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#620 by roma847 on 02 Oct, 2014 22:01
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Thanks Rich, and therefore on to the next round bending.
Since the test fitting of the supply lines but was too stressful under the ladder at TSM, I have come up with another solution on the TSM template without a ladder and some balsa strips used as backing. Then, the lines can still place much easier and align. Because at these small dimensions one have to try a few times, whether agree the lengths and possibly correct the bends minimal until then everything fits properly.
As union nuts but I will now use the smaller rings, because they fit somehow better to the 0,4 mm copper wire, and also at the junction of the lines to the base plate is only very little space.
The threading of the rings was again as a test of patience ...
Here one can see that the rings form a contiguous region.
The ROFI lines on LOX-TSM would be so far finished and could be painted. Therefore let us go on the LH2 TSM, only the lines are just reversed.
That was again the same procedure as on the other TSM and started with the bending of the lines on the TSM template.
While this may seem like a no-brainer, these hand grips require a full concentration, patience and tact.
But as the first line already fits quite well to the holder.
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#621 by Davp99 on 03 Oct, 2014 14:50
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Just Too Cool Manfred, really like your attention to detail..
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#622 by roma847 on 03 Oct, 2014 16:19
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Thanks Dave for your nice words.
Hello friends,
today on our public holiday just a small next step, the other ROFI supply line at LH2 TSM still missing.
That's it, see you soon.
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#623 by roma847 on 10 Oct, 2014 10:38
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Hi all,
it is still not quite done, so continue with the nice ROFIs. And therefore once again previously the obligatory test fitting on LH2 TSM.
So, and these are now all ROFI parts that can now go to the paint shop.
And so now to the ladders on the front of the TSMs, which indeed still missing, and for that I must first again glue the support brackets, of course, again with spacers, everything as usual ...
but with a tiny difference. The ladders on the front are longer and go down to the SSME-Blast Shield. Since there the service flap box is at the end, the lower support bracket can only stand on one leg, which one can see here.
But this is a fallacy,
because on one leg can not stand long anyway, especially not secure enough. 
Good thing I have ever looked closely. Because as you can see on the next picture the ladder at the end is standing on two legs too, as it should be, only the support looks a little different.
The red arrows indicate the second last and the last strut pair, and the green arrow points to a support plate which is welded just above the Blast Shield on TSM. At this plate second strut is mounted, here still obscured by the thicker tube,
Source: NASA
but as you can see better from the back.
Source: NASA
So I have to modify the lower attachment still, accordingly, let's go the whole hog.
But for a positive feeling I ever get the front ladder and the ROFI placed provisionally,
what it looks quite passable, I think.
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#624 by mike robel on 10 Oct, 2014 15:58
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I am going to add ladder rungs to my MEM I am working on and I was puzzling how to align and space them out. Then I read your latest post and said, DUH! And he's been doing that all along. Thanks!
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#625 by roma847 on 12 Oct, 2014 08:30
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Hi Mike,
yep, one just has to keep his eyes open.
Hello folks,
this got me no peace left with the mounting of the ladder at the bottom. And because in my mind I'm already back at SSWS, suddenly pictures attracted over in my mind's eye from the time before my brutal demolition of the SRB-Holes, 
when I had already thought about myself intensively.
In NASATech.net there are great panoramic shots of the branched pipe system that is installed around the two SRB chambers. But much less images can be found by the pipes and spray nozzles which are arranged around the front SSME chamber because there usually the service platform is hanging in it which covers everything else.
But then I got from a friend from the ARC Forum a few pictures without this platform where one can see front the pipe system very well. These images I have now tracked down, and they confirm my guess of this particular ladder support on the lowest rung.
What is only hardly to see on the rear view,
Source: NASA
here in the side view is very nice to see in detail how the inner strut is attached to the triangular support bracket.
Source: NASA
And while looking at this image you can clearly see that the pipe coming from behind through this lower pair of struts up and runs behind the ladder to the right. And therefore I can attach this holder only after the installation of the lower pipe at the foot of TSMs. But postponed is not abandoned.
So it can now go on with the support brackets for the ladder on the front of the LOX-TSM, here again with spacers,
and here without.
And also the test fitting of the ladder above the ROFI fits again.
And now I can even look in the paint shop, whether the guys have already started, or still stiring the color.
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#626 by shuttlemodeler on 13 Oct, 2014 20:16
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Looking real good Manfred. Keep up the great work.
I have to get back to mine. To many hobbies. -
#627 by roma847 on 13 Oct, 2014 21:10
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Thanks Tom for the kind words and your come back, I can't wait to see your next progress.
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#628 by roma847 on 14 Oct, 2014 22:25
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Actually, it would have been ready to start painting, but then a little detail I still noticed.
In this picture some time ago I had shown the additional rungs above the TSM-ladders, I've meanwhile upgraded.
Source: NASA
However that is MLP-3 in the last Atlantis mission (STS-135) and not MLP-2, which was in use at the STS-6 and has some small differences. And one of them can be seen here in this image of the last mission of the Endeavour (STS-134), when MLP-2 was also used.
Source: NASA
Since there is an additional angled rung, so to speak, as a transition from the ladder to the top four rungs, and this rung can not be missed.
And so see the sprouts from 0.2 mm brass wire.
