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

• #560 by roma847 on 04 Aug, 2014 22:31
• Hi Rich,
  
  tomorrow there is a large-scale operation in the paint shop and I hope that the guys will finally paint all ladders and support brackets. But then a very hot action is waiting for me, namely the tricky mounting of the six ladders on the TSMs.
  
  But I have to consider before even a clever sequence, because with the mounting of each additional ladder the TSMs are becoming unhandily.
  
  But this is still not the end, because if the six ladders are attached, then these four ROFIs here are still missing, the so-called Radially Outward Firing Ignitors for flaring possibly from the SSMEs emanating hydrogen, at T-10 sec be ignited before the lift-off and sprinkle like burning sparklers.
  
  
  Source: NASA
  
  But these are truly the last parts of the TSMs. If it's only already so far would be ...
  
  
  But that reminds me just in time that is not true indeed, because then are still missing the Umbilical connections between the TSMs and the orbiter, which I have almost forgotten.
  
  
  Source: NASA
  
  But they will initially be placed on hold until the shuttle stack will be finished and I can define the locations and distances of the TSM's final. But this is again a chapter in itself, as I then also have to install the support strut(s) in the TSM(s) holding the stack in the balance ...
  
  Therefore, all in good time, step by step ...
  
  
• #561 by roma847 on 05 Aug, 2014 21:50
• Hello together,
  
  as previously announced, it went further today with the painting of the ladders. Here you can see the prepared parts, I have fastened with Patafix on toothpicks. These are at first the 6 ladders for the TSMs
  
  
  
  with the associated support brackets that you can hardly see.
  
  
  
  And then there was still the first series of lampshades for the MLP, which was prepared for a long time, and were painted together now, let's go the whole hog.
  
  
  
  And now could follow the first airbrush pass with gray, here the pictures in sequence without big words. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Tomorrow then follows a second pass, and then it should also be enough with the paint.
  
  So far it seems to become not bad, I am hopeful.   
  
  
• #562 by Ronpur50 on 06 Aug, 2014 02:26
• Looking good!
• #563 by roma847 on 07 Aug, 2014 23:11
• Thanks Ron for your nice words.
  
  Hello folks,
  
  yesterday the guys in the paintshop have done a second pass with the stuff, which should now be enough.
  
  
  
  Not exactly brilliant however was the separation of the ladders from patafix because residues partially still remained attached to the rungs which only hardly could be removed with tweezers little by little.  Therefore need to be retouched some places a bit after assembly here and there.
  
  
  
  But with the long ladder I had already times made a first fitting on the LH2 TSM, because I was simply interested in the visual impression, and it looked promising. 
  
  
  
  
  
  Next, the support brackets followed and had to be glued into the prepunctured holes, what I had already practiced several times "dry", but this time, now finally with CA.
  
  And that went bracket for bracket : First of threading the feet and wetting by acupuncture needle with CA, then slide the spacer and insert the bracket up on the spacers, and then remove the spacers again. And then came the next bracket, admittedly a somewhat tedious exercise, but what the heck.
  
  
  
  Here you can see the last bracket before wetting the feet with CA, which slightly protrudes further out.
  
  
  
  And finally all nine brackets were glued,
  
  
  
  and so now finally ready for the ladder.
  
  
  
  And it looks like this on a trial basis,
  
  
  
  and results in an entirely coherent overall picture, I think. 
  
  
  
  Now I have "only" to glue the ladder on the brackets, and I hope that it will succeed me. 
  
  And that inevitably arises now the question is whether this effort has really paid off with the PE ladders.
  
  But please judge for you, so the TSM would look with the Plastruct ladders, which I initially wanted to use.
  
  
  
  So, just as well that I have accepted this challenge, because that would probably still have been a bit too much break in style beside the thin pipes, or what do you think? 
  
  
• #564 by Davp99 on 08 Aug, 2014 15:27
• Your extra work has paid off, I'm sure you'll be glad at the End ....
• #565 by roma847 on 08 Aug, 2014 15:46
• Thanks Dave for your nice words, I also hope, it looks like this.
  
  
• #566 by shuttlemodeler on 08 Aug, 2014 16:38
• Looking real good.  The difference in scale is amazing. 
• #567 by RichO on 09 Aug, 2014 02:48
• 
  
  
  You can guess what I might say about the ladders. The PE ladders are much more elegant and much finer detail. The paint Dept. did a good job and the delicate nature of the PE matches the abstract characture of the TSM's very nicely. Great looking TSM's!!
  
• #568 by roma847 on 09 Aug, 2014 11:21
• Thanks Tom and Rich for your kind words.
  
  Yep, the PE ladders are really very delicate but also very fragile and look great on the TSM beside the thin pipes.
  
  From the scale they are about the same, but the thickness is the main difference. Since the PE ladders with 0.1 mm thickness are very close to the real thing, while the Plastruct ladders with 0.7 mm are simply too thick and do not fit optically into the overall picture.
  
  
• #569 by roma847 on 11 Aug, 2014 19:33
• Hi there,
  
  after the support brackets on the LH2 TSM were successfully installed, I have continued on LOX TSM to not get out of practice. I went back to the same procedure, inserting the brackets and bringing with the spacer to the same height, and then gluing.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  After that was done, I looked at the fitting, if the distances of the supports coincide with the respective rungs, which fit quite well so far.
  
