-
#600 by roma847 on 20 Sep, 2014 23:14
-
Hi all,
I want to briefly report how it went with the ROFIs. Meanwhile, I have completed the rear ROFI for the LH2 TSM according to the same procedure.
The gluing of the supposed spark plug wires I have for now postponed. Since I'm namely not quite sure if that really are during launch off or not, especially since there are also pictures where the cables are not implemented.
Source: NASA
Therefore, I have asked here whether maybe someone can answer. Perhaps the ROFIs are armed only before the launch and inserted the igniter with the cables etc..
So I'll wait for any answers that could maybe even clarify, and have now started with the front ROFIs (see pic above). Whose structure is relatively simply, as shown in the following pictures, and was carried out in a manner analogous to the rear ROFIs.
The tiny strut I could just hold with the tip of the tweezers yet to stick.
The hardest part was gluing the short tube (2.3 mm) in the sleeve, that's actually jumped out of my tweezers, but fortunately I was able to find it on the floor yet.
And here is the fitting on the front of LOX-TSM to see where the ROFI is only once placed provisionally.
And tomorrow I'm going to install the feed pipes.
-
#601 by shuttlemodeler on 21 Sep, 2014 11:59
-
Manfred.
Here a re a couple of close ups i have.
-
#602 by roma847 on 21 Sep, 2014 13:46
-
Hey Tom,
thanks for the pics, the first I know, the second is a beautiful rear view of LH2 ROFI.
This is all quite small stuff, since you had it a little easier at double size. But soon I made it.
BTW, what do your SSWS pipes?
-
#603 by shuttlemodeler on 22 Sep, 2014 03:26
-
I have not worked on anything for a few weeks. was away on vacation and some other projects have taken my time. i have way to many hobbies.
-
#604 by roma847 on 22 Sep, 2014 22:37
-
Okay Tom, you let time!
Hello Guys,
let the sparks fly,
these ROFIs hold me up quite nicely, but I pull now through, with or without ignition wire.
Therefore, here comes the second front ROFI before I'm out of practice.
Thus the ROFIs now would be half finished, only missing the feed pipes on the rear side.
And so now I have made further with the front ROFI of the LOX TSM. The pipe is made of 0.4 mm copper wire that can be bent nicely. And the little gray disc becomes the connecting plate of the pipe.
Since the front ROFIs only have a relatively simple pipe, I will install this now but before painting. Then I can glue the complete ROFI after bonding the support brackets and then put the ladder on top of it.
And so does the fitting on TSM, and I would think that fits quite well.
The rear bend of the pipe is still too long, and if you look closely, it looks as if the pipe in the middle slightly beveled to the TSM wall. 
Source: NASA
I could maybe adapt something.
-
#605 by shuttlemodeler on 23 Sep, 2014 00:03
-
now you need a little high voltage transformer that will generate sparks
-
#606 by roma847 on 23 Sep, 2014 20:41
-
Yep Tom, that would be the absolute highlight, as can be seen here at the beginning of this impressive video from Endeavour's final launch (STS-134).
Source: NASA (YouTube)
As I suspected, the supply pipe of the front ROFI is actually slightly inclined angled down to the TSM wall, as you can see here pretty well in this picture.
Source: NASA
But I'm still not quite satisfied with the first prototype of the front ROFI. That's why I now have clarified and added some details, and these are now the final parts of the front ROFIs.
I hope that the two small cap nuts are still visible, if not, just the magnifier can help.
The first round connector plate (made of paper) was yet a little too big, because with 0.4 mm wire diameter that should not be 2.0 mm but rather 1.7 mm in diameter.
So I have converted a ferrule (Ø 2.0 mm) into a small punch tool, since the sleeve has precisely this inner diameter. Unfortunately, my little tool has survived only the first use and then was slightly bent, but now I have ever got a plate with 1.7 mm diameter, and the second I will also get still.
-
#607 by RichO on 25 Sep, 2014 19:27
-
You have some great photos of all the objects that you're modeling for the TSM's. Thanks for posting the impressive video, really great stuff.
-
#608 by roma847 on 25 Sep, 2014 21:26
-
Yep, these reference photos and videos are very important for me and a valuable inspiration for scratch building and propel me forward, to develop new ideas to puzzle out workable solutions.
-
#609 by roma847 on 26 Sep, 2014 19:09
-
Hello folks,
and here we go, the same parts I needed again for the second front ROFI. For the second base plate I first had to make a new punching tool,
and then bending the supply line and cutting rings for the union nuts. Before fitting the rings I have this slightly widened.
And then I have the supply lines modified and adapted a bit.
After that I have bent on the TSM-template the inner line from 0,4 mm copper wire, where I proceeded step by step. The difficulty here is that the supply line is relatively small and must be made two bends in tight spaces.
