MarkD

I could use the chrome yellow for the main color of the tank, like I've been using on my other models. And a sort of rust tone for the intertank. I'll see on mixing paints. Add some tan to the mix as well.

There are some great reference photos at http://mafet.org/pptamaf.html'>http://mafet.org/pptamaf.html http://mafet.org/

I just ordered another stack kit in 1/72 scale and am planning to make this one Challenger. Though for the ET color it doesn't look all rust colored, save for the intertank. What other colors would work? This is the color I'm looking to replicate. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Challenger_STS_51_L_launch.JPG http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Space_Shuttle_external_tank_assembly_08.jpg

When it comes to aftermarket stuff to add to model kits, the point of those is to make the model to look more like the real thing.

Nah on Ebay. Niart17 I am curious on that. :) I am painting mine on my new orbiter using the screen mesh to get the tile shape. It's the only 3D tile look I got other than the tedious scribbing technique I once tried, which look like garbage. I ask on the decals as I plan a sixth model, but this one is of Challenger. All the other orbiters are as the present fleet looks now wit hteh AFRSI.

Are these still available?

Will you be making any resin parts? The OMS engines seem to be the big hiccup with this as none match the photos of the real thing. The thickness is not the problem, it's the shape of the nozzles. They should look like as in this diagram. http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1785.0;attach=82787;image And a photo of the real thing http://www.edwardsflighttest.com/pics/OV-104_OMS_1.jpg

She has extra black tiles around the hatch. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_lands_for_the_first_time%2C_completing_STS-6._.jpg Compare this to the other orbiters.

Awesome decals there. The ET manholes should be yellow. Will there be more to this set of decals? Challenger's unique hatch is not on there, nor are the flags.

I'll do that for my kit. I see using Evergreen's 1.0mm K-1 plastic trips for the thrust panel stringers. You'd have to sand down that area so when you do put the strips in, they are flush even with the larger stringers. It's the only option I can see for a realistic look. I might do this with the new kit's tank. The two older kits are stuck as is. I don't want to ruin the older tanks.

The other stuff for the shuttle I am curious to get. The OMS engines, well we've all been over that subject regarding the shape of the nozzles. It's a minor change to the resin mold, but it looks perfect if done. There are the diagrams and photos on this thread showing what they should look like. The wheels and tire sets will be cool to get. :) Hmm, will there be a little "arrowhead" RCC piece for the ET forward attach point? Also what about a new SILTS pod for Columbia? Last I heard of the SILTS was years ago by another company. It was for the Revell kit and not the Monogram shuttle. Maybe

Yes the LOL response wasn't nice. I was trying to help by giving tips to make the resin look more accurate. For example this photo of the real OMS engine/ pod shows the correct shape of the engine. http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/images/medium/2011-6028-m.jpg The kit engines are one thing, but the stuff like what you are selling or other people sell for a more realistic model should look more like the real thing. I'm sorry, but the OMS engines in the photos look too much like the kit version instead of a more accurate look of the actual shuttle. That's the only error I see with the resin pa

That was a diagram I saw on a NASA page on the shuttle. It's the only thing I could find, aside from photos of the OMS engines. This photo shows the shape of the engine bells for the OMS. http://www.collectspace.com/images/news-092110a/024.jpg The diagram I mentioned can be sen in this article http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/06/discovery-lands-to-conclude-sts-124-oms-controller-plan/

Never rush the model dude, no matter if those who request it want it done. Believe me, it will not look good in the end if you hurry up. How did you remove the stringers for the locations the ET access door and GUCP go on the inter tank?

Will the shape of the OMS engines be changed? This photo shows the exact shape of the engines, which don't look like what the Monogram or Revell kit gives. http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1785.0;attach=82787;image The thickness is ok, just the shape of the nozzles are off. Will there be a similar modified part for the FRCS on the shuttle's nose? Yeah I got five models waiting for some upgrades. :) The four completed models, and one yet to be built.

The OMS engines don't look quite right. For example here is a diagram of the real one. http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/space-shuttle-oms-enginea.jpg http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1785.0;attach=82787;image

You know on the horizontal stringers you mention niart17. I think those are foam filled strips. Similar to the foam panels seen on the old external tank inter tank design. I mention that as in a photo I saw of Columbia's STS-3 tank being transported, I saw no horizontal stringers. http://homepage.mac.com/georgegassaway/GRP/Scale/ShuttleData/MSFC/8217298_STS-3.jpg This photo of STS-2 can give good reference for the thickness of the SRB thrust panel stringers to the rest of the inter tank. http://homepage.mac.com/georgegassaway/GRP/Scale/ShuttleData/StackCloseups/SRB_Nose_Scan.jpg

The only way I can see making the smaller stringer detail by sanding down the area until it's the same as the larger stringers, then adding plastic strips one at a time. That's the only solution I got. Here is a reference photo http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Ahv8WzFBSxQ/TO2EGGboooI/AAAAAAAACHQ/Pid-wGKizXI/s1600/et-crackSTS133.JPG

Atlantis landed this morning. After 30 years of service the shuttle program has ended. Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour you have given the world an icon for future generations to look at and say, how was it done? The whole planet has benefited from the space shuttle, changed the world of astronomy, and international cooperation. The International Space Station would not have been here without the shuttle. The Hubble Telescope and it's repair missions to look deeper into the cosmos. The end of an era. The longest flying US space vehicle in history.

Awesome. PM me with tips on how you did that? Well making resin copies makes a bit of a mess and waste of resin not used. all that's left is the stringer detail on the thrust panels as I mentioned before. As to how...*shrugs*

I see. Yes please photos of how you filed the stringers into that panel please. It would be very helpful also on my unbuilt ET. I just started painting mine, but not building it yet. Uh, I noticed the ET acess door and LH 2 vent panel are in the wrong location. My apology, but I noticed this when looking at this photo of the actual tank. http://homepage.mac.com/georgegassaway/GRP/Scale/ShuttleData/STS_47/47INTE-1.JPG No big issue, just move the stringers cut from the new location to fill in the old. Here is a photo of the foam ramp below the ET struts. http://homepage.mac.com/georgegassa

Cool photos of your model. I see you also removed the rectangular section and replaced it with a resin copy of the ribbing. Is there a close up of that area of your model?

If it's not too late on the ET, I thought of a way to fix the intertank alignment. Given the photos show it to be larger in diameter than the rest of the tank. The kit shows the intertank ribbing to be pushed slightly inward. Before gluing the ET together, you can see this. My best guess is you can cut out the stringer sections and set them to be lined up more with the rest of the ET. One problem I have run into is if you plan to make the orbiter with the AFRSI blankets is whenever I paint the blankets, the surgical tape curls up as the paint dries. My solution I found is before adding the t

Some reference of Atlantis on her final mission. http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/images/medium/2011-5359-m.jpg http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/images/medium/2011-5155-m.jpg

Those rings are for the parachute system. Though, yeah the hi res pic does show what you mean. http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/behindthescenes/processing/hires/srb005.jpg No wonder I couldn't find it before. It's hidden under the nose cone. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Liberty_Star_with_SRB_after_STS-87_%282%29.jpg This is the aft tow bracket in question. http://homepage.mac.com/georgegassaway/GRP/Scale/ShuttleData/SRB/harbor_tow_bracket.jpg on the ET attach ring. You can see it's location better in this photo http://homepage.mac.com/georgegassaway/GRP/Sca