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Apollo 17 LM and CSM in 1/48


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This is an eBay find and as you can see it was quite derelict.

It's the 1968 kit from Revell and was their 1/48 Apollo Lunar Spacecraft.

I'll cut out the SIM Bay and scratch build the components and accurize both the LM and CSM. I won't be using the SLA.

 

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This kit had an opening panel on the Service Module so that we could the internal fuel tanks ... this will be the SIM Bay.

 

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The Heat Shield wasn't included in this eBay find so that will have to be created. The SPS engine bell will need those 3 ribs removed too ...

 

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The Command Module had no hatch plus, it will be brought up to a Block 2 configuration. 

 

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I started scraping off the ancient glue ...

 

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The seams are amazing ... but it takes me back to when this kit first came out, I built the whole thing in an afternoon not being concerned with these seams or overall awful fit of the parts. This build will take just a bit longer to complete!

 

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I'll be using Resin and PE from New Ware ...

 

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That'll do for now ... till next post1

 

IPD

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Thanx for taking a look, TonyC and Michael!

I enjoy rebuilding an old, broken model. I don't try to be really accurate, but just scratch building enough to give the impression of accuracy ... something like the SIM Bay from scratch is quite satisfying.

 

 

The shelves for the SIM Bay were cut out ...

 

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The Command Module was disassembled ...

 

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... and 2 windows needed to be relocated. Using Dymo tape as a guide they'll be moved down a millimetre or 2. The umbilical connection was cut out as well.

 

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I had to sand off the surface detail on the top of the quad ... as well as all over rest of the Service Module's panels ...

 

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Mapping out the cut. I spent quite some time determining on which quad of the SM to place the SIM Bay

 

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Cutting a new SIM Bay.

 

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Removing the old RCS bits ...

 

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The nose of the CM had to be cut off by 10mm or so ... you can also see where I've removed the Block 1's umbilical connection and patched the hole with styrene.

 

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Clamping the SM panels ... 

 

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A new Heat Shield will need to be built. This is an enlarged sketch from Mike Mackowski's "Space In Miniature" series, I'll use as reference.

 

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After the nose was cut off, I used a disc of styrene to cover the opening. And due to the poor fit of the kit's parts, some sanding was required.

I fill wider gaps with scraps of styrene ...

 

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... and a new hatch had to be built.

 

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Till next time

 

IPD

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Making the SIM Bay, I used a couple kit shelves and made a couple of my own ...

 

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... dry fit ...

 

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The Heat Shield is next up. I needed a spacer between the kit and the new part ...

 

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The Heat Shield itself is stacks of styrene strip. A lotta test fitting and trimming was required.

 

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Scored the surface texture ...

 

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The rough parts ...

 

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A little filler ...

 

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Getting there ... the new umbilical housing was made too ...

 

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Still a lotta finessing to do, but this'll do for now.

 

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Getting started on the SIM Bay components.

 

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Reference images ...

 

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The foot restraint ...

 

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Still a lo-o-ong way to go ...

 

IPD

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Continuing with the SIM Bay ...

 

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...with some paint and foil ...

 

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... and dry fit into the SM.

 

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Starting on the docking Probe on the CM ...

 

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... and almost done.

 

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Then the Docking Collar ...

 

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There are gaps galore that will be dealt with ...

 

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Getting started on the LM ... by removing the hatch. It'll get replaced with a PE part.

 

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The new hatch is from New Ware and ... I didn't have to cut out the kit's hatch, this one just slipped right over it, and the fit is excellent!

 

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Shaving off the incorrect kit details.

 

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And giving the Resin and PE a cleansing bath ... 

 

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Till next posting

 

IPD

 

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Some Resin goodies from New Ware ...

 

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Cutting out the Rendezvous window ...

 

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... and with the resin installed ...

 

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... a little putty ...

 

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... the Battery installed ... just above my thumb.

 

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... starting to build the MESA ...

 

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Thick Aluminium Foil pattern ...

 

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... and attached. Notice the PE Radiator underneath.

 

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Installing the PE on the Landing Gear ...

 

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... and wrapping the Primary struts ...

 

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This seam on the SM was gonna be 'fun'. I need to prevent all the dust from getting into the SIM Bay ...

 

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Putty and styrene scraps ...

 

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Till next posting ...

 

IPD

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A fixer-upper for sure!

