Back at the workbench today!

I got a coat of flat white and olive drab on the V2:

Gordo's Mercury is getting close. More work on the retro pack:

I painted the retro straps and started final assembly on them. I could not find part 105, the pin that holds the 3 straps to the retropack. No worries, I found a small screw that works even better!

The next thing is the capsule/retro connectors then the capsule will be completed! (I think)

Gary the Apollo looks great!

Nice work there! The small details like the boots really add to the build.

Gary: Wow, you're almost there! Nice work, I like the astronaut. A figure always helps to show scale.

Scott: Hang in there. I know what you mean- this astronaut I'm building has about a jillion seams. I'm maybe about 75% on filling and sanding all of them at this point. I'm wondering if I should have just built the friggin' Buran... 

Thanks for the support, guys!  I hope Scott and Mach71 can get those seams filled satisfactorily.  I know how difficult it is.

Progress Report:

I am happy to say that the decals have worked out very well this time.  I did what I had planned and wet only the back of the decals.  Once they were loose, I wet the surface of the CM and slid the decals on.  With some minor adjustment, they snugged down fairly well.  The dullcoat held up, and I didn't get the fronts wet.  Both sides of the CM decals are on and I will probably give the model an overall spray of dullcoat to help blend the decals in.

I've got the sign for the base attached.  Although you can't see it, the top of the base has some additional seams drawn on.  The model base SLA is having a few pieces of detail redone.  If you look closely at the included photos, you might be able to see the boots on the bottom of the LES legs where they attach to the Boost Protective cover.  Also, I've touched up the top of the parachute area and the LM connection.

Detailing continues, and I have the stencils for the LES cannards ready and being prepped as I did for the CM decals.  They are tiny, but will add some flavor to the bland white.

I've also decided to paint up one of the kit astronauts to give some scale to it all.  I'm thinking it's only a matter of hours till launch.

Mission Director (GAF)

Today in Space History:

1958 April 25 - . LV Family: Thor, Titan. Launch Vehicle: Thor Able, Titan C.

• USAF goal to to "...land a man on the moon and return him safely to earth". - . Spacecraft: Man-In-Space-Soonest, Lunex.

  The Air Force Ballistic Missile Division published the development plan for an Air Force Manned Military Space Systems Program. The objective was to ". achieve an early capability to land a man on the moon and return him safely to earth. The program represented a reasonable level of accomplishment with a minimum of time and money and called for start of a high priority program (similar to that enjoyed by ballistic missiles) characterized by "concurrency" and single Air Force agency management. The complete program would be carried out in four phases: first, "Man-In-Space-Soonest," was to determine functional capabilities and limitations of man in space by means of earth orbital flights--beginning with an instrumented 2,900 pound re-entry body, then a primate passenger and, finally, a manned capsule. The second, designated "Man-In-Space-Sophisticated," would use a drag type 3, 200 pound re-entry vehicle, capable of a 14 day manned space flight. This device would be used for earth orbital flight only but it would perform experiments essential to the final phase of the lunar program. The third phase, "Lunar Reconnaissance," would explore the moon by television camera and by means of a soft landing of an instrumented package on the moonIs surface. The final phase of the projected program was "Manned Lunar Landing and Return, " which would first test equipment by circumlunar flights returning to earth with instrumented capsules containing animals. At this stage of project development payload capacity would be increased to 9,000 pounds. The spacecraft would then undertake a full scale flight to the moon and safe return to earth with an animal passenger. The climax of the entire project would then be a manned lunar landing, brief surface exploration, and return to earth. This would be followed by other circumlunar flights to fully explore the moon's surface and gather additional physical data. The program was scheduled for completion in December of 1965 at a total estimated cost of $1.5 billion. Program cost estimates were based on use of Air Force rocket hardware and available ground facilities thus eliminating much new development and construction funding. However, new launch vehicle combinations would have to be developed progressing in performance as follows: a Thor-Vanguard second stage, a Thor-fluorine second stage, a "super" Titan with a fluorine-hydrazine second and third stages. Methods of landing involved use of retrorockets to insure a soft landing on the moon and return to earth through re-entry to a predetermined landing area. (USAF Manned Military Space Syst.em Development Plan, 25 Apr 58, prep by AFBMD.)

1961 April 25 - .

• Vice President Johnson made head of the National Aeronautics and Space Council. - . Nation: USA. Related Persons: Johnson, Lyndon, Kennedy. President Kennedy signed legislation making the Vice President of the United States the presiding officer of the National Aeronautics and Space Council..

