Ah, now he doesn't look like he got the c--p scared out of him, good job.

Thanks.

It's the little things sometimes. 

I'm not happy with the black straps. They are hand brushed Tamiya over the Tamiya gloss aluminum. The adheasion is not good. I might try some Model Master flat black and see if that works better. The bottom line is there is not much of Gordo that can be seen well once he is in his seat in the cockpit.

I'm off to work the seams on the LET.

I think I have the seams fixed on the escape tower and I got the 1st coat of red on.

It will need one more coat, but so far its looking good.

Major mistake number 2 was discovered today! And like major mistake 1 (inproper alignment of the escape tank) It's all my fault for not reading the instructions!

The decals for the retro pack stripes are all one (sort of) and I thought they were individual sections. Well I glued the 3 small retro motors on the main pack before the decal was put on. DOH! Its not a show stopper, but now I'll have to cut up the decals.

Mach71>  I think the MM black paint will work better.  Tamiya paint is rather finicky, especially over Tamiya paint.  The Escape Tower looks good!

Well, at least you have something figured out about the retro-pack stripes.  Cutting up the decals might not be optimal, but at least its workable.  Good luck!

Myself, I'm about to go put on what I hope is the last coat of paint on my own Escape Tower.  After that, I can start sealing the Command Module up and puttying and sealing the seam for it and the heat shield later tonight.

Gary

Gary, I hope the painting went well on your escape tower.

I got the 2nd coat of red on my tower, its drying now.

I started on some interior details. The Helium tanks built:

They are not perfect, but they are also not easy to see once intstalled.

I'm trying to make the flexible duct/wrap that crosses the hatch at the forward of the opening. It's a very simple detail that is proving difficult to work out.

Oh wow those all look awesome guys!!!!!

Looking at Mach71's helium tanks I have to wonder. Has anyone tried to build Apollo 13  with the ruptured tank and ripped out hull on the service module? Seems like an interesting challenge.

PS: I have to agree with Gary here, the first three 'Barsoom' novels are awesome. The rest are more so-so though with some interesting ideas like 'Sythetic Men of Mars'.

I think I've figured out the flexible conduit. I used a section of wire with some heatshrink tubing over it. Once shrunk it was tight and would sort of hold a bend. I ran it from the forward bulkhead up to the hatch, made a 90 bend and then ran it forward of the instrument panel around the hull into the helium tank area. Looking at the capsules on line it is there on the 1st few orbital missions, but not on Gordo's capsule on display in Houston. 

It adds visual interest, and it could have been removed after his mission so it's there.

Dry fit again, it's getting close.

Mach71>  She's looking very good!  Just how tall is this thing when finished?

As for my own tower, I didn't get anything done today.  I conked out sometime after lunch and slept until late in the evening.  My routine is really messed up.  I realized that it would probably be best to wait until I had the CM ready for final paint and then doing it all at once.  After thinking about it, it became apparent that I need to take the final preparation steps for the CM slow, as it will affect the other steps that need to be done.  The capsule shell and the heat shield need to be mated, but if I do that it will make installing the windows more difficult since I won't be able to access the inside.  If I go ahead and install the windows, then I will have to mask them when I get around to gluing the capsule to the heat shield, putty and final paint.  Not to mention installing the hatch.

So it's time for a check-list, and I'm waiting on Houston to send one up!  

Gamera>  I've seen some models online people have done.  Also, Bandai produced a Saturn V with Apollo 13 model.  Prepare yourself for sticker shock, however. 

Gary 

Mach71: Great to see Gordo all snugged away inside his capsule- great job there! And the emergency separation tower looks good! 

Gary: Thanks! Just wondering out-loud. Would be a cool thing to try to modify a regular kit for. And hope you feel better. Mowed the lawn the other day, and dumb me couldn't find a dust mask but did it anyway. I'm clogged up now with dust, pollen, whatever- I came home from work yesterday and just fell over and took a nap...  