Thus, the following bow of the line up was pretty tricky, because it could be only a skimpy millimeter.
The line runs between the service hatch-box and the ladder, as seen here,
Source: NASA
and this fits quite well so far.
The next bow runs now right to the ROFI holder and is also relatively short.
And now the last cut only follows, then this supply line is finished,
and can be tried together with the ROFI.
As you can see, the front end is still too long and needs to be filed down slightly. But as the two parts fit together already quite well.
Now the same procedure is carried out only laterally reversed for the supply line at the LH2-ROFI as long as the work routines are fresh.
-
#610 by RichO on 26 Sep, 2014 21:14
-
Mr. Bender,
Very nice details with the ROFI's!! Very fine work!
I had a question about the ladders that you have used in these photos. I know about compromising with materials and scale, so the question is just to bother you a bit. Sorry.
When I look at your NASA photos I have noticed the the ROFI, in the photo, is placed between the fourth and fifth ladder rungs. On the model, the ROFI is placed between the eighth and nineth rung!? It's just the PE ladders that you had nothing to do with the designing of. I just thought I should give you a hard time about it.
Great job, can't wait to see all the ROFI's installed and the TSM"s in place!! Keep modeling my friend! -
#611 by roma847 on 26 Sep, 2014 22:12
-
Hi Rich,
thank you for your words of appreciation.
Your eyes are still good, and you have correctly observed. But without my reference photo you had had no comparison and probably not noticed, right? But I show you these photos anyway, because I have no problem and no secrets, and everyone should be able to compare my model with the real thing.
But the explanation is quite simple, this difference is reduced to the PE ladders. While the width is about right and corresponds to the width of the service hatch-box, as you can see, the rung spacing is smaller than for the original ladder. But those are the compromises that I have to live, no problem.
-
#612 by shuttlemodeler on 27 Sep, 2014 00:20
-
mine is between the 4th and 5th i think sometimes we tend to get overly critical of what we are building. I know i do. But we have to remember we have to make a lot of compromises when we build. Sometimes it is just to difficult to get scale items like ladders to look 100% accurate. I admire Manfred patience in building them. I also admire your work Rich.
A few years ago i wrote an article on modeling where is was complaining about what i called 'rivet counters'. Now i have became one of them. But i still keep in mind its our interpretation of the real thing.
Now don't everyone yell at me.
-
#613 by mike robel on 27 Sep, 2014 02:24
-
Hah. If there one thing I am not, it's a rivet counter. The other thing I am not is a straight line painter.
My goal is it looks good from 6 feet away. Get closer than that in my house and you get punched. I enter contests, but just to help fill up the space table. -
#614 by roma847 on 27 Sep, 2014 12:16
-
Hey Guys,
don't worry, be happy.
I know how Richo says that, and we make fun with each other frequently.
He is also a very ambitious modeler and doing a great job. But he is also no rivets counter, when then a rungs counter.
BTW, I fully agree with you, we have to make a lot of compromises when we are scratch building.
But with the ladders are only peanuts, the main compromise for me are the old Revell Launch Tower Kits (4910/4911) with the crazy scale mix.
Therefore, one must try to make the best of it, or you have to build everything yourself as you are.
-
#615 by RichO on 27 Sep, 2014 14:00
-
You tell 'em Manfred!
Of course we are just poking fun at each other! Like the "Man" said, I'm no rivit counter, by a long ways. I'm real good at pulling things out of my a.. tho, just look at the lighting for my crawler. Anyway, it's all about having some fun and working on a great hobby and talking to the great modelers that post their work here.
Have fun all, and keep modeling!! -
#616 by Ronpur50 on 27 Sep, 2014 14:47
-
It is whatever makes YOU happy!!
-
#617 by roma847 on 29 Sep, 2014 09:18
-
Hey Ron,
I fully agree with you, that's the main thing. For all guys one can not make it right.
-
#618 by roma847 on 29 Sep, 2014 20:36
-
Hi all together,
I would rather still remain on LOX-TSM and continue with the outer supply line of the rear ROFIs. It goes to the right and then in a double bend upward.
And here already together with the ROFI to the test on the template,
and here on the TSM.
As you can see, the line but hanging down above, whereby everything has slipped somewhat. This shows that these test fittings are quite a stressful affair already and not work the first time around. But one needs to check the situation of these small parts already accurate and correct if necessary, when everything has to fit together correctly later. 
By supporting this looks better. And now is missing only a short arc to the right up to the base plate.
From the arrangement it's okay, just above the line is slipping too far inwards, because there simply is missing support.
Now I must not forget winding up the union nuts, and then missing the base plate and a small bracket on the inner line.
-
#619 by RichO on 30 Sep, 2014 23:35
-
Nicely done with the bending!
