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                        Fixing the tank on an Airfix Shuttle

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                        5 replies
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Fixing the tank on an Airfix Shuttle
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 14, 2005 1:08 PM
                        I am just starting an Airfix shuttle stack and found out the tank is done rather poorly. It is perfectly smooth and has no intertank corrugations. So first I was wondering if there is a spray on coating that would accurately simulate the mottled foam? Something like the orange peel spray for drywall or such, just not as thick. As for the corrugations I plan on using thin plastic strips just to get the effect, I can't believe they didn't mold those in. Also adding tile decals and Realspace engines. And then I am going to fly it at the NAR Nationals next month. All that time and money and it will probably crash. Thanks for any help in advance. Email answers are fine.
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                        GoFlight
                        • Member since
                          February 2004
                        • From: SI, NY
                        Posted by GoFlight on Monday, August 1, 2005 12:15 PM
                        HA! According to SpaceinMiniature.com 's Space shuttle Book, the Airfix kit has the best ET.
                        I haven't tried it yet but Rustoleum has just come out with a new spray paint that makes things look like it has a hammered finish. This may or may not owrk depending on how it looks in scale. But it may be worth a try...
                        http://www.rustoleum.com/product.asp?frm_product_id=21&SBL=1

                        Lets hope for a smooth flight Wink [;)]

                        Kevin K.

                        I never finish anyth

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                        Griz
                        • Member since
                          January 2004
                        • From: The flatlands of Kansas
                        Posted by Griz on Thursday, August 4, 2005 12:45 PM
                        I just built one of those shuttles. The ET doesn't have corrugations but the decal that simulates it looks good. I thought the windows on the orbiter were cheezy! I used strip styrene to make window frames.

                        I Airbrushed some thick acrylic flat paint to give the tank a rough texture. I'm satisfied with the results I got.
                        Griz
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 27, 2006 2:44 PM

                        There are some stone finish spray paints that are available at Wallmart and others at Michaels Crafts. Some of these provide a finish like fine sandpaper. You could try one of these and if the texture is too rough try sanding it down.

                        The rough finish on a shuttle tank is one of the hardest things to model.

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                        mhvink
                        • Member since
                          June 2004
                        • From: Central Cal
                        Posted by mhvink on Monday, February 27, 2006 3:28 PM

                        Try setting your airbrush to "mist" on the paint from a distance so the paint partially dries in the air and you will get a powdery finish that should do just fine.

                        Mike

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                        72cuda
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by 72cuda on Monday, March 13, 2006 10:44 AM
                        RKOENN; Here's something I've read a while ago for armour but it may help you, use Testors liquid glue, paint the tank with the glue with a brush like normal paint, for the first coat, then use the dab technic on the second coat to get the texture your looking for, I've seen the guy's who built tanks use this to get the casting look of armour plating for their WWII tanks, and I think it may help you for your look for the Ablative coating on the ET, (I used to work for Martin Marietta building Titan II & IV's and this is the same suff the Titan's used for their paint)

                        84 of 795 1/72 Aircraft Competed for Lackland's Airman Heritage Museum

                        Was a Hawg Jet Fixer, now I'm a FRED Fixer   

                         'Cuda

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