I feel your pain Scott! I hate filling the body tube spiral seams. 

Gary, I hope these decals work better! I think the dullcoat was a good idea. I also think the "boots" on the LET are a great idea!

Great work guys, not much going on with me on the Saturn V other then filling seams and preppring for the primer coats.  

Scott

Gary: Glad to hear the next batch of decals are working better. Wetting only the back is a good idea- hope it helps matters. 

Ben>  Thanks!  Glad to have you drop by and comment.  We'll see how everything goes.

It's too bad about the decals, but luckily no harm done.  I'll just try again!

Mach71> We'll keep a light on for you. 

Update:

I've reprinted the CM decals and allowed them to dry overnight.  This evening I shot them with a light spray of Testors Dull Coat instead of the Decal Bonder.  This didn't seem to react with the ink as bad as the Bonder.  I've applied a second light coat (essentially just one spray swipe).  So far so good.  I'm going to let this dry overnight and then hit it with another coat.

One thing I want to try to do is apply water only to the BACK of the decal sheet and try not to wet the front.  I hope this will keep the ink from splotching as in the past.  This will be more difficult to apply, but I'm going to be extra cautious.

On another detail, I'm working on the sign for the base.  I've cut out a backing from some matte board and am painting it gray.  Then I'll apply the sign to the backing with some spray adhesive.  I may even put a few bolt heads on the sign when I attach it to the base.  Should be an interesting detail.

I've also cut out some "boots" for the legs of the LES where they attach to the CM.  This looks better than the bare rods so I'm happy about that.

Also, I'm looking for stencils to apply to the model.  There are a couple for the LES on the canard doors that I think I will attempt to print and apply.  We'll see.

That's all for now.

Gary

Today In Space History:

1967 April 24 - .

• Crash of Soyuz 1. Cosmonaut Vladimir Mikhailovich Komarov is killed at age 40. - . Return Crew: Komarov. Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Komarov. Program: Soyuz. Flight: Soyuz 1.

  The decision was made to bring Komarov back due to an undeployed solar panel which reduced electrical power and blocked orientation sensors. Re-entry was successful and the drag chute deployed. However due to a flaw during manufacture, the parachute compartment housing was too rough and the main parachute would not deploy. Komarov released the reserve chute, but it became tangled with the drag chute. The descent module crashed into a field near Orenburg at 03:24 GMT.

1990 April 24 - . 12:33 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.

• STS-31 - . Call Sign: Discovery. Crew: Bolden, Hawley, McCandless, Shriver, Sullivan. Payload: Discovery F10 / Hubble Space Telescope. Mass: 13,005 kg (28,671 lb). Nation: USA. Related Persons: Bolden, Hawley, McCandless, Shriver, Sullivan. Agency: NASA Houston. Program: STS. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spaceplane. Flight: STS-31. Spacecraft Bus: Shuttle. Spacecraft: Discovery. Duration: 5.05 days. Decay Date: 1990-04-29 . USAF Sat Cat: 20579 . COSPAR: 1990-037A. Apogee: 615 km (382 mi). Perigee: 585 km (363 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 96.70 min.

  Deployed HST (Hubble Space Telescope). Payloads: Deployment of Hubble Space Telescope, IMAX camera in payload bay and in crew compartment, Protein Crystal Growth III-03, Investigation Into Polymer Membrane Process-ing- 01, Air Force Maui Optical Site-05, Radiation Monitoring Equipment III-01, Student Experiment 82-16, and Ascent Particle Monitor 01.

• HST Hubble Space Telescope - . Payload: Hubble Space Telescope. Mass: 10,863 kg (23,948 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA Greenbelt. Class: Astronomy. Type: Astronomy satellite. Spacecraft: HST. USAF Sat Cat: 20580 . COSPAR: 1990-037B. Apogee: 596 km (370 mi). Perigee: 590 km (360 mi). Inclination: 28.50 deg. Period: 96.50 min. Hubble Space Telescope; deployed from STS-31 4/25/90. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B).

Sorry to hear about the smeared decals Gary but what you've got looks excellent! 

Thanks Everyone.

Gary, I'm very soory to hear about the CM decals. Thats odd. 

I'm away from home for a few days so no new progress to report.

The V2 has a seam that just wont go away, Lots of sanding and repriming.

Mach and GAF, those are some outstanding builds. I have followed both builds and have to say your modeling abilities and dedication really brought these to life. 

