mach71

I think I've got the tank remounted. It's not perfect but its the best I can get and get the instrument joins close.

Ben, your Lem continues to evolve looking even better.

Me, I am in irritation mode. I just sprayed that white ring I was talking about earlier and  the paint didn't go down too well. It sort of separated in areas. So, now I have to wait for it to dry, sand it sooth, and apply another coat. What a rediculous pain. It's stuff like this that drive me nuts. Round two at this going on round three. All over a small band of white paint. I shall persevere. Lol.

Wow,

It's nice to see so many builds coming along now .

For my mini shuttle, I tried a couple different ideas for the canopy, including trying to 3D print something.  But in the end the best results seemed to come from just starting by fitting a cross section cut out, and then filling in around it with scrap pieces of plastic and bondo/filler.  Once I got something clos to the right shape, I sanded and sealed it, and gave it a quick coat of primer to see how it looked and where I needed to clean things up.  When scratchbuilding/kit bashing I have found that sometimes it really helps me to apply a quick coat of primer, because it can get hard to see details when a have a lot of putty and/or other things going on.

Below, you can see an intial picture of my rough scratch canopy.

[Sorry it came out so overly bright]

Next, I started filing down the rough shape (concentrating on the right side of the model 1st) to try and clean up the shaping a little.  After that, I highlighted a couple areas here I could see that I might need to build up a little with putty (using a green marker as shown below).

In the images above you can see how the left side is still a bit rougher than the right, and also where I maybe got a little too agressive with my files on the right side, and made the shape a little too flat.  Anyway, though, I'm pretty happy with how everything is coming along. 

On additional thing I also did last night, was try and alter the nose shape just a little.  Although I don't have alot of info on this mini shuttle, the few sketches and such that I do have kind of suggest that the tip of the nose might be a little higher on this earlier concept for a shuttle, than what eventually got built.  As such, I cut the nose off my model last night and added a shim along the bottom (but not the top) of the kit between the two pieces, prior to reglueing everything. I then filled any gaps with putty and sanded stuff reasonably smooth, prior to covering this, and the stuff I had done for the canopy with primer.

Later I could see that there was maybe a little bit of a bump along the bottom, so I re-filed and sanded that area as shown below.

Here you can kind of see the trace of the shim and the putty where I made the mods. 

PF 

Drums, the asent stage is really coming along.

Mach, the escape tower is looking oustanding.

PF, wow, I don't have the nerve to try a scratching project like that.

Hi,

I kind of find scratchbuilding fun, because it gives me a chance to try alot of different ideas and approaches.  One thing that has been working particularly well so far on this build is using both Bondo and Mr Dissolved Putty as a filler.  For some areas, like the vertical tail and the canopy I have been able to roughly mock something up then give it a coat of Bondo, followed shortly after with a coating of Mr Dissolved putty.  I try not to put the Bondo on too thick anywhere, because (like the Squadron Green and White putties) I think it has Toluene (or something similar in it) and can dissolve your plastic.  Lately I have also been applying it with a 1/4" or so wide flat paint brush.

I find also brushing the Mr Dissolved Putty on with the same brush, after the Bondo has started to dry just a little, but before it really begis to harden, lets me smooth the Bondo out a bit and do some additional shaping.  

I also try to let the stuff harden/dry, preferably over nite, before doing any sanding or filing.  Unfortunately yesterday I didn't let it dry long enough, and now my files (that I use for coarse shaping) are a bit "gunked" up, and once Bondo sets it really doesn't want to let go that much.

Speaking of files, that reminds me of another thing that I find that I am constantly relearning.  Specifically, I find that sometimes I try and get too ahead of myself, and start trying to clean something up starting with too fine a grit sand paper or sanding block.  Whenever I do that I usually end up finding that I have smoothed out the fine "bumps" and rough spots, but haven't really done anything to any of the larger "bumps" or discontinuities in the surface (other that smoothing their edges ).

As such I find that I am constantly havig to relearn "use the right tool for each job", and if I have big gaps or "steps" between surfaces, its often best to start with a file, then a coarse sanding block, before moving to the finer, and finer grit stuff .

PF

PS.  I also don't know if this is fully true or not, but it kind of seems to me at least a little, that I make less dust when I sand my model down if I applied a coat of Mr. Dissolved Putty, or sanding sealer, or clear dope, than if I hadn't.  Like I said I can't say for certain but it at least seems to me to be that way 

Excellent work all around gents!

I started removing the teeny tiny detail bits of the M2F1 from their casting blocks.  It is a sobering reminder of why I like bigger scales now.

i already broke the IP mounting frame, but in my defense, it was really fragile.  The framework supporting the ejector seat rails is super delicate, but so far no breakage.  But one of the seat rails is short shot and needs a new bracket.

