RichO Posted June 21, 2014 Share Posted June 21, 2014 Hi Manfred,Well it seems that you are between a rock and a hard place! I do not envy you on this one. The uneven surfaces will defenetly create a challange. But I know you are up to it, so full steam ahead!!BTW, the TSM's look fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted June 21, 2014 Author Share Posted June 21, 2014 Thanks Rich for your encouraging words, but the ladders are really a tough nut to crack, but I'll still crack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted June 25, 2014 Author Share Posted June 25, 2014 (edited) Hello folks, today I once tried the transparent template and started the piercing for the support brackets on the LH2 TSM. In order to position the template exactly as possible next to the pipe bundle, I have them cut on one side about 1 mm from the pre-punctured row of holes, In order to reasonably safe handling, I had to put the TSM in a proven way flat and clamping the holding arbor in my special mount and additional support at the left end. Then I first pre-punctured the outer base point for the lower support bracket 3 mm above the TSM bottom and fixed the template on one side with a steel wire (0.3 mm). After alignment of the template then the outer base point for the last upper support bracket was pre-punctured and also fixed with a steel wire. In this position, I then carefully pre-punctured the remaining base points, so as not to slip. And this hole pattern was the result, and so roughly, I had imagined the procedure, although a little tricky, but doable. Then came the LOX TSM to the series. This has on the outside also a ladder with center strut, only the free space here fortunately is somewhat larger. Otherwise the procedure is the same, so first marking the base points and then pre-puncture the holes with applied template. And here the first six of the nine support brackets are temporarily plugged. So far for today with the first piercing round. Edited June 25, 2014 by roma847 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 MANFRED,Great job on the placement of all these small suppot rungs! It makes me wonder where else you might have any piercings. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 Thanks Rich for your encouraging words, which give me new motivation to struggle with these elaborate details on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noeyedears Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Great idea on the template for the holes. that has been stored for future use! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 Hello folks, despite the hot k.o. matches at the Soccer World Cup that keep me pretty from building, I want to send a small sign of life from the TSM building site and show that it continues, albeit slowly. After I started to insert the first six support brackets for the ladder on the outside of the LOX TSM, the missing three supports are now temporarily plugged that are not yet glued in order to test the ladder fit. And with the ladder placed it actually looks quite good, I think. Although the seat is still not precisely fixed, the distances between the support brackets agree quite well with the rungs, respectively, and that makes me hopeful for the final assembly after painting. Speaking of paintwork, the guys in the paintshop but have actually made an operational break to let supposedly change the filters. Well, who's believed ... World Cup is only every four years. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share Posted July 9, 2014 Hello all together, in order to bridge the time before the semi-final showdown against Brazil tonight, here a few quick pictures of the other ladder preparations. After I made the fitting of the ladder on the LOX TSM yesterday, here is the test on the LH2 TSM. For this, the support brackets were inserted into the pre-punctured holes again and their height balanced with the spacer profile. And this ladder lies good so far on the support, as you can see. So, now I must come to the ladders on the service-flap boxes, which are much less accessible for marking the holes of the supports with the help of my template. To place the template on the narrow boxes similar to the side faces, I had to devise a suitable support for the TSM again. So I've made ​​two spacer blocks made ​​of balsa, a longer part that fits with height just below the box, and a second part as support on the TSM top. The lower side is as usual fixed by the holding mandrel clamped in the vise. And so the TSM should then lie reasonably stable to apply the template and pre-puncture which each 12 holes for the support brackets, because a little pressure is necessary to apply when pre-puncturing the holes in the balsa core. That is all for today. And last not least, our Team Germany has made ​​history tonight and sensational sent home the host Brazil 7:1, unbelievable but true!!! F I N A L Thank you friends for the fingers crossed. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 Today is the big day, GO TEAM GERMANY!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted July 13, 2014 Author Share Posted July 13, 2014 Thanks Rich, Yep, I hope you press us all thumbs. I have a good feeling that we will pick us the fourth star!!! May the better team win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted July 13, 2014 Share Posted July 13, 2014 It looks like the better has won! CONGRATULATIONS to Team Germany!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted July 13, 2014 Author Share Posted July 13, 2014 Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah, we got it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted July 15, 2014 Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 Hello dear friends, thank you once again for all the good wishes and congratulations. On days like this, one wishes for infinity ... In this sense, cheers on a horny World Cup with our team and the 4th star! BTW, there is still place for the 5th star ... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 Thats right, where's our beer? Cheers to Germany's win. Five stars next time!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamS Posted July 16, 2014 Share Posted July 16, 2014 I hope that horny means something different in Germany to what it does in the UK.......... Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted July 16, 2014 Author Share Posted July 16, 2014 Thats right, where's our beer? Cheers to Germany's win. Five stars next time!! Thanks Rich, you know, we would like to drink together with you, so let us drink to your health! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted July 16, 2014 Author Share Posted July 16, 2014 I hope that horny means something different in Germany to what it does in the UK.......... Graham Graham, I hope you understand what I mean, if not, you can translate it with fantastic, outstanding, amazing, cool, awesome, overwhelming, that's just an expression of pure joy ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted July 20, 2014 Author Share Posted July 20, 2014 Hello all together, yep, hard to believe but there is actually also a life after the awesome World Cup, and therefore it should now go on totally relaxed, especially since nobody can take away from us the 4th star. And so now to the final countdown with the TSM ladders on the service-flap boxes, at which I am afraid that their assembly probably could be a little tricky because of the different lengths of the support brackets. Here you can see both TSMs with on-hook ladders, and if you look closely, perhaps can be seen that the ladder on the right TSM is longer than the left, and this has its good reason. How fortunate that I have again looked at the original photos exactly, because the four PE ladders for the boxes I had already cut, and indeed all of the same length, and I've been always emanated from this image here. Source: NASA As can be seen on the ladders extend on the rear of the TSMs approximately over the length of the boxes, since the pipes of the SSWS run underneath. But on the TSM front the ladders extend up to just above the SSME Blast Shield and are thus a bit longer, which I only now became really clear. Source: NASA Just as well that I have compared again and was able to correct. Next, I've made two sketches with the positions of the base points of the support brackets for the front side (left) and back side (right), and thus created transparent templates for puncturing the holes for the base points. With the the template for the front side then I punched out the two outer base points and located it with pins. Then I've punched out the remaining four holes on the box. But now came the more complicated part of the exercise, the puncturing of the holes behind the box. In order to avoid any possible shift of the template, I have first fastened it in the holes on the box with acupuncture needles (0.2 mm). Then I've gently punctured the holes behind the box. Then I trial basis plugged into the first support bracket, which can be seen here with the spacer, and here now freestanding. Well, that was actually a pretty tricky business, but all in all quite feasible. Long enough I had fiddled at the solution, now I have to repeat the same act "only" three more times ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noeyedears Posted July 20, 2014 Share Posted July 20, 2014 ladders!! who knew they could be so much trouble Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted July 20, 2014 Author Share Posted July 20, 2014 Yep noeyedears, I would not even let me dream at first, but the more difficult the situation, the greater the challenge for me for finding a solution. Nothing is impossible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted July 23, 2014 Author Share Posted July 23, 2014 (edited) Hi folks, it still goes on with the ladders, on and on ... Today, I have now tried on the remaining 5 support brackets on the front, but I can tell you, my nerves are slowly bare. As has been found out quickly, the holes punctured with the 0.2 mm diameter acupuncture needles were too small for the insertion of the 0.2 mm support brackets, so funny as that may sound. But there is just not enough clearance for moving the longer and the shorter bracket legs into it. On the one hand, on the other hand I also had to find that the holes were not punctured deep enough so that the brackets could not be pushed far enough up on the spacer (1 mm), and have been partially bent. That's why I then used a steel wire (0.3 mm) and punctured the holes a little bit deeper into the balsa core, after which the insertion of the brackets was a little easier. But still you have to be extremely careful here that you do not bend those thin things. You need just for everything only a certain amount of practice, but as soon as I luckily give not up. And in the end I still have placed the ladder in order to get an overall impression. And ever seen but not bad, right? But, all this was only just dry firing, the sticking of the supports and of the ladders with CA glue after painting then certainly becomes the highlight, before I shudder to think already now ... But since I have to go through, no matter what the cost ... Edited July 23, 2014 by roma847 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted July 26, 2014 Author Share Posted July 26, 2014 Hello together, above each ladder on the boxes, there are still these additional 4 rungs here, making a total of 16. And these rungs I'll still need to install before mounting the ladders, as long as I can lay down the boxes on the balsa block. Because if they are then attached only once, nothing more is with touch or lay down. Source: NASA Also for these rungs I made myself a little template for puncturing the holes, because as from the cupped hand is nothing at 2 mm sprouts width and 2 mm spacing. And then I have bent the 16 rungs from 0.2 mm brass wire. Then came the tricky application of the template and puncturing the holes, but this time all in the smallest space. As you come quite nicely into trouble with the needles, as you can see. And here are the first four rungs are trial basis inserted. Dealing with these tiny rungs in the tweezers is somewhat arduous, and before you know it, a rung is sometimes disappeared never to be seen again, but with the necessary calm and patience that's still doable. As far as short for today, then all a great weekend! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted July 30, 2014 Author Share Posted July 30, 2014 Hi there, now also the back of the LOX TSM got adapted the four upper rungs. That's it for today. I'm today namely stumbled upon picture material from the first shuttle years (1981-85), which I did not know, and had naturally to spot and then back up what even so takes time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 These things take time Manfred, do your research and show us your great modeling skills when your ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted August 1, 2014 Author Share Posted August 1, 2014 Hello friends, on the merry acupuncture! Caution, today it's really going under the skin! There is missing still a lot of holes for the support brackets and rungs to the TSMs, and since only help acupuncture needles and a steady hand! Since these fine needles (Ø 0.15 mm) can bend it very easily when puncturing the holes, it is advisable to puncture first with a slightly thicker needle (Ø 0.25 mm) in a solid holder, and then the applied transparent template with the acupuncture needles to fix hole for hole. With the stiffer needle in the holder succeeds much better, especially the holes behind the box perpendicular puncture down and not obliquely to put what is important for uniform spacing of the rungs-foot points. On the front of the LH2 TSM I had started this ordeal, and therefore it was now with the acupuncture fresh and lively on the back on a total of 12 needles for the 6 support brackets of the ladder. And here's the same procedure on the front of the LOX TSM, but the differences presumably probably will not notice, and here on the back. It is important to sufficiently deep redo the holes, in order to later facilitate the insertion of the support brackets, here on the front of the LOX TSM, and here on the back. I know that these images are quite confusing and your patience have put to a severe test. But that's still not enough, now there are the holes for the missing rungs on the LH2 TSM, both on the front, and on the back. So, folks, I hope that it doesn't tweak somewhere under your skin, but it's now the end of the acupuncture spook, and if I have not miscounted, that was a total of 52 holes. Okay, I'd have you also can save all and should present only the fully assembled ladders, but then you would have escaped some of my stress and strains. BTW, I now have during posting itself must be careful to not confound the images because of the many needles ... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now