Well done to both of you.... lets see those final reveals.

Ben

Progress Report:

A minor setback today concerning the decals.  Applying some matte finish messed up and smeared the flag decals, so they've been removed and I have a fresh set (including the lettering) drying.  I'm not sure how to proceed on these, as most stuff I've used to help set them ends up smearing them.  Perhaps I need to allow them to dry for a week or two.  I'm not sure.  I have printed them out on Testors Decal Paper as it is thinner than the other stuff I was using.  The LM decals are fine strange to say.

Meanwhile, work is proceeding on the base, and I have a nice little sign I am going to place on some backing and attach to the front of the base.  Here's a shot of the model with the sign propped up in front.  Still needs some details finished up.

Mission Director (GAF)

Today in Space History:

1962 April 23 - . 20:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC12. LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas Agena B.

• Ranger 4 - . Mass: 328 kg (723 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: NASA. Program: Ranger. Class: Moon. Type: Lunar probe. Spacecraft Bus: Ranger. Spacecraft: Ranger 3-4-5. Decay Date: 1962-04-26 . USAF Sat Cat: 280 . COSPAR: 1962-Mu-1.

  The 6555th Aerospace Test Wing launched an Atlas D/Agena B vehicle that carried NASA's Ranger IV to the moon. This was the first U.S. instrument package to impact on the moon. Ranger IV was launched by an Atlas-Agena B booster from the Atlantic Missile Range, attained a parking orbit, and was fired into the proper lunar trajectory by the restart of the Agena B engine. Failure of a timer in the spacecraft payload caused loss of both internal and ground control over the vehicle. The Goldstone Tracking Station maintained contact with the spacecraft until it passed behind the left edge of the moon on April 26. It impacted at a speed of 9,617 km per hour, the first American spacecraft to land on the lunar surface. The Agena B second stage passed to the right of the moon and later went into orbit around the sun. Lunar photography objectives were not achieved.

1965 April 23 - . 17:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Hidden Hills DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 008.

• X-15A HT/Abl TPS/BLN Test/Technology mission - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA, USAF. Spacecraft: X-15A. Apogee: 24 km (14 mi). Maximum Speed - 5760 kph. Maximum Altitude - 24293 m. Air dropped in Hidden Hills DZ.

1967 April 23 - . 00:35 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511.

• Soyuz 1 - . Call Sign: Rubin (Ruby ). Crew: Komarov. Backup Crew: Gagarin. Payload: Soyuz 7K-OK s/n 4. Mass: 6,450 kg (14,210 lb). Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Gagarin, Komarov. Agency: MOM. Program: Soyuz. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Soyuz 1, Soyuz 2A. Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz. Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-OK. Duration: 1.12 days. Decay Date: 1967-04-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 2759 . COSPAR: 1967-037A. Apogee: 223 km (138 mi). Perigee: 197 km (122 mi). Inclination: 50.80 deg. Period: 88.70 min.

  Space disaster that put back Soviet lunar program 18 months. Soyuz 1 as active spacecraft was launched first. Soyuz 2, with a 3 man crew would launch the following day, with 2 cosmonauts spacewalking to Soyuz 1. However immediately after orbital insertion Komarov's problems started. One of the solar panels failed to deploy, staying wrapped around the service module. Although only receiving half of the planned solar power, an attempt was made to manoeuvre the spacecraft. This failed because of interference of the reaction control system exhaust with the ion flow sensors that were one of the Soyuz' main methods of orientation.
  

1968 April 23 - .

• L1 launch failure - . Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Mishin. Program: Lunar L1. Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz. Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-L1.

  The cosmonauts and VVS staff will watch the Proton launch from Area 130. Kamanin observes from Area 81, near the pads. It is a warm, starry night and the booster heads toward space on pillars of fire. Up until T+260 seconds all proceeds normally, then the stage 2 shuts down 79 seconds into its burn. At 02:50 it is reported that the capsule separated successfully from the inert booster and has landed 520 km from the launch pad, 110 km east of Dzhezkazgan. Two Il-14 search aircraft and one Mi-4 helicopter fly over the recovery zone, but no signal is received from the capsule. Mishin immediately blames Chelomei's TsKBEM for the booster failure -- later it is shown that Mishin's L1 spacecraft sent an erroneous abort command to the rocket, which then shut down it engines! The capsule is sighted after dawn and picked up by a Mi-6 helicopter and delivered to Dzhezkazgan airfield at 15:00. It is then taken to Moscow for examination. The SAS abort and capsule landing systems have certainly been proven reliable! They have worked perfectly on the last three launches!