The location is a little tricky, because the rung with the angled foot is standing on the upper end of the box and the other a little lower on the TSM wall. At the point is hardly any space, but when I try my best, maybe it might work.
Therefore I have the holes again carefully prepunched in a proven manner with the acupuncture needle, here on the back of LH2 TSM.
And here the rung already is in place.
And on the front it has worked too.
And here, finally, the rungs on the LOX-TSM.
And thus all ROFI parts together with the rungs finally can go in the paintshop,
the guys are waiting eagerly namely.
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#629 by Ronpur50 on 14 Oct, 2014 22:34
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Very nice, again!
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#630 by mike robel on 14 Oct, 2014 23:27
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Masterful, Manfred!
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#631 by RichO on 15 Oct, 2014 19:45
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Beautifull work Manfred! It sure seems like it has been a long haul to get to this point, the paint boys have been waiting for like, about a year and a half to paint those ladders! LOL I know with a little prep work the TSM's will be installed, but I'm guessing not untill after the SSWS pipping and water bags have been finished. Really, we can't wait to see what you do next.
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#632 by roma847 on 15 Oct, 2014 20:44
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Thanks Mike & Ron for your nice words.
Also you Rich thank you, you're still a prankster, but I really like your sense of humor.
Imagine, after painting the first double-ROFI the gun was clogged and the guys have thrown the towel, holy cow!!!
Tomorrow they receive an official warning.
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#633 by roma847 on 17 Oct, 2014 17:13
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Hi all,
because of difficulties with the gun in the paint shop, the friends had to clean everything again. Presumably they had not enough diluted the color, so that the nozzle was already clogged after the first double-ROFI.
That's why I've tried again a detail that struck me during the study of ROFI details, but so far I have not followed up.
These are those handles marked with red arrows here.
Source: NASA
As I have now found that the handles relate to the service-flaps that can be opened for maintenance work, as you can see it on the two upper flaps.
On this older picture here, I had shown the service boxes (red arrows) before. Now I have marked the respective handles with green arrows.
Source: NASA
Probably these are latches that need to be pulled out before opening the flap, which you can see on the handle on the top flap in the first image.
Therefore, I first time calculated the dimensions of these handles to see if this doable at all. And with the two larger handles on the side box I have even started to experiment.
As you can already see, the handles with approx 2x1.5 mm are quite tiny, which I have used first 0.3 mm lead wire. It is soft and can indeed bent easily, but the handle can deform quite quickly and proved in further assembly as unfavorable
That's why I would rather be taken soft brass wire and bent over a rounded plastic core. The base plate I had cut out of paper, but also that I could forget, because you can not position accurately enough the small handle when gluing.
With the longer fixed strip it went much better,
than I could cut afterwards. And that is the finished handle.
And as the fitting on the back of LOX-TSM shows, these handles on the boxes doable, now I just need seven more pieces of it.
But the handle on the right side of the upper horizontal box I'll have to forget, because that would be even smaller with about 1,7x0,7 mm and is also sitting under the ladder in a narrow gap (1.5 mm) between the boxes.
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#634 by roma847 on 17 Oct, 2014 22:18
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Hello,
after the painters came from the rapport, it was now finally progressing again.
As suspected, the guys had indeed stirred the color after the long break, but not sufficiently diluted. If I would have the guys let continue to spray, I could have saved myself the effort with the 0.5 mm ROFI tubes and could probably take some rods.
So it was good that I have remembered the advice of a friend in our German Raumcon forum.
After that I did not follow the the specifications of manufacturer Revell, after one should mix the Aqua Color paint with the thinner Aqua color mix 4:1, but I followed his suggestion and have selected a mixture ratio of paint to thinner by about 1:3.
And so two passes were then made, which here are the parts after the first passage,
and also the ROFI tubes look great.
The second pass is now also done, now everything should still really dry, so tomorrow the fitters can finally begin.
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#635 by Ronpur50 on 18 Oct, 2014 00:45
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They look amazing!
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#636 by roma847 on 18 Oct, 2014 20:37
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Thanks Ron,
I like them too, now only missing the tiny supply lines.
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#637 by RichO on 21 Oct, 2014 19:07
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The ROFI nozzels are an outstanding piece of modeling!! The entire TSM chapter is just to die for! Great job!
BTW: I did look up when you first referenced the TSM's build. You started the TSM's build on April 30 of 2013. That is one long haul for the TSM's build!! Outstanding patients and determend engineering, pays off in the end!! Beautifull work Manfred!! -
#638 by shuttlemodeler on 21 Oct, 2014 20:52
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Manfred needs a hobby. He has to much time on his hands to do all this modeling
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#639 by roma847 on 21 Oct, 2014 21:50
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The ROFI nozzels are an outstanding piece of modeling!! The entire TSM chapter is just to die for! Great job!
BTW: I did look up when you first referenced the TSM's build. You started the TSM's build on April 30 of 2013. That is one long haul for the TSM's build!! Outstanding patients and determend engineering, pays off in the end!! Beautifull work Manfred!!
Thanks Richo for your compliments.
The TSM redo in 1:144 with all the tiny details was really a stressful chapter, but now it's as good as done.
BTW, the starting point you have already recapitulated correct, but in between I have been about six months working intensively with the lighting, which you have generously embezzled.
