Space Shuttle Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6

[roma847]

Thanks for your nice comment, I fully agree with you.

And this madness could also be topped and would even remain in scale.

As you can see in the picture, from the inner tubes are running still thin wires, I suspect ignition electrodes of the spark generator, or something like that.

Source: NASA

I have now made ​​my fun and estimated its diameter. If I take the diameter of the inner tube with 0.5 mm as reference, the wire diameter should be around 0.08 mm. And introduce yourself, I've actually found in the thinnest litz wire (0.6 mm) I have, a very thin copper wire of this diameter, hard to believe, but true !!!

Such a small wire I threaded into the tube (0.5 mm) and the sleeve only slipped provisionally around, ignoring the concentricity of the tube in the sleeve. And this pic came out here.

Although the autofocus of my digicam in this macro shot in artificial light so had its problems, one can perhaps see the little wire in the inner tube, I hope.

Edited September 16, 2014 by roma847

[roma847]

Hello together,

so now I have to go to the sleeves and small tubes, and later perhaps also to the little wires in the tubes, of which here already one (0.08 mm) is threaded in the right tube, actually, but probably hard to see, right?

Next, the sleeve was glued with CA on the base plate, which appears oversized from this near anything, so do not be fooled.

And here's the fitting on the LOX-TSM.

So far, so good. But before I now insert the mini-tubes, I started with the holder of the LH2-TSM. To fix the center bar this time I have taken a mini-magnet which is more practical than a tape-strip.

And this works really great,

and nothing can slip more!

For sticking the sleeve also one needs firm support, so therefore in the vice, but be careful!

And in this position, I now have glued the two tube-stubs (Ø 0.5 mm, 2.3 mm) with CA and of course put the magnifying glass.

And so the ROFI looks initially at the LH2 TSM, here without the little wires, but so far pretty good.

And already at this distance, you can see that one can hardly recognize something from the small tubes, and later of the little wires certainly even less ...

But the heck with it! In close range you already can recognize and that's enough for a quiet conscience.

[roma847]

Hi all,

I want to briefly report how it went with the ROFIs. Meanwhile, I have completed the rear ROFI for the LH2 TSM according to the same procedure.

The gluing of the supposed spark plug wire I have for now postponed. Since I'm namely not quite sure if that really are during launch off or not, especially since there are also pictures where the cables are not implemented.

Source: NASA

Therefore, I have asked at the overseas friends (NSF Forum) whether maybe someone can answer. Perhaps the ROFIs are armed ​​only before the launch and inserted the igniter with the cables etc..

So I'll wait for any answers that could maybe even clarify, and have now started with the front ROFIs (see pic above). Whose structure is relatively simply, as shown in the following pictures, and was carried out in a manner analogous to the rear ROFIs.

The tiny strut I could just hold with the tip of the tweezers yet to stick.

The hardest part was gluing the short tube (2.3 mm) in the sleeve, that's actually jumped out of my tweezers, but fortunately I was able to find it on the floor yet.

And here is the fitting on the front of LOX-TSM to see where the ROFI is only once placed provisionally.

And tomorrow I'm going to install the feed pipes.

Edited September 20, 2014 by roma847

[Kallisti]

Marvellous! Glad the carpet monster was starved of his snack!

Edited September 21, 2014 by Kallisti

[roma847]

Thanks Kallisti.

Hello guys,

let the sparks fly, these ROFIs hold me up quite nicely, but I pull now through, with or without ignition wire.

Therefore, here comes the second front ROFI before I'm out of practice.

Thus the ROFIs now would be half finished, only missing the feed pipes on the rear side.

And so now I have made ​​further with the front ROFI of the LOX TSM. The pipe is made ​​of 0.4 mm copper wire that can be bent nicely. And the little gray disc becomes the connecting plate of the pipe.

Since the front ROFIs only have a relatively simple pipe, I will install this now but before painting. Then I can glue the complete ROFI after bonding the support brackets and then put the ladder on top of it.

And so does the fitting on the TSM, and I would think that fits quite well.

The rear bend of the pipe is still too long, and if you look closely, it looks as if the pipe in the middle slightly beveled to the TSM wall.

Source: NASA

I could maybe adapt something.

[noeyedears]

Silly question, what does ROFI stand for?

[roma847]

Hello,

I had already briefly explained on page 7, #132.

These are the the so-called Radially Outward Firing Ignitors (ROFI) for flaring possibly emanating hydrogen from the SSMEs, at T-10 sec be ignited before lift-off and sprinkle like burning sparklers, which can be seen at the beginning of this impressive video (YouTube) from Endeavour's final launch (STS-134).

Source: NASA

[roma847]

Hello folks,

and here we go, the same parts I needed again for the second front ROFI. For the second base plate I first had to make a new punching tool,

and then bending the supply line and cutting rings for the union nuts. Before fitting the rings I have this slightly widened.