Thanks, guys!  The decals probably look better in the photos than they do in person.  Just needs some loving care and they'll be fine.  As to why I had to make my own, this model is 50 years old.  The old decals were applied long ago and were long since stripped away.  Making new ones was a necessity as this model is out of production and I doubt Revell has any spares.  They didn't contain anything other than the flags and "United States" for the LM and CM anyway.  

I touched up the base today and plan to do some more detailing of the top, plus some clean-up of the base.  I had to cut a round section out of the matte board base in the bottom so the LM would fit!  Discovered that after I put the legs on and then tried to put the folding doors over it.  Everythings A-OK now.  She's sitting on my work table now all packed up and looking ready for launch!  Got a few minor details I want to try doing, plus a small sign I'm going to attach to the front of the base.  I may have some more pics tonight for that.

Overall, I'm happy with how she's turned out.  She's a beautiful ship!

Gary

Decals look good from here, Gary. Nice job. I forget. Why did you end up making your own?  Were the old ones lost? Damaged? Hats off to you for solving the problem.

Not too bad Gary?!? Looks fantastic to me! 

Time for another update.

Progress Report:

I've managed to get the decals worked out and applied.  I don't think they're terribly good, as they're a bit thick (a problem with home printed decal paper) and the colors were not as set as I had hoped.  I will have to touch up some of the flag decals a bit when they're dried out.  After that, I'll hit them with some matte finish to hopefully cut down on the shine.  I'm afraid to use Micro-Sol on them as it would probably further destroy the color.

This is what I was working with.

And these are the results.  Doesn't look too bad in the photos.

There's still some minor stuff to do in finishing the base, and the touch-up on the decals and places on the model.  Not ready to call her done yet!

Mission Director (GAF)

Today in Space History:

1971 April 22 - . 23:54 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511.

• Soyuz 10 - . Call Sign: Granit (Granite ). Crew: Rukavishnikov, Shatalov, Yeliseyev. Backup Crew: Kolodin, Kubasov, Leonov. Support Crew: Dobrovolsky, Patsayev, Volkov. Payload: Soyuz 7K-OKS s/n 31. Mass: 6,800 kg (14,900 lb). Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Dobrovolsky, Kolodin, Kubasov, Leonov, Patsayev, Rukavishnikov, Shatalov, Volkov, Yeliseyev. Agency: MOM. Program: Salyut. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Soyuz 10. Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz. Spacecraft: Soyuz 7KT-OK. Duration: 1.99 days. Decay Date: 1971-04-24 . USAF Sat Cat: 5172 . COSPAR: 1971-034A. Apogee: 258 km (160 mi). Perigee: 209 km (129 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 89.10 min.

  Intended first space station mission; soft docked with Salyut 1. Launch nearly scrubbed due to poor weather. Soyuz 10 approached to 180 m from Salyut 1 automatically. It was hand docked after faillure of the automatic system, but hard docking could not be achieved because of the angle of approach. Post-flight analysis indicated that the cosmonauts had no instrument to proivde the angle and range rate data necessary for a successful manual docking. Soyuz 10 was connected to the station for 5 hours and 30 minutes. Despite the lack of hard dock, it is said that the crew were unable to enter the station due to a faulty hatch on their own spacecraft. When Shatalov tried to undock from the Salyut, the jammed hatch impeded the docking mechanism, preventing undocking. After several attempts he was unable to undock and land.

1972 April 22 - . 16:33 GMT - .

• EVA Apollo 16-2 - . Crew: Duke, Young. EVA Duration: 0.31 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Duke, Young. Program: Apollo. Class: Moon. Type: Manned lunar lander. Flight: Apollo 16. Spacecraft: Apollo LRV. Drove in lunar rover to Stone Mountain..

Mach71: Yeah, getting Gordo in there looks great! He looks all ready for launch! 

Gary: Good luck with those decals.

Mach71> It's all coming together nicely!  I understand about being so close to finished that you can almost taste it.  Well done!

Bakster> I checked the link for the Buzzspacemodels.  That is some beautiful work!  The prices are steep, and the shop is in Germany so I doubt I'll be investing in any of those soon.  I'm becoming of the opinion that I can scratch-build most of what I want, with perhaps some specialty 3d printed items (like nozzles).

