Author Topic: 1/144 Dragon Cutaway Shuttle w/Airfix SRB ET and Revell Launch Tower (Read 11345 times)

Bubbinski · « **Reply #20 on:** 11/10/2018 01:35 am »

Well I ran out of momentum and didn’t finish the project in time for the IPMS Nationals. I have, however, restarted it and now the 1/144 cutaway orbiter (with the cutaway bits still taped) is close to done. Got finished with the decals tonight; it was a several day process.

roma847 · « **Reply #21 on:** 11/10/2018 06:41 am »

Well done!

Do you want to show a specific mission?

Only the PAL Ramp on the LH₂ Tank you could have better adapted to the initial section on the Intertank, and the GO₂ and GH₂ Press. Lines as well.

Did you somehow clean the Intertank before painting?

Bubbinski · « **Reply #22 on:** 11/10/2018 03:43 pm »

Yes I cleaned the intertank before painting. Doing the STS-26 stack.

roma847 · « **Reply #23 on:** 11/10/2018 08:56 pm »

And how did you clean the IT, or is it a secret?

Bubbinski · « **Reply #24 on:** 11/11/2018 03:09 am »

It’s been a while but I recall cleaning it with some Simple Green. I think. It has been a while. I also used a pipe cleaner to help me clean out the spots between the ribs.

Bubbinski · « **Reply #25 on:** 11/11/2018 03:11 am »

Here’s the Shuttle tonight, with all clear coats done including a flat coat, and the taped up clear portions exposed for the cutaway effect on the left side of the Orbiter.

Bubbinski · « **Reply #26 on:** 11/13/2018 02:44 am »

And the cutaway orbiter is finished! Now to work on the ET/SRB’s and the launch tower/MLP.

Ronpur50 · « **Reply #27 on:** 11/13/2018 03:30 am »

Interesting way to do the cutaways! Very cool!

Bubbinski · « **Reply #28 on:** 11/13/2018 04:31 am »

Thank you Ron! I was inspired by the classic Space Shuttle cutaway poster in existence since the early 80’s at least. I only wish Dragon had included a clear plastic payload bay door, for STS-26 I’d have to have found a way to make a TDRS/IUS.

Bubbinski · « **Reply #29 on:** 04/21/2019 03:07 am »

Okay, reviving this thread because I just finished gluing the Orbiter to the 1/144 Airfix ET and SRB’s (with Shapeways intertank on the ET). I had unexpected issues painting and masking the SRB’s and stopped for a while before resuming the project. Here’s the finished stack!

Bubbinski · « **Reply #30 on:** 04/21/2019 03:14 am »

And here’s the stack after a little more work on the Revell launch pad, next to the 747/shuttle and ISS/shuttle in the same scale (1/144)

Bubbinski · « **Reply #31 on:** 04/25/2019 04:09 am »

Here’s a pic tonight of the shuttle Discovery on its launch pad with the 747/shuttle and ISS/shuttle

Bubbinski · « **Reply #32 on:** 04/25/2019 04:21 am »

And here’s a shot of the launch tower and RSS under construction

roma847 · « **Reply #33 on:** 04/27/2019 10:38 pm »

Great that you will use the old Revell Launch Tower Kit.

I think that you will build it OOB, right?

Bubbinski · « **Reply #34 on:** 04/27/2019 11:58 pm »

Yes more than likely *almost* out of the box, some modifications, but not huge. (Like putting vent pipes on the ET beanie cap arm, the kit doesn’t have those).

Bubbinski · « **Reply #35 on:** 05/11/2019 01:48 am »

Got the hammerhead crane and lightning rod for the tower finished. (The hammerhead crane was present in 1988). I wrapped craft wire around the rod to simulate the lightning protection. Bonus: shot of the shuttle stack in the evening sunset light

Bubbinski · « **Reply #36 on:** 05/25/2019 06:01 pm »

Last night and this week I got a lot of work done on the launch tower. Now I’ve got the shuttle stack next to it for fit checks before I attach the beanie cap and white room arms.

Bubbinski · « **Reply #37 on:** 05/27/2019 04:41 pm »

After a weekend of work, here’s the current state of the project.

roma847 · « **Reply #38 on:** 05/27/2019 11:06 pm »

Great progress with the Launch Tower so far,

but due to the height of the stack, there are problems with the Oxygen Vent Arm with the Beanie Cap which is sitting too high, namely above Level 275.
But you will have to live with that ...

Bubbinski · « **Reply #39 on:** 05/28/2019 04:37 pm »

Thank you, and yes I will live with that, as I’m afraid I don’t have the ability/patience to scratchbuild my own tower, and if I understand things correctly the photo etch correction set isn’t available anymore, not that I’m super good with PE anyway. The best I can do is make it “look the part” so that’s what I’ll do.