Altair Moon lander,scratch build

[jetboy]

HELLO,
Got a little bit done tonight,but as usual things dont always go together like they ought to,or they dont fit how my mind sees them?what a week to give up crack cocaine,thats all i can say.ok,i,ll try and explain whats going on,as i go along?? does that make sense in the real world or just in jetboy,s?

so heres where i left off,building a mock up so i can experiment with different approaches to building the ascent module engines/frame /fuel tanks

this is a cradle being cut to sit on the side pieces

now to fit the fuel tanks so they sit outside the cradle,i have to raise up the module,so i just put some straight legs on

didnt like how it sat,so removed the straight legs and 45 them,and sat at the angle of the frame

much better

should of cut the legs at 45 for the bottom to fit straight on but forgot,so having to cut them now..

cut and a quick sand

and its level, bonus

cut and fit some stretcher pieces,for crossways with a half lap joint at each end to sit on the upright rails.

photobucket playing up,bye for now

cheers Don

[jetboy]

HELLO ,SORRY ABOUT THAT,

OK I,LL CARRY ON,

so it sits a bit better now,

now to play with the module fuel tanks,i need to sort these before i paint them..

making up a pin and plate to slot into the dowell through the tanks to allow me to fasten some sort of cradle for the tanks,

marking up,and decided where i can fit two tanks,hit and miss,but hey ho..

just thought id try the mesh floor on the lander ,to see if it fit

drilled and cut some square dowel,and fastened it in the drill holes,

These rods will support the fuel tanks whilst i build a cradle around them..

i just thought i would try the orion capsule for a fit to the lander airlock,as i had guessed the finished size,and whoah it FIT....

not looking too bad

so its back to cutting the other side supports as there is two tanks each side

airlock made out of pipe needs some detail on it yet,but its a lucky fit

just trying a couple of tanks for size,before painting,you will notice ive put flat bottoms on them for ease,and i want to fit some engine pipework to them..

so four tanks to fit

ok thanks for looking,and perservering,

cheers Don

[Pete in Lincs]

Well, I'm still with you so it can't be that complicated for others.

Just thought, Don't forget to hit the poundshop for cheap tree baubles.

In different sizes they'll be good for tanks etc on future builds.

Pete

[jetboy]

HI PETE,thanks for that,is it actually looking ok,as no one seems to comment on here?for some reason,martins been round and commented but input is in tumbleweed country,does it look as it should,im biased,comments always welcomed,and yes to the pound shop idea,though i have stocked up on ping pong balls,and intrestingly the little bubble floats for fishing,which come in a mindboggling array of sizes?also they have the added bonus of having a lip around the centre...fun fun fun

cheers Don

[Pete in Lincs]

Bubble floats you say?

Daughters Boyfriend is a fishing person. Hmmmm

And Yes, It's looking good.

I'm impressed by the use of the bubblegauge.

I wouldn't have thought of that.

And yes, scratchbuilding is a bu**er for using up deskspace.

You have to force yourself to be methodical and have frequent tidy ups.

Pete

[jetboy]

HELLO,well what a week to give up crack cocaine and nicotine?hows things going don,well its taking a bit longer than i thought don,but it is getting bigger,why do these things seem to take over,you just cannot put them down once started???

ok bubble floats 4 for a quid,more with them later.

better ping pong balls 6 for quid,these accept glue better..

ok main fuel tanks painted,ist coat

right back to the hab/ascent module,i need to attach round fuel tanks to the side of this,

also need to make some sort of frame to hold the main descent engines under the main body

trying different engines,martins models have a good selection,heres the gemini titan engines,glued some plastic to the end,so i can put it under the main frame

rough posistion of the engine brace/frame

making some sides as blast deflectors on the engine frame.

cutting the bubble floats up ,as on the hab sides there are hempispheres as tanks.

cover the half,s in foil ready to paint gold.

engine frame/with sides on

covering the frame,in foil,prior to painting

where its going eventually

putting some primer on the lander prior to foiling the legs etc

ok back to the hab/module it needs some detail adding so i can get it painted,then start and put all the bits together,as some bits are foil,some painted,and some painted foil,i cannot assemble,until each bit is done?

marking up where it needs some ribs putting on.

and a bit more,just dont know when to stop

another coat of primer on the lander.

and a bit more ribbing

need to fit some attachment points now,so i can build a frame/cage around the fuel tanks.

stick some dowel in to attach to

right,where to put the attachments.

drill a hole for the block to sit in.