 

 

Masking off the SIM Bay so I can do some sanding ...

 

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Adding a strip of styrene to level out the rim ...

 

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It'll get filed and sanded soon 

 

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Added another spacer for the Heat Shield ...

 

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With the new Heat Shield and Resin SPS engine bell ... test fitting 

 

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Cutting a hole for the resin sextant ...

 

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The Resin casting had broken off so I repaired the lip with a strip of styrene ... the copper wire is my CA glue applicator

 

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Still filling newly discovered gaps in the Heat Shield ...

 

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... and attached to the Service Module.

 

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IPD

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Mapping out the location for the New Ware PE and Resin ...

 

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Attached the Resin radiators and PE ..

 

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This, in order for it to fit, needed to be cut out of the kit's SM

 

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The CMs hull glued onto the heat shield ...

 

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Then filling and sanding ...

 

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Adding the PE bits ...

 

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Getting there ... all the subassemblies dry fit.

 

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till next posting

 

IPD

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Brilliant, it makes me want to get my Dragon Apollo 11 Lunar Approach kit out and finish that off!

 

But then, I need to finish the 1:48 Canberra PR.9, the 1:24 Harrier GR.3, the 1:48 TSR.2, 1:48 Seafire XVII, 1:48 Spitfire Vb Trop, 1:48 Spitfire VII, 1:48 Martin Baker MB5, 1:48 Me 109E-3, 1:48 Bristol F.2b (possibly beyond hope), 1:72 Esci Bishop SPG, 1:76 Matilda II.

 

Then I want to build a series of 1:48 Hurricanes, Typhoons, Tempests and not to forget the 514 other kits that need to be built before I move on. Can anyone tell me who I need to speak to, so that I can live long enough to build all the above and all those kits that haven't been bought or released yet?:D

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1 hour ago, Tony C said:

Brilliant, it makes me want to get my Dragon Apollo 11 Lunar Approach kit out and finish that off!

 

But then, I need to finish the 1:48 Canberra PR.9, the 1:24 Harrier GR.3, the 1:48 TSR.2, 1:48 Seafire XVII, 1:48 Spitfire Vb Trop, 1:48 Spitfire VII, 1:48 Martin Baker MB5, 1:48 Me 109E-3, 1:48 Bristol F.2b (possibly beyond hope), 1:72 Esci Bishop SPG, 1:76 Matilda II.

 

Then I want to build a series of 1:48 Hurricanes, Typhoons, Tempests and not to forget the 514 other kits that need to be built before I move on. Can anyone tell me who I need to speak to, so that I can live long enough to build all the above and all those kits that haven't been bought or released yet?:D

I'm sorry to say there's no way you will, so you might as well send them to me.

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On 07/05/2020 at 18:02, GordonD said:

I'm sorry to say there's no way you will, so you might as well send them to me.

:whip: away with you, its my pension fund :boxing:

 

Well thats what SHTSSBO, fortunately she doesn't know the true cost of my little room!

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The only solution I see is ... less talk-talk and more build-build ...  😆

 

 

Adding some PE to the RCS housings ...

 

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Onto the High Gain antenna ... which need to be handbuilt. I used Mike Mackowski's CSM book and Vincent Means 3D views for reference ...

 

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New Ware's PE waiting to be used ...

 

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.... and done.

 

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... reducing the stash the only way I know how ...( hint hint        :whistle:    )

 

IPD

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Adding the large Radiator panels to the SM ...

 

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Added some rivets. They're Rivet decals from Archer.

 

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Adding some details to the Hi-Gain antenna ...

 

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Sprayed some Gloss Black onto the CM in preparation for some Chrome paint.

 

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White Primer on the SM ...

 

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Then Aluminum paint on the SM ...

 

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Masking the SPS engine bell ...

 

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Two tones ...

 

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And it's getting closer to completion ...

 

IPD

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Adding Decals ...

 

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I used squares of household Aluminum foil to indicate the access panels ...

 

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Almost Done ... 

 

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Making and placing the handholds on the SIM Bay

 

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There's another Heat Shield at the base of the SPS engine bell. This was made with styrene bits and Milliput and sanded to shape and covered with Gold foil.

 

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The scratch built Umbilical housing was shimmed and attached ...

 

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And done!

 

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I haven't yet decided how to display this diorama. The LRV is a 3D print from Vincent Meens ...

 

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On to the next build!

 

IPD

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