I scuffed the nose blister while butchering off the excess plastic.  But no worries, I plan to remake the clear parts anyway.  The kit supplied items will be used as sacrificial mules to test and adjust fit.

No pics till Monday, as I still cannot figure out how to work Flickr from my phone.

PF, you are gonna need a Dynasoar to go with that mini-shuttle!

Mach, it looks like your rework has gone well my friend; lookin good. 

Thanks everyone for your kid words and motivating comments. I can only echo what Real G has already said, "Excellent work all around" everyone... 

My next photos of the accent module should be of my completed product. After that I will attach it to the decent stage and work on the plume deflectors as well as other details. 

Ben

This GB is great!  I'm liking the kits in here and the work is awesome! 

Here is a quick update pic of the Apollo 7.  The bottom part of the rocket is a little challenging to mask up, but I'm getting there.  Each of the reference photos/material I have has a slightly different paint scheme, so I'm kinda winging it.  LOL!

Eagle90, that apollo build is looking nice! It will make for a nice display piece.

v/r,

Ben 

Eagle, now that is sweet looking. That makes me want to put my wee missles aside and work on the big boy in the box.

Mach71>  The tower is looking pretty good from here.  Hard to tell that there's anything wrong.  I did want to ask about the exhaust shield (the cone shaped object just above the attachment ring).  Is that something that you can slide in between the supports?  I was wondering about how it was assembled.

Bakster>  Sorry you're having trouble with paint.  Sometimes it's the little things that give you the most trouble.

PFJN>  The shuttle is coming along beautifully.  I must admit it reminds me of one of the land-speed cars.  Put some wheels on it and you can go for the land-speed record!

Interesting about the Bondo and Mr. Dissolved Putty.  I'm just now trying out some new fillers so maybe I'll give that a try.

Real G>  I've worked with resin very little, but have found it's quite easy to break it.  I feel your pain!  Good luck at cutting!  Oh, and if you check in the C-47/DC3 GB you'll find your tow for the M2F1.

Ben>  Excellent work on the LM, as usual.  Can't wait to see the Ascent Stage and Landing Stage together!  

Eagle90>  Wow!  That's a nice Saturn 1B!  You may be the first to finish here if you continue with that rate of progress.  Well done!

Progress Report:

No pictures this time.  It's kind of a mixed bag, as I spent a lot of time removing paint from the secondary projects I'm going to work on, in addition to tinkering on something else (that D-7 I've had sitting on my desk).  I've redone the nose-cone for the LES so it appears closer to what the final version had, though it may actually be a block II instead of a block I. Plus, I've begun forming the flare skirt around the rocket nozzles.  I've also glued the LM ascent stage halves together and started filling and sanding the Landing Stage.  No real progress, just minor things on the road to completion.

Mission Director (GAF)

Today in Space History

2005 October 28 - .

• Cassini, Titan Flyby, Successful - . Nation: USA. Spacecraft: Cassini.

1971 October 28 - . 04:09 GMT - . Launch Site: Woomera. Launch Complex: Woomera LA5B. Launch Vehicle: Black Arrow.

• Prospero - . Payload: X 3. Mass: 66 kg (145 lb). Nation: UK. Agency: Royal Aerospace Establishment. Class: Earth. Type: Micrometeoroid satellite. Spacecraft: Prospero. USAF Sat Cat: 5580 . COSPAR: 1971-093A. Apogee: 1,403 km (871 mi). Perigee: 531 km (329 mi). Inclination: 82.0000 deg. Period: 104.40 min. To test in space equipment for future satellites and to conduct a scientific experiment to measure the incidence of micro-meteoroids. Launch time 0409 GMT, injection point 13.7 deg S, 137.9 deg E. Anticipated life 100 years. .

Yeah, you guys keep knocking it right outta the park!!! Please keep up the great work!

GAF

...

PFJN>  The shuttle is coming along beautifully.  I must admit it reminds me of one of the land-speed cars.  Put some wheels on it and you can go for the land-speed record!

...

Hi,

Not a bad idea.  Good luck with your build.

I usually only get to work on my build a little each day, which has its ups and downs.  It gives everything time to dry between steps, but sometimes progress seems a little slow.

Anyway this weekend was good because I had a bit of time to get some stuff done.  Below is a picture of where I am now.

Here you can see the to flat brushes I have been using for my painting and Bondo work, plus some other parts of my model.

The vertical tail is coming along pretty well and I think that I am almost ready to finish it up, trimming off the lower trailing edge and maybe trying to rescribe the hinge line and maybe some panel lines.

