already assembled, so you can hold onto it.
  
  
  
  And now, finally, the line bundle could be permanently glued to the side.
  
  
  
  
  
  So slowly fills the page, but it's still room for the ladder, that still comes next left.  And that's why I've put the ladders for a test fit.
  
  
  
  Of which there are three on each TSM, one at the side, and one each on the front and back.
  
  
  
  But now all still need some fixing right and left struts which come next.
  
  As far as again for today.
  
  
• #302 by crowe-t on 11 Sep, 2013 18:47
• Manfred, They look like real TSM's! Excellent work on the details.
  
  Mike.
• #303 by roma847 on 11 Sep, 2013 20:41
• Hello Mike,
  
  thanks for your compliments, nice to meet you here on NSF.
  
  Yep, I like them even better and better, but it's been an immense effort to scratch build those little details. The bad thing is that I can barely touch the TSM, anywhere pipes and other fragile items.   Because I really need to seriously consider what I have to assemble and especially when, to avoid making mistakes.
  
  At the moment I can touch it between thumb and index finger only at two points, on the ground and on the roof and on the outer sides of the boxes on the inside, from which the service platforms be expanded. But there two ladders must be glued ...
  
  Therefore, I am currently thinking if I should not drill a hole in the ground for a holding bar. Then I could handle the TSM better and clamp if necessary, because some details are still missing ...
  
  
• #304 by Ronpur50 on 11 Sep, 2013 23:05
• Every time I look at what you have done...I am just speechless!  I can't wait to see what you do for the rest of the pad!  I imagine the elevator doors and slidewire baskets will be functional!!
• #305 by roma847 on 12 Sep, 2013 13:48
• Thanks for the nice complements.
  
  But we all do not want to overdo it . However, the installation of the thin PE parts of LVM for the FSS platforms, the elevator shaft and stairs will be a real challenge.   And the baskets for the Emergency Egress System (EES) of course are also included.
  
  
• #306 by RichO on 14 Sep, 2013 13:37
• MANFRED,
  
    Your build here looks better and better all the time!
  
    Also I think that you have a good idea about drilling for a hold bar, this would make things a lot easyer to handel and not destroy the work already done.
• #307 by roma847 on 14 Sep, 2013 20:49
• Thanks Rich for the nice words, I think that I have to do it.
  
  And also the TSM becomes now even prickly as a hedgehog, because now even the supports for the railing on the service platforms come to three sides to it. And that are at least 16 pieces per TSM. Here is the image with the details once more!
  
  
  Source: NASA
  
  And I have now drilled the holes and rest of my SSWS tubes (4.0 mm) was used.
  
  
  
  
  
  Let's see if and how this works ...
  
  
• #308 by Ronpur50 on 15 Sep, 2013 03:11
• Cool idea! TSM-sicles!
• #309 by RichO on 15 Sep, 2013 15:57
• RONPUR50,
  
    TSM-sicles! Thats funny, good one.
  
  MANFRED,
  
    You definitley have a build clinic going for us all, thanks for the showing!
• #310 by roma847 on 19 Sep, 2013 23:33
• Hello all together,
  
  yep Richo, the show can go on.
  
  And so back to the final sprint on the LH2-TSM.
  
  So, my attempt with the support rod has been proven in any case and was necessary because I can really hardly touch the TSM, because any parts sit anywhere. And the details still missing, are always delicate, and for that I need both hands free.
  
  Next, the electricians have installed the line and the junction boxes to the back, and the remaining shipping brackets were also mounted.
  
  
  
  Next, the small railing supports (1,5x0,25 mm) were mounted at the service platforms, therefore in around it is still prickly now.
  
  
  
  Then it was time to finally install the ultimate end antlers on top of the thicker FireEx line, which has again requires the utmost concentration and trembling free hand.
  
  
  
  But it worked right away, and I was glad.
  
  
  
  And since the electricians were just there, they still have installed the electrical outlets at the bottom of the TSM side, well done cool guys!
  