trying the tank for size,and posistion

worked out the attachment blocks need to be bigger,to fit around the tanks

thats better

make three each side

just trying to work out all the sizes etc,as i go along..ok thanks for looking,i know its a lot of pics,but its big.

cheers Don

[jetboy]

HELLO,I KNOW its pic heavy,but ive taken them,so might as well use them?

si im on with the side tanks and frame,i cannot build them in situ,as a lot of painting to be done,so i have to make it so i can assemble later,after painting,but i have to assemble it to build and get the sizes right,oh its too much of a dilemma....

two tanks per side..

frame needs to built around these,ive painted myself into a corner on this one..

frame built as i go along..

this is how it will sit on the legs..

repainted and glued the fuel tanks for one side

got to make these four booms now for the manouvering engine,they have to stick out on booms so they miss the lander legs/frame

painted the mesh for the legs,can you see it,

trying to work out the required length of the booms and how to attach

looking more like a tuna boat...

at the end of the booms it needs a block with the nozzles on

nozzles out of sprue, sharpened, cut and drilled.

how its going to sit

making the booms up

one side on,i have to fit the tanks before i fit a cradle around the tanks..

the other side now, start with the L shapes to hold the block on the tank bottoms

putting the ribbing on the hab

making this sides attachment blocks

trying for size again

right need to do something with the main engines,

blast plate needs foiling

end result

right back to it

thanks for looking theres a lot of foiling to do now...

cheers Don

[Nwanda]

I just love the use of pick me up bits and pieces - modelling for a recession

[Pete in Lincs]

Don,

It's not everyone that has a Shinden Kai hanging up

in their spraybooth. Love that aircraft.

Mind you, I love the Sky Crawlers version more!

Those bubble floats. Spitting image of Ma.k

Anti grav units. Thanks. Must get some

For the next project.

Keep it coming. looking good.

Pete

[jetboy]

HI,PETE,ive no idea what,anti grav units look like,but glad your happy with that one?right back to this project,im so fed up with,im going to erect a special bench this weekend for these sort of projects,my three benches/workspaces just cannot cope with all the mess/clutter,assoc with this scratchbuilding malarkey.even of that,i wont even mention bob dylan,....

What a week to give up crack cocaine and weed?and now bob dylan.....ok so how far have i got with this,and does it look like it should????well,it does to me,but its dragging on a bit,its because of all the foil painting/drying,and having to do certain bits before starting the next bit,its not my modus operandi.this is where i left off,doing the main descent engine assembly..

and thats as far as i got with the ascent module..

ok putting some stalks on the descent engines,and making a smaller frame for the ascent engines

painting up one of martins models orion capsule,engines im using for the ascent engine.

need some more gold foil doing,using quite a lot on this..

back to the hab/ascent module

put first coat of paint on

the frame the hab sits on..im putting some gold foil on the back,as blast protection

the other side

ist coat of sky blue on

right ,on with the hab frame,descent engines,btw are martins models gemini engine bells,and the ascent engine

put some mesh in the hole

frame to hold in the mesh

ah?now its dried,you can tell its blue??

mesh in place

frame in

now how can i make these legs look better???

these are all the main bits,got to make some sense out of these now.doh?

so starting to cover the dodgy looking joints

after much foiling and gluing,gave the frame its final coat?

not too bad

ok, ascent module going white now.

putting some silver foil on the support struts,for variation

yes,thats white

cutting some stretchers for the hab support frame

ive decided i need some colour variation on this thing,so making some red foil,to make some stripes/strips

need to fill in some gaps on the ascent module,so i can get the engine frame attached

ok,thanks for looking,might get it finished this weekend???

cheers Don

[Pete in Lincs]

And all built in 12 square inches of cutting mat.

Coming along nicely.

Now I know where you get the engine bells.

And the gold foil. I was going to ask.

Cheers

Pete

BTW

Bob Dylan -Things have Changed. The only one of his I like.

[jetboy]

hello,

These are the last pics i will be posting,as ive just broken my second camera this year,it fell off the new clean bit of bench,with the lens open,its now kaput?so i managed to get these pics out before i dumped the camera.

so ,i decided to scrap the flat bottomed fuel tanks,in favour of a rounded tank,both ends,which means shortening them slightly,and a new ping pong ball,

so altering the tanks.

so chop a bit off,which i will use somewhere else,and redo..

so pack out the body with tape,then foil,ready for painting

now i have to get on with the lander engine frame,so i can get the tanks on.heres the heat shield fitted..

overall view of my new scratch space

fuel tanks painted and waiting,got some brass bar for the lower legs.