  
  
  And so it was ready to start now with the gluing of the ladders, before what I've been scared stiff so far. 
  
  Before applying the glue I have carefully located the ladder with tape, so it can not slip when gluing. And then I dabbed the first two brackets at the top under the ladder with CA and slightly pressed the ladder, which glued immediately, luckily in the right place.
  
  
  
  And so it went on to the lower bracket, and finally the top two angled ends were glued. Thus the first ladder was finally firmly glued and I could now stand up the TSM and viewed relaxed from all sides.
  
  
  
  How do I find the overall picture can be seen, at least I had it all imagined at the beginning. 
  
  
  
  At the brackets under the rungs as well as in some other places I still have retouched something, and that's about it.
   
  
  
  So friends, this positive impression gives me real boost, so it can go on with the same ladder on the LH2 TSM tomorrow. 
  
  
• #570 by roma847 on 12 Aug, 2014 21:39
• Hi Guys,
  
  let's go on, now the long ladder is to install to the LH2 TSM. The support brackets I had already glued, so that only the ladder had to be glued, which has worked quite well.
  
  And so the panoramic view looks without much deviation.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Well, and also from the side this couple looks very nice, right? 
  
  
  
  And in contrast to the rustic Plastruct ladders these PE ladders fit now great with the other details.
  
  
  
  And for a change, here's another size comparison that is perhaps clearer than ever this cent coin. 
  
  
  
  Tomorrow I'll try my luck with the ladders on boxes, which are those with the different length feet. For their assembly I've been thinking that it is useful first to put the ladder on the back of the box, because then I can use the front of the box or as additional support, but which is then unfortunately occupied.
  
  But for mounting the ladder on the front of the box I can hang up the TSM on the back above the head, because there are no pipes, as opposed to the front, which is therefore not suitable as a bearing surface, what is essential to note.
  
  
• #571 by shuttlemodeler on 13 Aug, 2014 03:17
• look good Manfred.  that scale is amazing.
• #572 by RichO on 14 Aug, 2014 17:52
• Masterfull work Manfred, amazing!!
• #573 by shuttlemodeler on 14 Aug, 2014 17:56
• hmmm.   maybe i need to count the rungs on the ladders
• #574 by roma847 on 14 Aug, 2014 21:59
• Thanks Tom and Rich for your encouraging compliments.
  
  These TSMs I also like it very much, as I had imagined in my boldest dreams.
  
  BTW Tom, if you want to count the rungs, then make sure that you use close-up images from the MLP-2 at the STS-6.
  
  
• #575 by roma847 on 15 Aug, 2014 12:06
• Hello all together,
  
  today the ladder on the box of the LOX-TSM is to be installed, first on the back, as already described.
  
  First I've inserted the support brackets up to the spacer,
  
  
  
  and then fixed with CA.
  
  
  
  Here the ladder is provisionally placed to check the distances of the supports that fit quite well,
  
  
  
  and here it is already glued and also sits quite well.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  So, that would be also done, now only the slightly longer ladder on the front of this TSM is missing, but not for long. 
  
  
• #576 by roma847 on 17 Aug, 2014 16:27
• But before that I have yet installed the rear ladder on the LH2 TSM.
  
  Here are the already known steps in the picture, the support brackets with spacers,
  
  
  
  glued with CA,
  
  
  
  and the ladder fitting.
  
  
  
  So, and now it is (hopefully) fixed in place and can be climbed.
  
  
  
  
  
  And so is the back of the TSM's now almost complete.
  
  
  
  Now only missing the ROFIs (Radially Outward Firing ignitors), whose task I had already briefly explained.
  
  
  Source: NASA
  
  Here on this amazing panoramic picture you can see both versions clearly, the simple ROFI front and rear the double, and you can scroll from one to another TSM around.
  
  
  Source: NASA
  
  These things are quite small, but I will try anyhow and gather the stuff I need.
  
  
• #577 by RichO on 20 Aug, 2014 23:18
•   Good luck finding some small parts for the ROFI's. I know how you are tho, you will use some found objects to build these I'm sure! Also I noticed that in your photo of the TSM's (with the red arrows) that the LH2 TSM has a retaining loop around the two pipes at the center top that I don't see on your model. It almost looks like a vertical ladder rung? Anyway, just an observasion. The build continues to inspire us all. Great Job!!
• #578 by shuttlemodeler on 21 Aug, 2014 05:23
• You guys are getting a little to anal with this
• #579 by roma847 on 25 Aug, 2014 15:44
• Quote from: RichO on 20 Aug, 2014 23:18

    Good luck finding some small parts for the ROFI's. I know how you are tho, you will use some found objects to build these I'm sure! Also I noticed that in your photo of the TSM's (with the red arrows) that the LH2 TSM has a retaining loop around the two pipes at the center top that I don't see on your model. It almost looks like a vertical ladder rung? Anyway, just an observasion. The build continues to inspire us all. Great Job!!
  

  
  Thanks Rich for your nice words and a compliment for your watchful eagle eyes.
  
  This elbow pipe that you see was a part of the SSWS that did not exist in this form on MLP-2 during STS-6 and was retrofitted later there, as seen here at this image of STS-51F (1985).
  
  
  Source: NASA
  
  BTW, you've guessed it, I just try some variants of the rear double-ROFIs.
  
  Tom has it already built, but mine are unfortunately only half the size and it's a bit more difficult.