Gamera>  Most kits aren't worth trying to modify to get close to the Apollo 13 damaged Service Module.  The Revell ones certainly aren't.  The amount of work to get the model anywhere close to the real thing is so great it would be easier to stick a firecracker in the model and blow it up in actuality!

Good thing I don't have to mow the lawn anymore as I live in an apartment.  It was always a chore, and I didn't worry about dust and pollen back then either!  No riding lawn-mowers in my day!  Take care of yourself!

Gary

I've seen online that most of the US has crazy high pollen counts right now, even though I don't have allergies it still wears me down. 

I got a coat of gloss on the capsule, Maybe I can start decaling soon.

Gary: Not suprised that it'd be a pile of work to scratchbuild the ripped up interior of the SM.

Mach71: Ohhhhhhhh, looking forward to more photos!

BTW: I'm fine now. Think I sucked up more dirt than pollen. There's some rough places and with the lack of rain I was spewing up some big dust clouds. I probably should move the blade up a notch or two. No big deal.

I'm letting the gloss cure overnight. I hope to be able to start the decals tomorrow.

I managed to finish up a few small items.

I painted the helmet visor.

The outer window pane has to be cut out of clear PVC:

The window frame:

The inner pane is glued using Kyrstol Klear, I'll use it when I install the window assembely after the decals are on and the final semi matt top coat is on. 

Hey Mach, Gordy looks great! You had me wondering with the lipstick but he sure evolved into a cool looking astronaut. Nice work. The window frame looks good to.

Mach71: Great job there on Gordo! Shame you won't be able to see more of him once he's loaded into the capsule. 

Gordo was always loved the practical joke! Poor Deke was always dealing with his highjinx. 

The clear red really didn't work. I ran a very thin red strip between his lips, almost a highlight. I think it works now.

Modelcrazy's eye sugestion also really helped with his look!

I have decals for the NASA logo and his name tag to go on the space suit, but I'm not even sure there is room for them.

I used some bare metal on the forward section, Some capsules had the whole window area bare metal, some have red details and rough foil, some are just painted flat black. I'm kind of going for mix. I can't find any good, color photo's of Gordo's window on line.

I'm not looking forward to decaling the retro pack, doubly so as it's my own stupidity that is causing the issue.

On a positive note, my goof/repair on the LES rocket is barly noticable after paint.

Gamera

Mach71: Great job there on Gordo! Shame you won't be able to see more of him once he's loaded into the capsule. 

 

Yup, Thats why I'm wondering just how far to take him. I'm not happy with how his straps are but how much work should I put into something that will be hard to see?

I tried painting the buckles with Model Master chrome, but that is so close to the Tamiya gloss aluminum that it does not show. I'll probably have to go with another metal color. It's not accurate, but might look better.

mach71

Gordo was always loved the practical joke! Poor Deke was always dealing with his highjinx. 

Yeah that Gordo...

I think he looks good as you have him. I like that silver suit too. You might have said but what brand of paint did you use on that?  Was it Alclad? The helmet pulls it together nicely too.

If it were me--I am not suggesting you do this--I'd probably try doing a wash to accentuate the folds in the suit and around details. That could add another level of realism to it. But--washes can be trouble if a person is not careful. 

As for me and my X1, I have the canopy masked and I will hit it with paint this weekend. If I am abitious--I might Dulcote the airframe too. Minor work continues on the lakebed. 

Speaking of the canopy.  Last night I realized that Eduard formed part of the fuselage into the canopy. Ugh. I am not happy about that because now I will need to paint part of the canopy pumpkin orange too. Multiple maskings, more things that can go wrong. Good thing I saved some of my custom color mix. This was dumb on Eduards part. That detail should have remained connected to the fuselage. Ok--done ranting. 

Gamera>  Glad to hear you're recovering from inhaling nature's pollution!  Hope this stuff goes away soon.