And then I have the supply lines modified and adapted a bit.

After that I have bent on the TSM-template the inner line from ​​0,4 mm copper wire, where I proceeded step by step. The difficulty here is that the supply line is relatively small and must be made two bends in tight spaces.

Thus, the following bow of the line up was pretty tricky, because he could be only a skimpy millimeters.

The line runs between the service hatch-box and the ladder, as seen here,

Source: NASA

and this fits quite well so far.

The next bow runs now right to the ROFI holder and is also relatively short.

And now the last cut only follows, then this supply line is finished,

and can be tried together with the ROFI.

As you can see, the front end is still too long and needs to be filed down slightly. But as the two parts fit together already quite well.

Now the same procedure is carried out only laterally reversed for the supply line at the LH2-ROFI as long as the work routines are fresh.

[RichO]

Mr. Bender,

Very nice details with the ROFI's!! Very fine work!
I had a question about the ladders that you have used in these photos. I know about compromising with materials and scale, so the question is just to bother you a bit. Sorry.

When I look at your NASA photos I have noticed the the ROFI, in the photo, is placed between the fourth and fifth ladder rungs. On the model, the ROFI is placed between the eighth and nineth rung!? It's just the PE ladders that you had nothing to do with the designing of. I just thought I should give you a hard time about it.

Great job, can't wait to see all the ROFI's installed and the TSM"s in place!! Keep modeling my friend!

[roma847]

Hi Rich,

thank you for your words of appreciation.

Your eyes are still good, and you have correctly observed. But without my reference photo you had had no comparison and probably not noticed, right? But I show you these photos anyway, because I have no problem and no secrets, and everyone should be able to compare my model with the real thing at any time.

But the explanation is quite simple, this difference is reduced to the PE ladders. While the width is about right and corresponds to the width of the service hatch-box, as you can see, the rung spacing is smaller than for the original ladder. But those are the compromises that I have to live, no problem.

[roma847]

Hi all together,

I would rather still remain on LOX-TSM and continue with the outer supply line of the rear ROFIs. It goes to the right and then in a double bend upward.

And here already together with the ROFI to the test on the template,

and here on the TSM.

As you can see, the line but hanging down above, whereby everything has slipped somewhat. This shows that these test fittings are quite a stressful affair already and not work the first time around. But one needs to check the situation of these small parts already accurate and correct if necessary, when everything has to fit together correctly later.

By supporting this looks better. And now is missing only a short arc to the right up to the base plate.

From the arrangement it's okay, just above the line is slipping too far inwards, because there simply is missing support.

Now I must not forget winding up the union nuts, and then missing the base plate and a small bracket on the inner line.

[RichO]

Nice bending Manfred, very cool looking.

[roma847]

Thanks Rich, and therefore on to the next round bending.

Since the test fitting of the supply lines but was too stressful under the ladder at TSM, I have come up with another solution on the TSM template without a ladder and some balsa strips used as backing. Then, the lines can still place much easier and align. Because at these small dimensions one have to try a few times, whether agree the lengths and possibly correct the bends minimal until then everything fits properly.

As union nuts but I will now use the smaller rings, because they fit somehow better to the 0,4 mm copper wire, and also at the junction of the lines to the base plate is only very little space.

The threading of the rings was again as a test of patience ...

Here one can see that the rings form a contiguous region.

The ROFI lines on LOX-TSM would be so far finished and could be painted. Therefore let us go on the LH2 TSM, only the lines are just reversed.

That was again the same procedure as on the other TSM and started with the bending of the lines on the TSM template.

While this may seem like a no-brainer, these hand grips require a full concentration, patience and tact.

But as the first line already fits quite well to the holder.

[roma847]

Hello friends,

today on our public holiday just a small next step, the other ROFI supply line at LH2 TSM still missing.

That's it, see you soon.

[RichO]

It's almost time to send these to the paint shop, then install. I think these will look realy cool, and always, add more detail. If you think ahead, like I do, whats next? The water bags? Can't wait to see what comes next. Great jod Manfred!!

[roma847]

Hi Rich,

you hit the nail on the head, I've already rung the paint shop up, the guys are waiting for my ROFI parts and mix even the colour.

Thereafter, the ROFIs will be mounted, and the ladders be installed at the front of the TSMs.

And then I'll go back to the SSWS pipes and the water bags.

Edited October 3, 2014 by roma847

[roma847]

Hi all,

it is still not quite done, so continue with the nice ROFIs. And therefore once again previously the obligatory test fitting on LH2 TSM.

So, and these are now all ROFI parts that can now go to the paint shop.

And so now to the ladders on the front of the TSMs, which indeed still missing, and for that I must first again glue the support brackets, of course, again with spacers, everything as usual ...

but with a tiny difference. The ladders on the front are longer and go down to the SSME-Blast Shield. Since there the service flap box is at the end, the lower support bracket can only stand on one leg, which one can see here.

