|
|
Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration
, Moderators
Joined: 5/22/2008
Posts: 340
Points: 1,296
Location: in front of the computer
|
Here goes folks. I've just recently started the Revell Germany 1/144 full stack and MLP kit. Lovely boxart, Nice kit (until you realise the moulds are older than the real Shuttle), Superb decal sheet (Aftermarket quality, worth the price of the kit itself). All in all good value. Having been lucky enough to be standing on Cocoa beach when Endeavour blasted off on STS-134 (and have the T-shirt to prove it) I'm eager to get this one done as she was that day. I am planning to do as much as I can OOB, and concentrate on getting the markings/paint as close as I can rather than significant scratching/modifications. Most people who will see it won't even know there is more than one orbiter. However..... Am I the only one having serious fit issues with this kit? The ET wasn't too bad after a light rub down of the mating surfaces, but the seam is still pronounced. It's like there is a ridge of plastic all around the outside of the mating edges and not just on the tank.   The SRBs fit well, along their length, where they touch. There is a slight warp that will even out with clamping, but there is a significant gap on the skirts around the SRB nozzles, and I can't see a way around it. It's almost as if they are short-shot.   The fit on the orbiter is even worse. The main halves mating edges are not straight, especially along the underside. I've filed as much as I dare to remove the flash/moulding imperfections, but I don't know now how much of the gaps that remain are due to excessive plastic that still needs to be removed or where there is plastic actually missing. The wing fit has been improved by trimming and filing the mating surfaces, and also the mating area where the wings meet the fuse. However, there is still a horrendous seam along the bottom of the wing/fuse joint, again where the plastic seems to have a rounded, almost melted edge. The lower fuse halves have different thickness plastic, combined with a very small contact area. The thickness difference makes it difficult to use bracing strips, as no matter what I try I have a significant step on the outside. Answer? Lots of filler. Here it is after being partially rubbed down.    
If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you'll be amazed at the results. George S. Patton This space is for rent.(Sshhh! Don't tell the Revenue Commissioners, the IMF or the Dept of Finance, or they'll tax my stash!)
|
|
Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration
, Moderators
Joined: 5/22/2008
Posts: 340
Points: 1,296
Location: in front of the computer
|
The wing fit was improved by gluing the wings on before the fuse halves were assembled. This will allow me to get max pressure to the upper wing joint without fear of damage to the fuse joint. I concentrated on getting the upper seam right and keeping the filler for the underside. Trying to figure out how to get the payload bay doors on. Fit is ok at the top (edges are actually straight) and the positioning of the doors themselves are in line with the rest of the orbiter. But I have an almost 1mm gap along the bottom of the door on one side and 3/4 to 1/2 mm gap on the other. While the orbiter side of the joint is a straight line, the corresponding door side is not. A wavy line that would not look out of place on a gull grey/white E-2 or F-14. I can't just shim it as it isn't straight, and if I just use buckets of filler I'll lose any impression of a hinge joint. e.g.    So I took file in hand, took a deep breath and filed away as much as I dared to get a straight line on order to fit a 1mm shim cut from a sheet of plastic card. Some cursing and filling later, here's the result.    Almost ready for primer.  
If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you'll be amazed at the results. George S. Patton This space is for rent.(Sshhh! Don't tell the Revenue Commissioners, the IMF or the Dept of Finance, or they'll tax my stash!)
|
|
Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration
, Moderators
Joined: 5/22/2008
Posts: 340
Points: 1,296
Location: in front of the computer
|
Painting started. For something that starts out an overall uniform tan colour, the ET does require several different shades of paint by the time it ends up on the MLP.  Likewise, the SRBs have at least 3 versions of white and 2 versions of tan. More pics next time..... Stay tuned!
If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you'll be amazed at the results. George S. Patton This space is for rent.(Sshhh! Don't tell the Revenue Commissioners, the IMF or the Dept of Finance, or they'll tax my stash!)
|
|
Rank: Jedi Master
Groups: Member
Joined: 2/9/2011
Posts: 495
Points: 1,400
Location: Naas
|
Looking good, and looking like she's fighting you! But it'll make the end result all the sweeter! J.
On the bench -
Revell 1:72 F-16B
Completed builds
Click here
Coming attractions -
Eduard 1:48 Bf 110 G-4
Academy 1:72 F-22a Raptor
Tamiya 1:35 T-55a
Moebius 1:128 Seaview
|
|
Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration
, Moderators
Joined: 5/22/2008
Posts: 340
Points: 1,296
Location: in front of the computer
|
Ok, no updates for a while but I was going somewhere with it. I thought I might have it finished in time for the nats but I decided I didn't want to rush it. So here's the latest...  got the Mobile Launch Platform painted and last bits together. This is really only an approximation of what a real MLP looks like. The original is 1/3-1/2 as big again, being originally used for the Apollo program. However, it is fine for my purposes as a display base and looks slightly more interesting than a plastic or wooden square.  made an attempt at weathering which wasn't entirely successful...  The two angled stands are positioned as per the instructions, but don't exist on the real thing. However, as I was planning to bring this to the comp and have it entered as OOB, they were fitted as intended. Checking the rules for the categories, there is no differentation between OOB or superdetailed in the Space/SF category. So they will be coming off and replaced with a scratchbuilt pair of service towers. The two grey boxes either side of the orbiters main engines seen in this photo;  (Photo credit; NASA)
If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you'll be amazed at the results. George S. Patton This space is for rent.(Sshhh! Don't tell the Revenue Commissioners, the IMF or the Dept of Finance, or they'll tax my stash!)