I noticed that FSM has a "Space Race" model contest, but for some reason they require you to log into Facebook.  Well, for me, that ain't gonna happen!  If they can't host it here on their own website, then it seems like a waste of time on their end,  IMO.

I attempted to seal the decals today with some Testors Decal Bonder.  The "United States" decals on clear decal paper were okay, but the bonder smeared the flag decals printed on white decal paper.  I've reprinted the flags, but I am not sure I trust the decal bonder fluid.  I may try some matte spray instead.  I'll try to get this done before tonight.

Gary

Super cool Mach

Mach--I like it. The instrument panel, retro, Gordo--all of it. It looks cool! I like the view into that side window too. It looks busy in there, like it should be. Nice work and congrats! You put a lot of work into this and it shows. It's a good feeling to finish a model. One you get the straps on you should celebrate!

I hit the retropack with some dullcoat. I really like the look!

Gordo got all his plumbingd attached and his instrument panel is glued in.

And the big milestone! The cabin is instaled in the capsule and the heatshield is on!

All thats left is the retro straps!

Scott: Looks cool! Not sure your cat will fit inside though...

Mach71: The retro pack looks awesome! And the V-2 ain't too shabby either. 

Bakster: The canopy looks good to me. And very cool site.

Got some work done on the astronaut over the Easter weekend. Gee friggin' whiz, if this were a resin or vinyl figure I'd probably be finished by now. 

Hey guys... My brother sent me a link to 3D printed rocket models. They look darn cool. I thought you might enjoy seeing them.

www.buzzspacemodels.com

Time to check in.  It was a busy week, so things kind of got pushed aside. I hope everyone had a good Easter weekend. I have managed to print out the decals for the CM and LM so all I need to do is give them a coating of decal bonder and hopefully I'll be ready to apply them.  Still need to finish up the base and that should bring this close to finished.  I hope to have some pictures tomorrow.

Scottrc>  That is an impressive looking Saturn V!  I think your cat is wondering how he's going to fit into that small a capsule though.  ;-)

Mach71> Great photos from NASM!  I doubt I'll ever get to visit there, but hope to make it up to Huntsville soon (at least before the 50th anniversary of the moon landing).  The retro-pack looks great!  The decals really set it off.  The V2 is nice, and I really wish I had one.  You'll be the first modeler to finish two builds at the same time it looks like!

Bakster>  Glad the canopy worked out.  I've always suspected the finish on a model can shift the color tone.  Look forward to seeing the final touches on the X-1.  I think it will be fantastic!

Today in Space History:

1972 April 21 - . 16:47 GMT - .

• EVA Apollo 16-1 - . Crew: Duke, Young. EVA Duration: 0.30 days. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Duke, Young. Program: Apollo. Class: Moon. Type: Manned lunar lander. Flight: Apollo 16. Spacecraft: Apollo LM. Explored lunar surface near LM and deployed ALSEP unmanned scientific station equipment..

mach71

I always use Tamiya spray primer. I've never found anything that comes close to doing such a good job

Thanks!

I always use Tamiya spray primer. I've never found anything that comes close to doing such a good job. 

I have a bottle and spray cans of Tamiya olive green and olive drab on the way. I'll see which one looks best. 

Hopefully I'll get my spray booth set up in time to use my airbrush.

I'm looking forward to seeing your XS-1 finished!

mach71

Bakster, does the canopy finish the XS-1? Are you just waiting on your base?

Hey Mach, the retro looks great and I love how the V2 is coming along. It looks like a bullit! The primer is nicely applied too. What did you use? Tamiya?

“Does the canopy finish the X1?” Not quite, but what is left to install is pretty minimal. Here is how I see it:

The landing gear needs to be installed. I probably won’t do that until the entire base is done. Long story, but I am reducing the risk for damage by waiting.

The probes need to be installed and I won’t do that until the very end when everything else is done. Again, reducing the risk of damage.

I need to fabricate the flames. I will work on that once the X-1 is mounted to the base.

Right now, the biggest job is trying to landscape the base. I will work through that until it’s done. Then, the rest will follow. Thanks for asking.

Oh, and thanks about the bench. It just feels a little cluttered. That always happens as I near the end of a build. Then I wipe the slate clean with a straitening for the next build.

I did get to touch up the retropack today. then got to seal it with clearcoat. It looks to shiny to me. I'll hit it with some dullcoat Monday.

I also sanded and put white primer on the V2, then I fixed the black paint on the launch cradle. I'll have to get some olive drab Tamiya paint soon.

Thats it until Monday.