But this is a fallacy, because on one leg can not stand long anyway, especially not secure enough.

Good thing I have ever looked closely. Because as you can see on the next picture the ladder at the end is standing on two legs too, as it should be, only the support looks a little different.

The red arrows indicate the second last and the last strut pair, and the green arrow points to a support plate which is welded just above the Blast Shield on TSM. At this plate second strut is mounted, here still obscured by the thicker tube,

Source: NASA

but as you can see better from the back.

Source: NASA

So I have to modify the lower attachment still, accordingly, let's go the whole hog.

But for a positive feeling I ever get the front ladder and the ROFI placed provisionally,

what it looks quite passable, I think.

Edited October 10, 2014 by roma847

[noeyedears]

Awesome job on the piping, ill bet there is a shedload more of that to come too eh? you are crazy but i love it

[roma847]

Thanks for your nice words, I can understand what you mean.

Hello folks,

this got me no peace left with the mounting of the ladder at the bottom. And because in my mind I'm already back at SSW, suddenly pictures attracted over in my mind's eye from the time before my brutal demolition of the SRB-Holes, when I had already thought about myself intensively.

In NASATech.net there are great panoramic shots of the branched pipe system that is installed around the two SRB chambers. But much less images can be found by the pipes and spray nozzles which are arranged around the front SSME chamber because there usually the service platform is hanging in it which covers everything else.

But then I got from a friend from the ARC Forum a few pictures without this platform where one can see the front pipe system very well. These images I have now tracked down, and they confirm my guess of this particular ladder support on the lowest rung.

What is only hardly to see on the rear view,

Source: NASA

here in the side view is very nice to see in detail how the inner strut is attached to the triangular support bracket.

Source: NASA

And while looking at this image you can clearly see that the pipe coming from behind through this lower pair of struts up and runs behind the ladder to the right. And therefore I can attach this holder only after the installation of the lower pipe at the foot of TSMs. But postponed is not abandoned.

So it can now go on with the support brackets for the ladder on the front of the LOX-TSM, here again with spacers,

and here without.

And also the test fitting of the ladder above the ROFI fits again.

And now I can even look in the paint shop, whether the guys have already started, or still stiring the colour.

[roma847]

Actually, it would have been ready to start painting, but then a little detailI still noticed.

In this picture some time ago I had shown the additional rungs above the TSM-ladders, I've meanwhile upgraded.

Source: NASA

However that is MLP-3 at the last Atlantis mission (STS-135) and not MLP-2, which was at the STS-6 in use and has some small differences. And one of them can be seen here in this image of the final mission of Endeavour (STS-134), when MLP-2 was also used.

Source: NASA

Since there is an additional angled rung, so to speak, as a transition from the ladder to the top four rungs, and this rung can not be missed.

And so see the sprouts from 0.2 mm brass wire.

The location is a little tricky, because the rung with the angled foot is standing on the upper end of the box and the other a little lower on the TSM wall. At the point is hardly any space, but when I try my best, maybe it might work.

Therefore I have the holes again carefully prepunched in a proven manner with the acupuncture needle, here on the back of LH2 TSM.

And here the rung already is in place.

And on the front it has worked too.

And here, finally, the rungs on the LOX-TSM.

And thus all ROFI parts together with the rungs finally can go in the paintshop,

the guys are waiting eagerly namely.

[RichO]

Beautifull work Manfred! It sure seems like it has been a long haul to get to this point, the paint boys have been waiting for like, about a year and a half to paint those ladders! LOL I know with a little prep work the TSM's will be installed, but I'm guessing not untill after the SSWS pipping and water bags have been finished. Really, we can't wait to see what you do next.

[roma847]

Thanks Rich for your nice comment as always.

You have to have patience, and remain always nice curious. There may be surprises again and again.

[noeyedears]

Dont worry ill keep watching, i am fascinated by this.

[roma847]

Beautifull work Manfred! It sure seems like it has been a long haul to get to this point, the paint boys have been waiting for like, about a year and a half to paint those ladders! LOL I know with a little prep work the TSM's will be installed, but I'm guessing not untill after the SSWS pipping and water bags have been finished. Really, we can't wait to see what you do next.

Thanks Rich,

you're still a prankster, but I really like your sense of humor.

Imagine, after the first double-ROFI the gun was clogged and the guys have thrown the towel, holy cow!!!

Tomorrow they receive an official warning.

[roma847]

Dont worry ill keep watching, i am fascinated by this.

Thanks noeyedears for your nice words and continuing interest.

Don't worry, I know how Rich means that, and so we make fun with each other frequently.

BTW, but this tiny stuff is every day a new challenge, and sometimes there are for me still surprising insights when I discovered new special details such as this additional rung on MLP-2. And so there will be some more surprises on the TSMs, even though I thought I was already at the end.

So much I want to bespeak, since there are two tiny details that also interest me yet, let yourself be surprised and stay tuned ...