|
|
Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration
, Moderators
Joined: 5/22/2008
Posts: 340
Points: 1,296
Location: in front of the computer
|
I've finished painting the ET and SRBS. Clipped together here, I reckon I now own shares in Tamiya for all the masking tape I've used. I'm happy with the result though.  I still need to add a few patches of yellow to the top, just noticed...  This particular tank was damaged during Hurricane Katrina but repaired for flight status and used on STS-134, hence all the patchwork.  And the other side...  The photo flash tends to washout the various whites used on the SRBs.
If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you'll be amazed at the results. George S. Patton This space is for rent.(Sshhh! Don't tell the Revenue Commissioners, the IMF or the Dept of Finance, or they'll tax my stash!)
|
|
Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration
, Moderators
Joined: 5/22/2008
Posts: 340
Points: 1,296
Location: in front of the computer
|
Got paint on the orbiter as well, and then got ahead of myself with decalling.. I've experimented with trying to create a representation of the tile effect. The longer the Shuttles have been in service, the "whiter" the underside "black" tiles have become. To their credit, Revell Germany's painting instructions advise this and also to give a soft demarcation edge between the underside (belly) and cheek (fuse sides) "black".  I could tell you how I did this, but then I'd have to kill you. Suffice to say it involves Bare-Metal Laser Printer compatible decal paper and the latest generation brand new top-of-the-range colour laser printer recently installed in a certain working environment, and night shifts.... Close-up...  More soon. I've 3 various shades of white already on the Orbiter, and looking at the NASA pic above, I've at least two more to do before I put any more decals on it........
If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you'll be amazed at the results. George S. Patton This space is for rent.(Sshhh! Don't tell the Revenue Commissioners, the IMF or the Dept of Finance, or they'll tax my stash!)
|
|
Rank: Glue Sniffer
Groups: Member
Joined: 9/7/2008
Posts: 58
Points: 77
Location: Edinburgh Scotland.
|
As a big Shuttle Fan I have long searched for a good way to do the tiles, There have been many shortcuts and highly complicated ideas out there but yours is definetly one of the better, I like that you took time to reference the tiles around the gear doors that are replaced very mission and the propellent belly doors. Great patterns and the whole application to the underside looks very good. What was the underside painted with before application of the tiles?
Plenty of the Shuttle Backflip pictures allow for a very good wethering of the heatshield, many are available from a simple google image search.
The Orbiters are very battered and used pieces of equipment, A heavy hand during weathering might be a good option.
As a paper modeler the pattern looks very familiar, :)
Excellent work
Regards
John
|
|
Rank: Jedi Knight modeller
Groups: Member
Joined: 10/9/2008
Posts: 140
Points: -485
Location: Waterford
|
Beautiful job Roy must have taken ya ages ! The tiles look a1.
Donncha
Remember - If you spot someone in trouble at sea, inland lakes and rivers, on the cliffs or coast, even if you 'think' that someone may be in trouble , dial 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard. If you are in trouble at sea, call on VHF Channel 16, MF 2182 KHz or use DSC.
|
|
Rank: Jedi Master
Groups: Member
Joined: 2/9/2011
Posts: 495
Points: 1,400
Location: Naas
|
Ah, that's excellent Roy, it looks great. From a selfish point of view I'm glad you didn't have it finished for D1 this year or my Tardis wouldn't have done as well! :) Keep up the great work and keep posting up pics! J.
On the bench -
Revell 1:72 F-16B
Completed builds
Click here
Coming attractions -
Eduard 1:48 Bf 110 G-4
Academy 1:72 F-22a Raptor
Tamiya 1:35 T-55a
Moebius 1:128 Seaview
|
|
Rank: Administration
Groups: Member
, Moderators
Joined: 9/13/2008
Posts: 239
Points: 215
Location: Cork
|
Cracking job Roy! She looks class so far. The tiles look really good! Are they a copy of the OOP Leading Edge decal sheet or your own work?
Five or so shades of white on the orbiter... good stuff! Really looking forward to seeing this in the flesh. Must have a chat to you about it on Saturday.
Cheers
Vinny
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-Albert Einstein
|
|
Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration
, Moderators
Joined: 5/22/2008
Posts: 340
Points: 1,296
Location: in front of the computer
|
Starting to look like a shuttle.....   Was fun trying to get all this lined up at once... still not convinced it's right....  Have to stop getting ahead of myself with decalling, more paint is needed on the white areas.... (yellow white, grey white, off white.... oh dear, I'm starting to sound like an interior designer.... 
If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you'll be amazed at the results. George S. Patton This space is for rent.(Sshhh! Don't tell the Revenue Commissioners, the IMF or the Dept of Finance, or they'll tax my stash!)
|
|
|
Guest |