  
  
  
  
  So now all the details are mounted up around it.
  
  
  
  
  
  Now all we need are the ladders. Although I had already shown some ladders in a test fit, however, there was now in the meantime from our German forum nor the well-intentioned suggestion, that I have provided for little too robust ladders which might be replaced by filigree ladders.
  
  Well, since it was already going through my mind, I again looked around for other ladders and found PE ladders from the Polish manufacturer ABER (1:200) which may could fit and would probably look better than my Plastruct ladders. But now I have to wait yet.
  
  And here are a few impressions, such as the almost finished LH2 TSM looks on the MLP, which was not seen for a long time indeed.
  
  
  
  And with this result, I can be quite happy now, I guess.
  
  
  
  
  
  So long dear friends!
  
  
• #311 by Ronpur50 on 20 Sep, 2013 02:29
• I just want to scream so loud that that looks Freakin Awesome!! 
  
  And should be very happy with it!
• #312 by roma847 on 20 Sep, 2013 11:25
• Thanks Ronpur50 for your nice enthusiasm.
  
  BTW, I've flashed over, that on this TSM are now about 200 items installed and I am shocked about themselves ...
  
  But as I had imagined, and therefore I am more than satisfied!
  
  In addition to the ladders now missing only some last little details, that are the Radially Outward Firing Ignitors (ROFIs), I want to scratch build too.
  
  At each TSM there are three of them, a single ROFI on the front and a double ROFI on the back, as can be seen in this photo.
   
  
  Source: NASA
  
  At T-minus 10 seconds, hydrogen igniters were activated under each engine bell to quell the stagnant gas inside the cones before ignition, what you can see from the start of Endeavour STS-134 at the beginning in this awesome YouTube video.
  
  
  
  Maybe the last details of my TSM's ...
  
  
• #313 by Soheil on 20 Sep, 2013 13:39
• Oh my gooooooooooooooooooooooood !!!
  
  
  
  this thing is awesome ... really speechless ... U R great ... keep it up !
• #314 by RichO on 20 Sep, 2013 18:49
• MANFRED,
  
    The TSM, looks like a mini kit all by itself! Greate job my friend!
• #315 by roma847 on 20 Sep, 2013 22:35
• Thanks guys for your continued interest and the nice words.
  
  Now once again follows the same procedure on the LOX-TSM, but there are fortunately some parts less because the line bundle on the side is missing.
  
  
• #316 by crowe-t on 24 Sep, 2013 04:00
• Manfred,  I'm speechless!!!  Your TSM's look like they could actually be on an MLP to help launch a shuttle.  All your efforts are really paying off!
  
  BTW, I like the holding bar you made.  I'm sure the holding bars really helped you in assembling all those tiny parts.
  
  Mike.
• #317 by roma847 on 24 Sep, 2013 13:25
• Thanks Mike for your expert opinion, which mean a lot to me.
  
  The effort for all these tiny details is indeed immense, but he is really paying off, so I am fully satisfied.
  
  
• #318 by Soheil on 28 Sep, 2013 18:57
• Any progress ?
• #319 by roma847 on 28 Sep, 2013 20:53
• Hi there,
  
  and have a little patience please, Soheil.
  
  Before proceeding with the details on the LOX TSM, again a short review to the ladders.
  
  With the previously provided plastic ladders of Plastruct I was ultimately not fully satisfied,
  
  
  
  because the thickness of the ladder beams and spokes do not quite fit with the other tiny details of the TSM, although they are actually quite okay on her scale.
  
  Therefore, I had looked around at the ship model builders for PE ladders and have found these nice PE ladders from ABER  (1:200) in Poland.
  
  
  
  There are three different sizes included, of which the ladders of the 3rd to the 6th row from the bottom should fit. Now I just have to bend the ladder beams (0.25 mm) carefully, the spokes are about 0.1 mm.
  
  And that should be much better suited to the other details, I guess.