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Shuttle Tank color help

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  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Nebraska
Shuttle Tank color help
Posted by bablenw on Saturday, March 8, 2008 1:09 AM

I'm currently working on the Hasegawa 1/200 scale space shuttle and I'm trying paint the large main tank. The instructions call for brown.  Is this correct? What's a good match? Testors MM, Tamiya or other?

Thank you

NeilMake a Toast [#toast]

[IMG]
  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Michigan
Posted by ps1scw on Saturday, March 8, 2008 7:01 AM
I'd go w/a more orange color, burnt orange, teracota
gsr
  • Member since
    December 2006
Posted by gsr on Sunday, March 9, 2008 10:53 AM
Tanks on more recent missions are lighter tan than those flown in the 80's. There seems to be no exact color for the shuttle's external tank, because NASA has been continually changing the types of foam used.  Also, exposure to sun and weather cause color changes in the tank's foam.  In the end, no two tanks are ever the exact same color by launch day. Find a good photo of the particular Shuttle and mission you want to model, and choose the paint that comes the closest.
  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: St. Louis Missouri
Posted by dallasa on Sunday, March 16, 2008 10:41 PM

Bite the bullet and paint it white, NASA launched two (yeah I think its two) missions before they figured out that the paint weighed in at 600 lbs! With the cost/weight ratio on the shuttle its no wonder that they stopped.

 

Check out this image

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Space_Shuttle_Columbia_launching.jpg

 

 

FYI

Standard Weight Tank

The original ET is informally known as the Standard Weight Tank (SWT). The first two, used in STS-1 and STS-2, were painted white. As a weight-saving measure, Lockheed Martin ceased painting the external tanks beginning with STS-3, leaving only the clear primer over the now-trademark rust-colored insulation, saving approximately 272 kg/600 pounds of weight.[1]

After STS-4, several hundred pounds were eliminated by deleting the anti-geyser line. This line paralleled the oxygen feed line, providing a circulation path for liquid oxygen. This reduces accumulation of gaseous oxygen in the feed line during prelaunch tanking (loading of the LOX). After propellant loading data from ground tests and the first few space shuttle missions was assessed, the anti-geyser line was removed for subsequent missions. The total length and diameter of the ET remain unchanged. The last SWT tank, flown on STS-7, weighed approximately 35,000 kg/77,000 pounds inert.

 

[edit] Lightweight Tank

Beginning with the STS-6 mission, a lightweight ET (LWT), was introduced. This tank was used for the majority of the Shuttle flights, and was last used on the ill-fated STS-107 Space Shuttle Columbia flight. Although tanks vary slightly in weight, each weighed approximately 30,000 kg/66,000 pounds inert.

The weight reduction from the SWT was accomplished by eliminating portions of stringers (structural stiffeners running the length of the hydrogen tank), using fewer stiffener rings and by modifying major frames in the hydrogen tank. Also, significant portions of the tank were milled differently to reduce thickness, and the weight of the ET's aft solid rocket booster attachments were reduced by using a stronger, yet lighter and less expensive titanium alloy.

 

[edit] Super Lightweight Tank

The Super Lightweight Tank (SLWT) was first flown in 1998 on STS-91 and has been used since with only two exceptions (STS-99 and STS-107). The SLWT is basically the same design as the LWT except that it uses an aluminum/lithium alloy (Al 2195) for a large part of the tank structure. This alloy provides a significant reduction in tank weight (~3,175 kg/7,000 lb) over the LWT. The disadvantages of the SLWT are its increased cost (~$5 million) and production time (~4 months) when compared to the LWT. Although all ETs currently produced are of the SLWT configuration, one LWT remains in inventory and can be used if requested.

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Nebraska
Posted by bablenw on Monday, March 17, 2008 10:32 AM

Thank you to all for the excellent information.

Neil

[IMG]
  • Member since
    December 2003
Posted by dhanners on Saturday, March 22, 2008 2:00 PM

As has been mentioned, the color of the ET is a moving target that is affected by several factors. Aside from the physical factors (type of foam used, length of time the shuttle's been on the pad, etc.) one also has to take into consideration the quality of the reproduction of the photo that one is looking at when judging what the "right" color is. You can certainly get the color wrong (if you painted it a straight yellow or a straight orange, for example) but there are lots of shades of "right."

For mine, I generally start with "Sloth Brown" from Testors' Model Master Fantasy line, then add some "radome tan" to lighten it. It is truly one of those "mix to taste" approaches. And if you believe in the concept of scale color, you'd want to lighten it up a bit more if you're building in 1/200th scale.

But that's just my opinion.... 

 

  • Member since
    December 2007
Posted by hk1997 on Monday, March 24, 2008 1:42 AM

Here's my WIP of the Academy 1/288 kit.  I decided to make the tank terracotta.   

 

  • Member since
    December 2007
Posted by hk1997 on Monday, March 24, 2008 9:59 PM
What are you supposed to do for windshields? The 1/288 model doesn't come with any.
  • Member since
    December 2015
Posted by dcaponeII on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 9:24 AM
You can use white glue or the makers of Micro Sol make a product for windows as well.
  • Member since
    December 2007
Posted by hk1997 on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 12:30 PM
I wanted to fill in the windows and use JBot window decals but he has a $20 minimum order and I only need that one $5 sheet.
gsr
  • Member since
    December 2006
Posted by gsr on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 8:01 PM

hk1997,

I've got some spare windows from the JBot sheet.  Let me know if you are interested.

  • Member since
    December 2007
Posted by hk1997 on Friday, April 11, 2008 11:58 AM
Many thanks!  I'll post pics as soon as it's applied. Smile [:)]
  • Member since
    September 2006
Posted by aussiemuscle308 on Friday, May 23, 2008 2:01 AM

interesting info, thanks for sharing.

i've always thought of the ET as a red oxide color. although i've never seen it in person. (never been to the states).

  • Member since
    December 2015
Posted by dcaponeII on Friday, May 23, 2008 9:00 PM

Don't get me wrong as I love being in the United States but the nicest place I've ever been was the 10 days I spent in and around Melbourne.

As for the shuttle tank color if you examine the high resolution photos of the tank it's many colors in various places around the tank.  You really should select a photo and use as a referece.  Every tank on any given week will be a slightly different mix of colors because of tank construction details and exposure to sunlight.  Not to mention the more recent tanks since return to flight which have numerous lighter colored patches in various places.

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