Mach71>  Gordo is looking good.  The straps look better with the MM paint, I think.  As I said before, Tamiya paints don't mix well.  About the lips, I figured you were just highlighting them with the red before applying a final skin tone.  Well done, anyway.

Not sure about the wash on the suit.  I tried something similar on the 1/48 scale astronauts in the capsule.  Had to repaint most of that with the orginal color!  Just didn't work out well.  Perhaps you can turn the trick where I couldn't.

As for silver, I've had more luck with the old "Testors" silver than anything else.

Bakster> Good luck with the canopy!  I've thought it's a good idea to make the fuselage part of the canopy so you don't have to fool with installing windshields that might get knocked out and inside the model, but it is something you have to look out for.

Progress Report:

At the moment, I'm attempting to make windows for the CM.  I tried some of the Testors Clear Cement and Window Maker stuff, but it was not clear on application and you could not tell if there were bubbles or not.  There were.  So I knocked those out and went with the tried and true Aleene's Clear Gel Tacky Glue.  Great stuff and crystal clear on application!  It's drying on the hatch window now and I'll get the other windows done one at a time.  I'll have to keep each window rather level to keep the glue from sliding or dripping, so it has to be one at a time.  Meanwhile, I've painted the CM windows black.  Not a standard paint scheme, but adds some highlight to an otherwise dull white.  The piece of tape on the hatch is to keep the glue in, of course.

Guess I really need to think about painting the nozzles for the CM's RCS.

Mission Director (GAF)

PS> Will be at model show "Phantom Phurbhall" tomorrow!

Today in Space History:

1948 April 5 - .

• XS-1 Flight 80 - . Crew: Lilly. Payload: XS-1 # 2 flight 35. Nation: USA. Related Persons: Lilly. Class: Manned. Type: Manned rocketplane. Spacecraft: XS-1. NACA flight 15. Engine failed to ignite. Propellants jettisoned, completed as glide flight..

1962 April 5 - . 18:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Edwards. Launch Complex: Hidden Hills DZ. Launch Pad: Edwards RW04/22. Launch Platform: NB-52 003.

• X-15A MH-96 test - . Nation: USA. Agency: NASA, USAF. Spacecraft: X-15A. Apogee: 54 km (33 mi).

  Maximum Speed - 4586 kph. Maximum Altitude - 54860 m. The X-15 was flown in a test of a new automatic control system to be used in the Dyna-Soar and Apollo spacecraft. The previous electronic control system had been automatic only while the X-15 was in the atmosphere; the new system was automatic in space as well. Air dropped in Hidden Hills DZ.

1967 April 5 - .

• Apollo 204 Review Board final report - . Nation: USA. Program: Apollo. Flight: Apollo 204.

  The Apollo 204 Review Board transmitted its final formal report on the fire to the NASA Administrator. The Board noted that the reliability of the CM and the entire system involved in its operation was a requirement common to both safety and mission success. It followed that protection from fire as a hazard required much more than quick egress. The risk of fire was only one factor pertaining to CM reliability that must receive adequate consideration. Design features and operating procedures intended to reduce the fire risk must not introduce other serious risks to mission success and safety.
  

1975 April 5 - . 11:04 GMT - . Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: Baikonur LC1. LV Family: R-7. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511. FAILURE: During second-third stage separation third stage failed to separate from second stage but still ignited.. Failed Stage: 3.

• Soyuz 18-1 - . Call Sign: Ural (Urals ). Crew: Lazarev, Makarov. Backup Crew: Klimuk, Sevastyanov. Payload: Soyuz 7K-T s/n 39. Mass: 6,830 kg (15,050 lb). Nation: Russia. Related Persons: Klimuk, Lazarev, Makarov, Sevastyanov. Agency: RVSN. Program: Salyut. Class: Manned. Type: Manned spacecraft. Flight: Soyuz 18-1. Spacecraft Bus: Soyuz. Spacecraft: Soyuz 7K-T. Duration: 0.0149 days. Decay Date: 1975-04-05 . Apogee: 192 km (119 mi).

