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1/144 AIRFIX Space Shuttle


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I've built a few Space Shuttles and they are all poorly made kits, lots of gaps and poor fitting parts, but, I get my funn in trying to make it look ... better.

I wanna give this a try ...

 

 

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I would like to have the Payload Bay doors open and an empty Bay ... this kit's PB comes loaded so I'll hafta cut it apart.

 

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I'll keep the forward and Aft bulkheads and rebuild the rest ...

 

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To form the Payload Bay, I formed a sheet of styrene, by dipping it in boiling water and wrapping it around a tube ...

 

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Two styrene circles will add a bit of support to the PB. They'll be glued to the bulkheads.

 

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A notch needs to be cut in the aft portion ...

 

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EVA windows have to be opened in the fwd bulkhead ...

 

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And it's coming together nicely ...

 

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... till next post ... 

 

IPD

Edited by Ima Penin Diaz
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Assembling the Orbiter. I should mention that this will be JUST the Orbiter, no SRBs or BIG fuel tank ...

 

Drilling out the RCS thrusters ...

 

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Needs just a bit o' putty ...

 

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Clamping on the wings ...

 

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To fit in the drogue chute compartment, I cut a notch in the tail ...

 

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Attached and the seam was filled ...

 

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The fit of the belly was what I expected ... a little filing and sanding and it'll look just fine.

 

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I fill some seams with small bits of scrap styrene ...

 

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Gap between fuselage and wings ...

 

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... filled with styrene strips. I'll wait till they're dry, trim 'em, sand 'em and because the PB doors will be open, it won't even be seen ...

 

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The poor fit of the chine will be filed down and sanded ... eezy peezy!

 

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Gap filling with scraps on the fwd bulkhead ...

 

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... and puttied ...

 

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And that'll do it for now

 

IPD

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New Ware has some PE for the REVELL Shuttle which I'll use for this Airfix ... the fit should be close ...

 

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Some filler after the first sanding ...

 

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Plugging some holes for the fuel on the belly ...

 

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Using New Ware's PE for the Payload Bay doors ... they look great, but are just a little short. Too bad they'll be covered up with Radiator panels.

 

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A map of the bulkheads was supplied for placement of the grab handles ... I cut it out and stuck it on ...

This is the Aft bulkhead

 

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And Forward bulkhead

 

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And the handles are on

 

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... and continuing ...

 

I marked the sections of the PB. I'll use styrene strips to separate 'em ...

 

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Some junction boxes made from bits of styrene ...

 

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... and attached. Along with some PE details.

 

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... added the rests for the RMS, the Remote Manipulator System or the Canadarm.

 

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I made a new RMS from tubing. The kit piece is below it. This way I can pose the Canadarm.

 

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This is moving right along ... thanx for visiting!

 

IPD

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The decals are a combination of the kit's and JBOT

 

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Masking ...

 

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... applying decals ...

 

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... decals for the blanket texture on the tail ...

 

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... the lovely belly decal ...

 

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... time to clamp the doors on ...

 

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... and almost done.

 

IPD

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...and Done!

 

This was a nice quick build and I quite enjoy building a Shuttle with the Payload Bay exposed.

All that equipment offers the opportunity to add detail. I don't understand the modellers who choose to display the Shuttle with the doors closed up ... yes, it's easier, but ...where's the fun?  :rofl:

 

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Thanx for visiting!

 

IPD

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That looks a fine job,very nice, I'm  about to attempt to build and polish up the revell 1/144 offering in the "kit you built as a kid " group build, I'm  hunting for tips, what decals have you used for the belly and cockpit screen tiles? 

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The decals were made by a fellow modeller on another forum and this set was a Beta test for him. He was creating these 3 or 4 years ago, wanted to check the fit and ... then life got in the way and he hasn't done anything further on 'em.

 

A few years ago, a modeller from UK, his avatar is Saturnapollo created some realistic looking belly tiles, but I think those too are out of production.

 

I'll take a peek at your GB.

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