RichO Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 OH MANFRED! The things we do for our craft!! A lot of holes, a lot of needles, fronts,backs,..it makes my brain hurt sometimes. You are doing an amazing job with this build my friend, just keep building and sharing the photos. We want to see it all! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted August 1, 2014 Author Share Posted August 1, 2014 Thanks Rich for your kind words. Yep, this is really a nice but crazy stuff with which we spend our free time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted August 2, 2014 Author Share Posted August 2, 2014 Hi there, after all the holes for the support brackets of the ladders and rungs were punctured, today I wanted to glue the rungs final. First, I have bent the remaining rungs of the LH2 TSM, and subsequently inserted. As the spacer, this time I have used a profile 0,75 x0,75 mm, because these rungs sit slightly lower than the ladders. After all the rungs were fixed at the same height, I have removed the spacer, and the rungs dabbed at the base points with CA droplets and glued it. So everything was now ready for the lacquering of the rungs. Then I picked out my finest brush and carefully painted the rungs with freshly diluted paint. This went relatively well, although I had to aim at the feet of the rungs very closely with the brush tip to paint not the surrounding area. For this job I needed again the headset magnifier and a sensitive and quiet hand. But with the result as far as I can be quite happy, I think so. And thus a small step is done again and I can now move on to painting the ladders, what I will do, however, with airbrush, because the brushing of perceived 1000 sprouts I will not expect me really. In this sense you all a great weekend, see you soon. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Anxious to see how the Paint Dept. dose with the ladders. Not to worry tho, they will turn out great. I was thinking that you have been building these TSM's for pages now, and maybe almost finished? No matter tho, they are turnning out beautifull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSTON Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Manfred, OMG!! SPECTACULARLY DONE so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamS Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 This is another of the absolutely fab builds on here. Stunning stuff. Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 Anxious to see how the Paint Dept. dose with the ladders. Not to worry tho, they will turn out great. I was thinking that you have been building these TSM's for pages now, and maybe almost finished? No matter tho, they are turnning out beautifull. Hi Rich, tomorrow there is a large-scale operation in the paint shop and I hope that the guys will finally paint all ladders and support brackets. But then a very hot action is waiting for me, namely the tricky mounting of the six ladders on the TSMs. But I have to consider before even a clever sequence, because with the mounting of each additional ladder the TSMs are becoming unhandily. But this is still not the end, because if the six ladders are attached, then these four ROFIs here are still missing, the so-called Radially Outward Firing Ignitors for flaring possibly from the SSMEs emanating hydrogen, at T-10 sec be ignited before the lift-off and sprinkle like burning sparklers. Source: NASA But these are truly the last parts of the TSMs. If it's only already so far would be ... But that reminds me just in time that is not true indeed, because then are still missing the Umbilical connections between the TSMs and the orbiter, which I have almost forgotten. Source: NASA But they will initially be placed on hold until the shuttle stack will be finished and I can define the locations and distances of the TSM's final. But this is again a chapter in itself, as I then also have to install the support strut(s) in the TSM(s) holding the stack in the balance ... Therefore, all in good time, step by step ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 Thanks Houston and Graham for your kind words. Your compliments are a nice reward for my work and motivation to keep going at this level, what I'm going to try. These details are really a lot of tiny stuff that cost a lot of time, and also the search for these details on close-up photos. It may be a little bit crazy, especially at this scale, but I like this tiny detailed stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted August 5, 2014 Author Share Posted August 5, 2014 Hello together, as previously announced, it went further today with the painting of the ladders. Here you can see the prepared parts, I have fastened with Patafix on toothpicks. These are at first the 6 ladders for the TSMs with the associated support brackets that you can hardly see. Then there was still the first series of lampshades for the MLP, which was prepared for a long time, and were painted together now, let's go the whole hog. And now could follow the first airbrush pass with gray, here the pictures in sequence without big words. Tomorrow then follows a second pass, and then it should also be enough with the paint. So far it seems to become not bad, I am hopeful. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted August 7, 2014 Author Share Posted August 7, 2014 Hello folks, yesterday the guys in the paintshop have done a second pass with this stuff, which should now be enough. Not exactly brilliant however was the separation of the ladders from patafix because residues partially still remained attached to the rungs which only hardly could be removed with tweezers little by little. Therefore need to be retouched some places a bit after assembly here and there. But with the long ladder I had already times make a first fitting on the LH2 TSM, because I was simply interested in the visual impression, and it looked promising. Next, the support brackets followed and had to be glued into the prepunctured holes, what I had already practiced several times "dry", but this time, now finally with CA. And that went bracket for bracket : First of threading the feet and wetting by acupuncture needle with CA, then slide the spacer and insert the bracket up on the spacers, and then remove the spacers again. And then came the next bracket, admittedly a somewhat tedious exercise, but what the heck. Here you can see the last bracket before wetting the feet with CA, which slightly protrudes further out. And finally all nine brackets were glued, and so now finally ready for the ladder. And it looks like this on a trial basis, and results in an entirely coherent overall picture, I think. Now I have "only" to glue the ladder on the brackets, and I hope that it will succeed me. And that inevitably arises now the question is whether this effort has really paid off with the PE ladders. But please judge for you, so the TSM would look with the Plastruct ladders, which I initially wanted to use. So, just as well that I have accepted this challenge, because that would probably still have been a bit too much break in style beside the thin pipes, or what do you think? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickpadwick1801 Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 This looks absolutely great, I can't believe the amount of detail that you are putting into this. Keep up the good work. Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Vale Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 The metal ladders are vastly better than the Plastruct option - all that hard work is so worthwhile! Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted August 8, 2014 Author Share Posted August 8, 2014 Thanks Rick and Will for your recognition, of course, I also think that the effort has really been worth it. Then, when the other two ladders are also still be installed on the boxes and the TSM is then standing, it should already be quite a sight, let's wait and see it. Yep, many details are at this scale at the limit of what is possible, but so far I've done it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 You can guess what I might say about the ladders. The PE ladders are much more elegant and much finer detail. The paint Dept. did a good job and the delicate nature of the PE matches the abstract characture of the TSM's very nicely. Great looking TSM's!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 I've just discovered this & I've spent a pleasant hour or so catching up with your work. Very impressive, you obviously have a great skill, very nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted August 9, 2014 Author Share Posted August 9, 2014 Thanks Rich and Phil for your kind words. Yep, the PE ladders are the way to go, they are really very delicate but also very fragile and look great on the TSM beside the thin pipes. BTW, from the scale both ladder types are about the same, but the thickness is the main difference. Since the PE ladders with 0.1 mm thickness are very close to the real thing, while the Plastruct ladders with 0.7 mm are simply too thick and do not fit optically into the overall picture. Although it was a hard piece of work, and still is, it was the right decision. Thanks guys for your continued interest and kind feedback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted August 11, 2014 Author Share Posted August 11, 2014 Hi there, after the support brackets on the LH2 TSM were successfully installed, I have continued on LOX TSM to not get out of practice. I went back to the same procedure, inserting the brackets and bringing with the spacer to the same height, and then gluing. After that was done, I looked at the fitting, if the distances of the supports coincide with the respective rungs, which fit quite well so far. And so it was ready to start now with the gluing of the ladders, before what I have been scared stiff so far. Before applying the glue I have carefully located the ladder with tape, so it can not slip when gluing. And then I dabbed the first two brackets at the top under the ladder with CA and slightly pressed the ladder, which glued immediately, luckily in the right place. And so it went on to the lower bracket, and finally the top two angled ends were glued. Thus the first ladder was finally firmly glued and I could now stand up the TSM and viewed relaxed from all sides. How do I find the overall picture can be seen, at least I had it all imagined at the beginning. At the brackets under the rungs as well as in some other places I still have retouched something, and that's about it. So friends, this positive impression gives me real boost, so it can go on with the same ladder on the LH2 TSM tomorrow. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noeyedears Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Those ladders look freakin awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted August 12, 2014 Share Posted August 12, 2014 Beautiful work Manfred!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted August 12, 2014 Author Share Posted August 12, 2014 Thanks Guys for your nice compliments. Let's go on, now the long ladder is to install to the LH2 TSM. The support brackets I had already glued, so that only the ladder had to be glued, which has worked quite well. And so the panoramic view looks without much deviation. Well, and also from the side this couple looks very nice, right? And in contrast to the rustic Plastruct ladders these PE ladders fit now great with the other details. And for a change, here's another size comparison that is perhaps clearer than ever this cent coin. Tomorrow I'll try my luck with the ladders on boxes, which are those with the different length feet. For their assembly I've been thinking that it is useful first to put the ladder on the back of the box, because then I can use the front of the box or as additional support, but which is then unfortunately occupied. But for mounting the ladder on the front of the box I can hang up the TSM on the back above the head, because there are no pipes, as opposed to the front, which is therefore not suitable as a bearing surface, what is essential to note. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted August 15, 2014 Author Share Posted August 15, 2014 Hello all together, today the ladder on the box of the LOX-TSM is to be installed, first on the back, as already described. First I've inserted the support brackets up to the spacer, and then fixed with CA. Here the ladder is provisionally placed to check the distances of the supports that fit quite well, and here it is already glued and also sits quite well. So, that would be also done, now only the slightly longer ladder on the front of this TSM is missing, but not for long. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted August 17, 2014 Author Share Posted August 17, 2014 But before that I have yet installed the rear ladder on the LH2 TSM. Here are the already known steps in the picture, the support brackets with spacers, glued with CA, and the ladder fitting. So, and now it is (hopefully) fixed in place and can be climbed. And so is the back of the TSM's now almost complete. Now only missing the ROFIs (Radially Outward Firing ignitors), whose task I had already briefly explained. Source: NASA Here on this amazing panoramic picture you can see both versions clearly, the simple ROFI front and rear the double, and you can scroll from one to another TSM around. Source: NASA These things are quite small, but I will try anyhow and gather the stuff I need. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Good luck finding some small parts for the ROFI's. I know how you are tho, you will use some found objects to build these I'm sure! Also I noticed that in your photo of the TSM's (with the red arrows) that the LH2 TSM has a retaining loop around the two pipes at the center top that I don't see on your model. It almost looks like a vertical ladder rung? Anyway, just an observasion. The build continues to inspire us all. Great Job!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbojones Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 This may sound like a very stupid question but is this a scratch build, or the Revel Kit. - Mind blowing work you have done, a true pleasure to read and over look all you have done, absolutely brilliant. Hope to see more of this build very soon. Jamie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roma847 Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 Good luck finding some small parts for the ROFI's. I know how you are tho, you will use some found objects to build these I'm sure! Also I noticed that in your photo of the TSM's (with the red arrows) that the LH2 TSM has a retaining loop around the two pipes at the center top that I don't see on your model. It almost looks like a vertical ladder rung? Anyway, just an observasion. The build continues to inspire us all. Great Job!! Thanks Rich for your nice words and a compliment for your watchful eagle eyes. This elbow pipe that you see was a part of the SSWS that did not exist in this form on MLP-2 during STS-6 and was retrofitted later there, as seen here at this image of STS-51F (1985). Source: NASA BTW, you've guessed it, I just try some variants of the rear double-ROFIs, but it's very tricky stuff, but you know me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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