In addition, in black, you can also see two attempts that I made to try and 3D print a canopy.  They didn't turn out so well since I ended up having to trim away the bottom of the 1st one to try and match it to the fuselage, and I also tried to mold some windows.  Unfortunately the whole thing ended up so thin that it began to kind of fall apart on me.  The second one I tried to print out a little thicker but still had some issues so I ended up not using it.

In addition, you can also see the one of the original Thruster pods from the kit.  After looking at it today, I realized that I could have maybe used it as a starting point for the canopy (maybe next time if I ever try a build like this again ).

You can also see my astronaut, compared to one of the earlier attempts to 3D print him.  He seems to be coming along nicely, and I may to start painting him too.  I have to admit that it has been helpful having him to get a better feel of the overall size of the rest of the build 

On the main part of my build you can see how the canopy is coming along.  I find that it is helpful to frequently apply a thin coat of paint to help hide underlying stuff, and make any small dings or dents show up.  Plus it allows me to sketch on some test/reference lines to see how the sides compare, and identify areas that may need cleaning up.

Here I think that maybe on the left hand side if I shave off just a little at the front and back little green arrows that I drew and maybe add just a little putty at the middle arrow, I may be close to done (barring any final clean up of small dings and dents ).

And finally, you can see the wings.  I had set them aside for awhile while I worked on everything else, but now its getting close to time to install them.  I need to do a a little clean up of the slot that the tabs on them slide into, to make sure that the bottom of them align with most of the rest of the bottom of the fuselage, and you can also see on one, where I had to add a little putty because the gap between the wing and aft control surface part of the wing was uneven.  Once that hardens I will try and clean it up abit and then try and rescribed the joint line.  On the other wing, I found that I inadvertantly sanded the trailing edge a little unevenly, so I will likely need to add a little bit of thin sheet styrene to square it off a bit.

Anyway, things seem to be coming along, and I just wanted to share the picture of where I currently am.

PF

DRUMS01

Eagle90, that apollo build is looking nice! It will make for a nice display piece.

v/r,

Ben 

 

Thank you sir.  It will look pretty cool on the shelf.  Might have to the Saturn V so it won't be lonely up there.  LOL!

modelcrazy

Eagle, now that is sweet looking. That makes me want to put my wee missles aside and work on the big boy in the box.

 

Thank you sir.  The masking is very tedious.  I hope to finish the majority of painting this week.

[quote user="GAF"]

Eagle90>  Wow!  That's a nice Saturn 1B!  You may be the first to finish here if you continue with that rate of progress.  Well done!

Thank you sir.  Not sure I'll be the first done.  Lots of masking to be done.  It's a bit more tedious then I had expected.  Hope to have her painted this week, clear coat it, and get the decals on.  She is a really nice kit.  Going together very well, easy instructions...Airfix did a good job on these space subjects.

GAF,

Argh, now you’ve done it!  A quick Google search revealed the R4D(?) that was used to tow the M2F1.  How can I say no to the DC-3/C-47 GB now?  I was trying real hard to stay out of joining another group build, but aw man I’m like a bug being drawn into a zapper!

OK I need to do a quick assessment of mods to the C-47 kit I have, and to source specific markings before committing to jump in another fire.

Hi,

This has turned out to be a fairly good weekend, even if I didn't win the PowerBall last night.  

I did however just get off a computer session with a technical representative from my 3D printer company who was able to get their new software set up on my backup laptop, so now I can 3D print again 

Yeah

PF

Looks awesome to me PF! 

Hi,

While searching the internet today @ lunch for Space Shuttle pictures I rn across this;

http://airportjournals.com/former-dc-3-airliner-is-now-a-kitchen-on-wheels/

I wonder if I could do a model of it for both the Race to Space Group Build and the DC-3 Group Build

PF

PFJN>  Nice!  It gives an idea of the size of the model laid out beside the paint brushes.  I thought it was bigger, but it actually is way smaller than I imagined.  Good work!

Glad the printer troubles got ironed out. 

Real G>  I had mentioned this in the C-47 / DC-3 GB as a possibility, and Modelcrazy and Lewbud had expressed interest.  Anyone who builds one can use it as an entry in this GB, no problem. 

Nothing to report on my end.  Still considering options for finishing up the LES, and work on the LM descent stage is ongoing (filing and sanding).  Long way to go yet.

Gary

I just found this information while researching more on my Apollo lunar module. The information I am sharing has to do with the coding and programming during the Apollo timeline. While many of us know that it was a simpilar time, it is mind boggling just how simple it was, here it is:

To begin, it’s awe-inspiring that we went to the moon on so little code — just thousands of lines. Google, an extreme case of simplified coding today, is made up of 2 billion lines of code.

