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#660 by roma847 on 09 Jan, 2015 21:07
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Thanks Dave for your kind words.
Hi there,
and here are the next steps. For the ROFI on the front of the LH2 TSM I needed even this small basic plate of about 1.5 mm diameter. And that was a good opportunity, to test my recently ordered Punch & Die Set of UMM-USA, which was still arrived in time for Christmas.
The set includes 12 punch stamps with these diameters: 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 mm. And I've tried it with paper and Ø 2 mm,
what has worked well at first.
And then I tried with all diameter 0.3 mm Styrene and can only say: Absolutely perfect!
This set will certainly be to me later in the construction of the crawler trucks valuable assistance.
Next, I glued the ROFI on the base plate and then on the TSM,
and then placing the ladder to try on.
But for gluing of the ladder to the support brackets I need daylight, so I'll do it tomorrow.
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#661 by tea monster on 10 Jan, 2015 16:26
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I opened this thread at the beginning and thought "Oh wow, a card, model, and he's added some strakes to make it 3D - that really works well." Then I kept going forward through the thread and the level of detail just kept expanding and getting more astounding every page.
Amazing work sir! -
#662 by roma847 on 10 Jan, 2015 16:58
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Thanks for your nice words. If you have read through the entire report, you have shown remarkable endurance.
Great that you like it.
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#663 by roma847 on 15 Jan, 2015 08:15
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Hi folks,
as time goes by, and sometimes it comes differently than you think.
If you do not constantly stay tuned, one can here and there ever be a bit out of sight. And so I was quite surprised when I finally wanted to glue the last missing ladder on the front of the LH2 TSM that there still lacked the transition rung to the top four single rungs.
The must somehow have gone astray, and therefore had yet to be bent and painted a new rung. And on that occasion, I immediately painted again with the ladder.
After the single rung was glued, the ladder was glued on, which was a delicate matter again, as I had to dab each support bracket individually by means of acupuncture needle gently with CA in order then to glue with each rung.
And finally, the glued joints had something to retouch. After this, the little handles were glued to the service boxes flaps,
sitting directly in front of the ladder.
Great I thought, now it's finally done and the two TSM's that were tough, I can check off. Therefore, once again a few panoramic views to the end of this stressful chapter.
And then I wanted to finally show the ROFIs again in more detail,
and had surprised to find that the LOX TSM just been missing these small handles for the service boxes flaps also. Since I had before my longer break actually fabricated not eight, but apparently only six handles.
Well, this one has gotten for his close-ups, which bring it to light. Since everything search did not help, I had to scratch a few new handles. 
But now these handles are also still there, and so is now finally rest.
And that's it for today, thanks for looking.
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#664 by mike robel on 15 Jan, 2015 10:05
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Magnificent. I am running out of superlatives. Perhaps I should save some for your later work. Where is my thesaurus?
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#665 by roma847 on 15 Jan, 2015 11:29
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Thank you Mike for your nice compliment that gives me encouragement to keep going and persevere.
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#666 by Ronpur50 on 15 Jan, 2015 13:52
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I know, Mike, I have run out of ways to be stunned by this project!! And it amazes me every time I click the link in my email when it has been updated!
Great Job Again, it is beautiful! -
#667 by roma847 on 16 Jan, 2015 16:52
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Thank you Ron for your kind words, I'm happy when you're so excited and everything persecuting, so I want to entertain you further.
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#668 by roma847 on 16 Jan, 2015 21:40
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Hi there,
after conclusion of the protracted TSM chapter I can now again turn to the topic Sound Suppression Water System (SSWS), I had to interrupt at that time because of the necessary restructuring of the SRB exhaust holes unfortunately.
Therefore, again a short review to set the mood, because I now have to completely rethink again too.
First there is the piping system around the SRB holes, of which six branchings extend into the holes, as well as the six Rainbirds.
Source: NASA
This main pipe system is connected to a subsystem, which is located around the SSME exhaust hole, whereby during launch the entire MLP deck is flooded, as seen here in a test.
Source: NASA
The SSWS includes also respectively 30 Water bags, which in addition are hung from above in the SRB holes and are intended to support the sound suppression effect.
Source: NASA
The following drawing gives an overview of the SSWS with details on the respective tube diameters,
Source: NASA
for what I had already procured me the necessary profiles with diameters of 1 mm to 6 mm.
Since at that time I had to widen the SRB holes from 1:160 to 1:144 the curved main lines do not fit now.
And also the water bags are therefore too narrow for the new SRB holes and thus waste, so first of all a new template must be made.
Therefore, it is now to go further at this point - so let's try again !
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#669 by roma847 on 27 Jan, 2015 15:29
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Hi there,
but before I start fully in the SSWS chapter again, I wanted to see how a new test with the stack and the 1:144 TSM's will look like in order to check their location next to the SSME exhaust hole.
After my first emergency surgery to widen the SRB exhaust holes to 1:144, I had thought of not having to change the SSME hole. But then I made my decision, to build the TSM's 1:144 too and have started the tricky job with the PE ladders and ROFIs what had distracted me from the scale problems a little bit.
Now I have made a new test with the stack and the larger TSMs (1:144) and see for yourself first, what it looks like now ...