  Carried Oleg Makarov, Vasili Lazarev for rendezvous with Salyut 4; but during second-third stage seperation third stage failed to separate from second stage but still ignited. The crew demanded that the abort procedures be implemented but ground control could not see the launch vehicle gyrations in their telemetry. Soyuz finally was separated from by ground control command at 192 km, and following a 20.6+ G reentry, the capsule landed in the Altai mountains, tumbled down a mountainside, and snagged in some bushes just short of a precipice. The crew was worried that they may have landed in China and would face internment, but after an hour sitting in the cold next to the capsule, they were discovered by locals speaking Russian. Total flight duration was 1574 km and flight time 21 minutes 27 seconds. Lazarev suffered internal injuries from the high-G reentry and tumble down the mountain side and never flew again. Both cosmonauts were denied their 3000 ruble spaceflight bonus pay and had to apeal all the way to Brezhnev before being paid.

1998 April 5 - .

• From the Earth to the Moon is released. - . Nation: USA. Flight: Apollo 11, Apollo 12, Apollo 13, Apollo 14, Apollo 15, Apollo 17, Apollo 7, Apollo 8, Apollo 9.

  Based on the success of the film Apollo 13, Tom Hanks was able to raise $ 68 million to film a television mini-series covering the entire Apollo program. The Apollo 13 episode marked the third fictionalised telling of the tale, this time concentrating on the media handling of the flight and the changing nature of television news.
  

GAF

Not sure about the wash on the suit.  I tried something similar on the 1/48 scale astronauts in the capsule.  Had to repaint most of that with the orginal color!  Just didn't work out well.  Perhaps you can turn the trick where I couldn't.

This is why I was not suggesting he do it. It would be trickey--but it ought be possible. The danger is as you say--having to redo the paint job. It is not for the faint of heart. Convincing washes can be tough to pull off.

GAF

I've thought it's a good idea to make the fuselage part of the canopy so you don't have to fool with installing windshields that might get knocked out and inside the model, but it is something you have to look out for.

What you are suggesting is not the case on this model. The crown of fuselage extends from the rear of the opening to over the canopy. There would be no need for multiple pieces to fall in as you are suggesting. The canopy would remain as one piece and there should be enough clearance to where it could slide underneath that crown. It would have been an easy thing to do. They had their reasons for doing it the way they did--but it is not the best way from my perspective as a builder. In fact--had I noticed this earlier--I might have fabricated it the way I envision it. 

Mach71: If you do want to go with a wash you could try a sludge wash. It's acrylic paint mixed with a little dishwashing detergent and water. The great thing about it is that if you don't like it you can just wash it off with soap and water. 

Bakster: Ouch! I hate it when they do stuff like that. Even if I use the same bottle sometimes I can't get the paint to ever match like it should. 

Gary: That looks good! Glad to see you got the windows in place and drying. 

For the suit I used Tamiya TS-17 gloss aluminum. Its a lacquer so I should be able to do an acrylic or enamel wash.

I've done washes before with mixed results. I was considering it on Gordo, but he is in a closed area. I still have time to decide.

Gary, 

Have you considered Micro Krystal Klear? I have used it for making small windows before with good luck. It can be time consuming though.

Bakster,

I'm surprised Eduards did that, I always think of them as high end/ well engineered kits.

Anyway,

I got a few decals on, and they are looking very nice!

I brushed on Micro Set, put the decal on, and then started with the Micro Sol. They are settling into the shingles nicely. 

Gamera

Bakster: Ouch! I hate it when they do stuff like that. Even if I use the same bottle sometimes I can't get the paint to ever match like it should. 

Bingo! You nailed it, Gam. Then by adding all that paint you risk getting a heavy ridge along the mask lines. This is not the way I would want go in such a visibal area. I have no choice but to deal with it.