This gap in technology exists because when Apollo 11 was getting ready to launch, code didn’t exist. While developing the Apollo 11 space program, programmers at MIT’s Instrumentation Laboratory were inventing flight software we take for granted today.

They did a lot of work with very little space. One programmer has worked out that an iPhone, which we carry around in our pockets today, has enough code to run 120 million Apollo missions.

What the MIT researchers came up with was a new way to store computer programs, called “rope memory,” and they created a new assembly programming language. The language is difficult to read and obscure to most modern programmers.

Kind of wild, right?

Ben

PFJN

Hi,

While searching the internet today @ lunch for Space Shuttle pictures I rn across this;

http://airportjournals.com/former-dc-3-airliner-is-now-a-kitchen-on-wheels/

I wonder if I could do a model of it for both the Race to Space Group Build and the DC-3 Group Build

PF

 

 

I'm not the Mission Director PH but I'd say that would qualify, but GAF would have to sign off on it. As far as the DC3 GB, master Keyda is the boss over there.

If I use an old Airfix kit, I could probably also enter it in the Airfix Group Build too

Okay, some pics of the start of the M2F1 build:

https://flic.kr/p/NGwQfX][/url]M2F1-21 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The detail parts are very small and delicate!  I'm weighing whether or not the truss structure behind the ejection seat wil be worth cleaning up versus making a new one from plastic rod.  It will test my eyesight either way!

https://flic.kr/p/NGwQq6][/url]M2F1-22 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

Oops, the instrument mounting bar snapped off not while I was removing it from the casting block, but rather while I was trying to trim off some flash.

https://flic.kr/p/NGwQxR][/url]M2F1-23 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

The teeny-tiny control horns molded to the rudders almost got snipped off.

https://flic.kr/p/2csQ2uR][/url]M2F1-25 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I also had a look at the Italeri C-47 kit I have in the stash to see what needed work to make it into the tow plane.  I think the biggest challenge is sourcing the specific markings, followed by the color scheme.  From Google, the aircraft in question appears to be white on top, silver on bottom, possibly a dark blue cheat line, silver wings, maybe red-orange fin with yellow band with black NACA logo.  Not sure if the horizontal stabs are red-orange or silver.  R4Ds are not my area of expertise, so questions also remain regarding serial number and wing markings.  If anyone has any information it would be much appreciated!  Or I could just fake it.  

It seems that everyone has gremlins breaking things. Giddy up to the start of the M2F1, Real G. Thumbs up to everyone and their projects. 

Progress on my capsule is progressing. I seem to have licked the white ring issue. Simple enough, I should have. Dang gremlins though, I am holding my breath.

Minor update: I worked on polishing the hatch windows. I found that the quickest and most effective way to do this was to put a piece of acrylic stock into the chuck of my drill, sand a few swipes with a sanding stick, manually turn the chuck, do a few more swipes, turn the chuck and keep repeating. Gradually, using finer grained sanding sticks in the process. I can quickly get a nice and flat polished surface. Doing it free hand produced rounded edges and often, a slant to the piece. I also tried using the drill itself whilst pressing the piece against a polishing stick. This produced swirl marks.

Below: The two on the left are polished, the one on the right is unpolished as a reference. 

I had also experimented with painting the sides black to see how it affects its appearance looking in. I didn't care for it. Leaving it unpainted seems to give the acrylic a lighted look to it. I suppose errant light bounces around all long the piece. I am not sure that it will make that big a difference once it's closed up, but in testing, it seems to hold that effect.

No biggie here--just something for me to post.

So this is what the C-47 looks like after exhuming it from the Closet of Doom.

https://flic.kr/p/29KypAN][/url]R4D-02 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

https://flic.kr/p/29Kyp57][/url]R4D-05 by N.T. Izumi, on Flickr

I'll still need to research the markings a bit before adding it to the fire.

Can't wait to see the two of them together 

PFJN,

By golly, you can find anything on Ebay.  I just ordered decals for the NASA C-47.  Still dizzy with amazement about that long shot find.  Even if it’s Alps printed.  My first Ebay purchase!

And I was wrong about the paint scheme.  The “NACA” logo on the fin of the R4D photo I found should have tipped me off.  It’s actually just white overall with a blue band cheat line and NASA “meatballs” on the fuselage.

So... Moderators, please sign me up for an R4D to go with the M2F1.

Nice find G

PF: Wow, love that resturant! I'd love to eat there! 

Bakster: Looks good, great work! 

Real G: That looks awesome! Looking forward to seeing how they come together.