MarkD

I'm using a screen mesh for the black tiles as the two previous times I scribed them, they didn't turn out well. The white tiles are made using a drawn guide. You can see that in my recent photo that shows the ink lines on the wings. The diagrams from Jenkin's book are what I'm using to scrib the white tiles on the orbiter. Like you Discoveryov103 I've been in favor of the Monogram kit as it more resembles the real vehicle.

I noticed you don't have the AFRSI on the right side of the fuselage. The tile detail is visible.

Update: External tank completed. Left SRB being painted and Challenger as well. Scribbing the tiles is a pain, but in the end worth it.

I'll take all these tips and use them for the project. I'm currently making a sketch of the MLP to scale. I did look at Tom Murphy's model and emailed him for tips months ago. No reply from him. K2Pete I emailed Frank on help for my model. No reply yet. The Crawler? I once thought of adding this. The body of it is easy to make, my only problem would be the tracks. I would want it to move. Of course I did find a toy backhoe at the hobby store I go to that looks very realistic. The tracks of that move as does the rest of it. Anyway, if I was to add the Craler, I'd have to figure out how

Guys I'm planning to make one. Any tips or suggestions? I already got the scale for how big the MLP will be. 4.2 inches tall, 22.5 inches wide, and 26.6 inches long. The problem I'm stuck on is what is the spacing between the external columns that go on the outside of the MLP? Here is a sketch of a Saturn V MLP I made http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/339/d/d/saturn_v_lc_39_by_onigojirakaiju-d34amsz.jpg I'm also stuck on as seen in my sketch the height of the levels on the FSS. The diameter of the triangular bracing for each level? *shrugs* I'm starting with the FSS and MLP first as the

They do. I am still awaiting a reply from them on a request on decals. After that I'll order them.

A new photo showing the Challenger orbiter being built. The blue lines on the wings are to outline the tiles for the model. http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2011/279/a/5/challenger_model_construction_by_onigojirakaiju-d4bzcf8.jpg

I'll re draw Buran's wing using the image you posted. I'll try my best on building the new model after I finish my US shuttle fleet updating.

I assure you they aren't identical. Look again. This pic is what helped me in drawing the wing exact to scale. http://media.englishrussia.com/new_images/buran-11.jpg

Here is a sketch I did of the comparison of the US and Buran shuttle wings. http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/274/9/7/shuttle_wings_by_onigojirakaiju-d4bhzok.jpg

I do plan to modify one of the orbiters that will not be used with one of the stack kits I'm making and turn it into Buran. Here is my sketch of the wings. I used the kit's wing, as seen on the right and Buran's wing on the left. http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/274/9/7/shuttle_wings_by_onigojirakaiju-d4bhzok.jpg

Here is a photo showing the new PAL ramps installed on the ET. http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/274/f/2/et_pal_ramp_by_onigojirakaiju-d4bhzif.jpg

I'll try that.

You need to remove the LH2 gaseous press line. That was removed after STS-7.

Next week I'll post pics. I'm stuck on getting the lighter toned paint for the nose of the tank. For example this photo. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/STS-51-L.jpg I used this as a reference for my model. The main color I used is Americana acrylic Burnt Orange, the inter tank is rust colored, and the flanges that connect the intertank to the LH/ LO2 tanks and LOX feed line are a yellow orange. The lighter bands on the LO2 tank I am stuck on what to do. Any ideas? The AXM paper models reference says it's a tan color for the lightened version of the main color of the tank.

Update to model: Left SRB being built and painted. External tank finished. Challenger is being painted.

Well a digital camera does make the ET color look different. It's really more of a light brown color. I did once try to use Floquil's rust color for the main color of the tank, but it still didn't match the one photo that inspired this kit. http://space.about.com/library/graphics/nasa/shuttles/sts51l/ch13.jpg i tried mixing tan and yellow to get this color, brown and yellow, none worked. I just went instead with the burn orange color the kit suggests. I did notice when painting it, the paint looks much lighter in color, but darkens as it dries. I noticed that also with the Chrome Yellow on m

Awesome model there. :) That will help greatly. :) Here is a photo showing Challenger's external tank with that of STS-133 Discovery's ET. http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/264/3/7/two_ets_by_onigojirakaiju-d4aix1m.jpg

This model inspired my own 1/72 scale STS-51L. :) One tiny detail is the hatch tile pattern changed a tiny bit for this mission. http://www.axmpaperspacescalemodels.com/images/challast.gif Compare that to how Challenger looked on it's first mission http://www.axmpaperspacescalemodels.com/images/chal1.gif What did you use to get the lighter tones on the main color of the tank? For example http://www.axmpaperspacescalemodels.com/images/stack2a.gif

The burn orange is exactly that. I was at a craft store and stumbled upon it looking though the paint section. Given the model paints never have this color at all, I went outside the box. The only thing now is to add the lighter toned areas on the LOX tank on the orbiter side given the RSS covered some of the tank there.

The external tank painted up. http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/260/7/0/challenger_et_by_onigojirakaiju-d4a4ccl.jpg The lighter tones on the tank I mixed myself. As the kit instructions of paint, I used Burnt Orange for the main color and rust for the inter tank. The lighter areas like on the flanges and LOX feed line are my own mix of Chrome Yellow, tan, and orange. The orbiter is next. I already gave my opinion for the tiles.

With one of the orbiters I have not added into my fleet. I was thinking of converting it into Buran. Any tips or suggestions? The one area I am stuck on is the wings as they are wider than on the US shuttle.

That would work. :)

I never knew that. I will scratchbuild my own OMS engine nozzles given the headache people have gotten with the various resin parts that are to replace the original model kit's engines. A template from thin styrene and then make resin molds from that. I'm now drawing out the nozzle to begin this little project. I've heard the kit's bay is narrow at the mid point along the bay's length. Speaking of the bay I am having trouble with my older models. The doors will not fully close. My photos of my models show one door slightly open. For example you see this on Discovery in this old photo http:

I have the Monogram kit. Yeah, I know of RSM's upgrade kit,but I wish to try scratchbuilding my own. The best part being I have enough to make an OBSS to go with the kit's RMS. For my older shuttle kits that I put with the payload bay shut and in launch position I never ever build or used the payload bay parts. So I got some leftover parts. This kit will be the what was proposed OV-106 and have chosen the name Intrepid for this on orbit shuttle orbiter.