Hey Mach, being a lacquer explains the nice finish. I tell ya. I am becoming a bigger fan of  lacquer with each passing day. I'd like to go with lacquer entirely if I could.

I am like you. I have had mixed results with washes. Like you said, you have time to think about it. And if you do go for it and it mucks up, much of it wont be seen.

Yeah, your decals look nice!

The Tamiya lacqure spray cans are great! If I can find the correct color I won't even break out my airbrush. This kit was made for them. Semi gloss black and red. Which is good because my paint booth and air brush are behind a bunch of junk in my garage. I was afraid I would not be able to get the heatshield done without it, but The cans worked great for that also.

I will dig it out my paint booth next week now that the warmer weather is coming. I have a new compressor I want to try out!

I finished decaling the capsule and the LES.

The decals are from Space Model Systems and are a joy to work with! The go one easy and hug down well with Micro sol. My only complaint is the Faith 7 logo is a bit light.

I've started on the retro pack with mixed results. 

It will work, but its not going to be easy. 

Oh well

Mach71>  It's coming along beautifully.  I'm sure you'll get he retro-pack decals sorted.

We have faith... 

As for me, the "tried and true" Aleene's didn't work so well.  When drying, it left a gap in the window.  I tried twice, but just couldn't get enough glue on to keep it from stretching.  Oh, well.  I'll drop back to plastic, and I've found a nice plastic bottle with some flat sides I can cut pieces out of and make fit.  Will take a bit longer, but probably not as long as trying to get the liquid to work.

Off to the model show tomorrow!

Gary

Sorry the Aleene's didn't work. Good luck with the plastic.

As I said, I've had good luck with Micro's Kyristol Klear for small windows.

http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MI-9

Please post some photos of the model show!

mach71

The Tamiya lacqure spray cans are great! If I can find the correct color I won't even break out my airbrush. This kit was made for them. Semi gloss black and red. Which is good because my paint booth and air brush are behind a bunch of junk in my garage. I was afraid I would not be able to get the heatshield done without it, but The cans worked great for that also.

Excellent. Yeah, for the scale you are working, that had to work perfect. I wish there was a line of lacquer paints I could get that are in jars, that offers a full range of colors, and that are more easily available to buy. I see that Tamiya offers a nice offering in jars, but access is very limited even through on line ordering. Bummer. Ah well.

Your "specimen" spacecraft is looking very good. Decals really bring things together. Keep up the good work.

Back from the model show, and I'm tired!  Sold a few things, bought a couple of items for which I was looking.  Nothing space related, however.  Took a few general photos, which I will have to download from my phone and upload online before I can post anything.  Just too tired at the moment.

Hope everyone had a good Saturday!

Gary

Bakster

 

Excellent. Yeah, for the scale you are working, that had to work perfect. I wish there was a line of lacquer paints I could get that are in jars, that offers a full range of colors, and that are more easily available to buy. I see that Tamiya offers a nice offering in jars, but access is very limited even through on line ordering. Bummer. Ah well.

Your "specimen" spacecraft is looking very good. Decals really bring things together. Keep up the good work.

 

Thanks.

Yah, it would be nice to get a full line of colors. I'll have to try the Tamiya bottles. I'm expecting they would airbrush even better than the rattle cans, and they would cost less.

Not much done today, I got some detail painting done and wiped the capsule down with a wet cloth to get all the setting solution residue off. Hopefully I'll get the capsule sealed with the semi matt clear monday morning. Then it should be final assembly for the capsule. The retro pack is moving slowly.

I'm off to work until tomorrow night, so thats it for now.

Gary, I'm looking forward to seeing your show photo's!

Hopefully I can get the Mercury finished this week, If so I got a delivery of the Pegasus 1/48 V2 kit. It's a simple kit, maybe I'll be able to get a 2nd kit done for the GB.

I'd like to build it as the V2 in the NASM in DC.