need to get these engine bells on here somewhere

not a lot of room to work really,so decide to cut the top platform off

thats better. a bit more room to work

trying to work out the spacing on the tanks,to allow the engine frame,a bit of room in the middle

making some lickle tank tops

got to allow this engine bell,enough room,when sat above,to sit here nicely

making up various oxygen tanks etc

ok back to the main descent engines,and how to fasten them to the lander,heres the lower frame

gecided to drill some holes to accept a vertical frame as a start

using the old lander legs,as a frame

how it will sit in the middle

make some plates for the frame sides,big enough to hold some engine bits

plates on

right drill the heatshield to accept the four engine bells..

and build a support,for the bells

ok engines on,now for some ancillery bits

engine bits,painted awaitng,?

brass lower legs in place,very strong

frame in position

ok,no camera,so i will post some pics whenever,thanks for looking.

cheers Don

[Pete in Lincs]

Oh come on!

Damn that gravity!

Here's hoping Santa delivers a new camera for you.

The double ended tanks did look better.

Hopefully we'll get to see a finished product eventually?

Regards

Pete

[jetboy]

thanx pete, no camera. no modelling, i.ll have to go out and make all that dirty beer disapear?

might srart the new one,with the orion capsule,now ive got some brass tubing,as it will be heavy,too much weight for the plastic legs,?and your so wrong on bobs best song,you cannot beat, bob dylans 115th dream or gates of eden,depends which mood im in?though mainly cannot get enoughof the 115th dream,makes me smile everytime i listen to it...so,see you next time i post,

cheers Don

[jetboy]

HELLO, tell you what,its looking brill,im even proud it,i like the way the light reflects off the fuel tanks,and catches the flags of the world,highlighting the nations that will of built this craft,cos i dont think America,s got the bottle to do it by them selves,

so on with the upper section now,i just dont know when to stop?

thanks for looking pete.

cheers Don

[jetboy]

Well what a palava that was,which is why there is only 2 pics..

thanks ,

Don

[jetboy]

well,i,ll go to the foot of our stairs,

new camera turned up,its wonderful to have a supportive partner,just a pain i had to go through six of them,and 36 years,ah well theres always the next life? so more pics coming?dont run and hide,i know who you are???pete/martin..

[Pete in Lincs]

I do have to sleep/eat/go to work you know!

Back in the morning.

Pete

[jetboy]

HI, Now with all that hot vimto out of my system,where were we,pete your the only one following this,where am i ?

ok putting the platform back on..

thats a 1/72 airfix lander next to it for size?

retrying the mesh for size

decided to scrap the first version of the ascent vehicle support stand,going for a girder mesh version.

by this time i thought sod it,and take up surgery instead,but that did,nt work out too good either?

bench is getting full now as well,now onto my third work station?

building a top frame for the blast chute top

making the ascent module frame/ stand up,and painting it

gluing the mesh to the platform finally..

decided these silver frames are not right to hold the tanks,so removed them

and decided to build a frame holder instead,tubular..

which will hold the tanks like this?

arghhhh,my head urt,s

so this is how the top of the blast chute,at platform level will be?

filling all the bits in with scrap,

put some angled sides in to deflect the engine blast off the ascent module,as all the parts left on the lander are reused in other projects.

this was going to be the third go at tank supports?

dont know how this got in here?

got me pics in the wrong order,hang on, in case you dont come back,thanks for looking ..

cheers Don

[jetboy]

Well,Hello, The good news is it,s finished....but looking at this thread,its not,blame the man flu/hot vimto/my giving up the dreaded weed/giving up crack cocaine/all in the same month,.the poor fool,plus work has now become part-time,lol.chrimbo nearly upon us?.well who cares,is my mantra..on with this build,as my first big build ,scratch,made up as i went along,im quite pleased with end result,though you cannot see that yet??

so how far did i get,before succumbing.....

platform and mesh on,i was starting version no4 of the side mounted propellant tanks on the hab module/ascent vehicle..as above,finally settled on the tubular type.About this time,it was dawning on me,how big this craft is,and in the photo,s im counting 21 steps to the platform,its a fair old height,i decided then,this needs a crane/lift etc to load/unload the big items,and this crane can only be made on site,with all the parts off the automated previous landers which have brought the mining gear for helium/air production,so i made a lunar fork truck out of bits off the auto landers?does that make sense to you?...

so went away from the jib idea on the platform,as being to fixed,in the lunar arena,things will have to have more than one job,to justify taking them?

so the crane was out

so ive gone for the masted fork lift truck type thing...the mast being the framework off the auto landers

playing with the idea of a moving tube for the fork mounts?