First, the sight of the stacks on the MLP is quite impressive again, I think.
With something closer inspection you can see that the TSM's wandered slightly outwards and forwards, representing each about 4 mm.
In the provisional arrangement I went out thereof, that should be approximately 10 mm space between the TSM hoods and the orbiter for the two T-0 umbilicals. These are the fold-out "connector plugs" for the media supply of the orbiter during the countdown to lift-off, which can be seen nicely in this top view.
Source: NASA
In the rear view the displacements become even more significant.
And here again, both views without the stack for better overview.
And now it is clearly seen that the two TSMs are too far next to the exhaust hole, so that there would be significant problems in laying the SSWS pipes around the hole, especially in terms of optics if you look at the next picture. This would then probably have a somewhat strange running of the lateral pipes below the service flap box.
Source: NASA
And if I imagine this sight, I know that I would not like and for better or worse I will have to widen the SSME hole at about that 4 mm on both sides. This arrangement corresponds then on the width and the location of the TSM's exactly the geometry of the 1:144er hole arrangement, and that will be okay. Then the TSM's standing right next to the hole, where they belong, and with the shorter length of the hole to the front I have to live.
So then let's go to the 2nd emergency surgery, which I hope will not be quite as cruel as the first one.
And for that, please press all available thumbs!
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#670 by saturnapollo on 27 Jan, 2015 15:43
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That is looking absolutely stupendous, Manfred. Not only the meticulious build but the paintwork and weathering. Don't know how you do it or indeed have the patience!
Keep it up!
Keith -
#671 by roma847 on 28 Jan, 2015 14:13
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Thank you Keith for your nice words.
But I do not want to decorate me with borrowed plumes.
The great surface textures was created by David Maier, for which he has used original photos for his amazing paper kit. For example, the MLP deck is identical to this photo from the rollout of Atlantis (STS-79).
Source: NASA
Most of the other tiny details I have scratch-built.
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#672 by saturnapollo on 28 Jan, 2015 20:03
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Thanks for clarification, Manfred, but impressive non-the-less.
Just noticed something I hadn't noticed before that the Tail Service Masts are at a slight angle and not at 90 degrees to the exhaust aperture.
Keith -
#673 by roma847 on 28 Jan, 2015 20:31
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Hi Keith,
yep, your observation is fully correct, the two TSMs are aligned with the orbiter wings.
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#674 by roma847 on 28 Jan, 2015 21:35
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Hello folks,
first of all I had to cope this second low blow somehow,
but still I'm not knockout, but only slightly chipped ... 
After my first emergency surgery on the SRB holes I was worried that it would probably run out on it, but I had supplanted these thoughts in the meantime again and again. But latest with the decision for the 1:144er TSMs that was really clear, but then I have first built the tricky TSMs and ROFIs and was therefore initially too distracted. But now the vexing dilemma of scale of the Revell kits with the following compromises has ultimately caught me up again.
However, long wail does not help, and therefore let's go for the second emergency surgery, I have to go through now.
The Dremel is already snappy and ready for all infamous actions, and the surgeon has marked out the cuts already.
Well, unfortunately that will go again right under the skin, as you can see here.
Because I need to extend the width of the exhaust hole from 58 mm to 66 mm, I might come out in the side walls, but fortunately they are made of balsa. But I guess I will have to remove them completely and to install new walls. Maybe I can save at least the two side panels.
So, I will report to you again out of the operating room.
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#675 by Ronpur50 on 28 Jan, 2015 23:16
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This makes me nervous to watch!! Good luck!
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#676 by roma847 on 29 Jan, 2015 11:44
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Thanks Ron and stay cool, because now come some crass images, which is not for faint hearted.
Hi there,
so, here I am again and would like report to you from the place of the horrible event, and inevitably come back to me the former pictures of my first emergency surgery in my mind.
But alarmism is not good, and so let's go straight to the point. First I tried to carefully peel off the lining of the hole, and at first also somewhat worked.
And then the Dremel with the circular saw blade was in action in order to perform short and painless the two longitudinal sections through the 2 mm thick hardboard on top.
And then, but it went right to the point. In these slots I worked myself with knives and chisels piece by piece into the deep, but that has hurt in my modeler soul what can certainly be seen in the pictures. But unfortunately the lining stayed not entirely unaffected.
But finally it was done yet, and as you can see, also got a lot shavings flew.
Thus, the rough things are done first time, and I can make the new lining. I can at least still use the reinforcement rods.
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#677 by shuttlemodeler on 29 Jan, 2015 13:25
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ouch!!!!!
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#678 by roma847 on 30 Jan, 2015 10:18
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Hey Tom,
yep, that hurt, but except of the sweat on my forehead luckily "only" lifeblood is flowed.
So far everything is running lightly and luckily everything else is intact. The patient is still alive thanks to his/my sturdy construction, and this time not a single part is broken.
BTW, the paper model from David Maier's Kit had not survived this brutal attack guaranteed in the face of used surgical tools.
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#679 by Davp99 on 30 Jan, 2015 16:16
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Just Keep Your Eye on the Prize Manfred, In the end it will be Justified I'm sure..