so the body is a frame off the tank area

then i decided it needs to be bigger,so two bodies

base for the body,is the propellent tank base,s

joined by a frame

never Never throw odd bits away as they become vital...

so start and flesh out a bit..

stick any old bits on,see where it goes...

as this vehicle will have removable wheels as the hab units have,so they can be reused elsewhere..putting some axles/and mudguards on

need to start thinking about the base as well...

and trying to put some intrest in the engine bit of the ascent module,just keep trying things for visual impact?

got a broken cutlery holder out of the dishwasher,which i used for a paint mask on the auto lander moon rover wheels.thought i would find a use for the triangle things..

as this lander,has the ascent module above,the main platform,it needs a 2nd/3rd story building for astronaut egress/ingress

so leftover mesh from the frying pan spatter guards...

2nd stage platform,the side of the shuttle crawler leftovers

some legs for the 3rd stage as well..

back to the ascent module,and its spidery booms for the directional thrusters which i removed to make it easier to paint? doh!

making the thrust deflector plates out of bent plastic,they look like plectrums,really...

in place,with the pencil sharpened sprue,nozzles,and some resin ones from martins models off the orion capsule kit

so making the plectrums,

started to make the access ladder as well...

so something like that..

so started to put a bit of weathering on the underside while i could still handle it,just a black paint with thinners left to dry after slapping on,then removed with a cotton bud,and pound shop sticker glue fluid remover ,works for me.

ok back to the fork truck...

bodys with some detail on

decided to go with a fixed mast,no sliding bits...sorry

so making the forks?

and lifting plate

so these bits to go on yet

fit one of the auto landers telescoping legs as the hydraulic bit

slap some white on

getting the main mast ready

pads and feet fitted as the wheels are removed,when i use

for size against the auto lander

not looking too bad for scrap

just sticking bits which ive no idea what they are on?

making a few more bits to stick on...

so ive lost some of the latest pics somewhere,i will try to find them,thanks for looking.

cheers, Don

[k5054nz]

I've just found this thread and read it from the start. What amazing work! bravo, Don! What an inspiration.

[jetboy]

well,k5054nz. Thanks for the kind words,

Hi, im resisting temptation to post the pics,of the finished lander,until i can do the base,for the pics?so i cracked on with that last night,the previous base,i made for the auto lander,i just glued straight on the insulation board,with this i thought i would try and put some depth to it,by having a sub layer,but then thought,well its a landing site,its bound to be sparse and featureless,so it become a quandary,...so i went for a soft option.....a gentle undulating moon meadow,........get a life don,i went for the easy option?

a one kilo block of modelling clay,air drying,cost around 3.99,been in my stash since last year,time to use it up?as it was double bagged,since i opened it and kept in a plastic lunch box,i was pleasantly suprised to find it still mallaeble,happy days...

so marked out where the lander going to sit,

clay

rolling pin out,

then tried to mould a terrain suitable?

leaving hollow,s for the landing pads and the landing blast crater..

moulded some old crater sides sticking up,

i thought id put some wheel tracks in the clay to show through the dust,but in end they did,nt show up well,due to the amount and grading of my dust,i tried...

drying nicely...

put it on the radiator,it was dry in an hour,

main ingredients for lunar detritus,cheap horrible coffee,you would,nt give to a visiting BM member,its that orrribul?.coffee for the larger bits,and for the fine dust,chocolate milkshake powder,lovely texture and graining...

so first off,spray with carpet glue,which is what ive got lying around..then build up the coffee,in the bits that are going to be rougher.

fill in with the finer milk shake powder,here the first layer is on,then ive spayed black paint on around the landing area,in a star pattern then glued again,and added more powder,looks ok from here?

so needs painting now,ive just sprayed varnish over the whole lot,and plonked it back on the radiator to dry.makes a change from my jeans?

just giving some astronauts some new clothes,very rough,mind you,i might redo them at some point???

so end result,waiting for some paint,otherwise it would be MARS,...its lonely here..

ok thats your lot,just some paint on now,the finished pics will be in the finished section,later,thanks for looking,even though,youve not said much,but hey ho..just got to put my on-line subscription in for my fav weekly,as its nearly another year...

ok i,ll be off, thanks again for looking....

cheers,Don.......ps can you see in the advert....whats missing.......yes Space,its that old,its not even thought of?

[christof]

Just caught up with this thread. Some extraordinary work there.

Christof

[Pete in Lincs]

Great scratchbuilding, Don.

Looking good to me.

Pete