Discoveryov103

Hello everyone! It has been a few weeks since my last update, and for that I apologize. I am in the process of moving right now, happened kinda suddenly, and in a good way, nothing bad. Unfortunately that means that I will have to put my project on the back burner for a little while during the packing/moving/unpacking phases. I am happy and grateful yet timing sucks as I just received my first 3D printer And now I will have to leave it put away and can’t set it up and use it due to how quickly these recent events and changes (once again for the good!) have occurred. In the meantime, I am drawi

Here is an update on where I am at with my MLP project so far. First, I want to note something here. When I am talking about the MLP sides, the sides are as follows: SIDE 1- the side you see if you were standing in front of the MLP as it sits on the pad and would see the top Surface of the orbiters wings. SIDE 2- the side that would be closest to the fixed service structure as it stood on the pad. SIDE 3- the side that if you looked at head on, you would see the orbiters belly tiles. SIDE 4- would be the side opposite of where the fixed service structure stands. I started out by measur

Spaceman: Yes sir, almost the same build as yours, just at 2x the scale. Like I said I chose this particular mission because it was the first launch I remember seeing in person. Also, I failed to mention the Pilot on this mission I am modeling (STS-41B) Robert "Hoot" Gibson is the one astronaut I always looked up to (and still do). crowe-t: Thank you, very happy to see the interest with this build. Should be good when complete. K2Pete: Absolutely I will take my time. I have a large inventory of models to build and may take a break away from one project and wor

After being on these forums for many years, and finally have more time in my retired post military career, I have decided to take on a project where I will display a 1/72 scale Monogram Space Shuttle stack on a scratch built mobile launch platform (MLP) as STS-41B. A little background first. I was born and raised in Clearwater, Fl which is only a 3-hour drive from my house to the Cape. My father was a photographer (as a hobby only) and dreamed of getting professional close up launch pics like those seen in newspapers and magazines. Back in the early to mid 80’s, we would go as a fami

To answer your question about which shuttles carried the spacelab payload....all 5 operational orbiters did. Columbia had the most missions with STS-9, 40, 50, 55, 58, 65, 73, 78, 83, 94, and 90. Challenger flew STS-51B, 51F (pallet only) and 61A; Discovery STS-42 only, Atlantis STS-71 only and finally Endeavour STS-47 only. hope this helps. Andy

I gave Gil my extra shuttle model parts a few years back for his beanie cap project and followed his build progress. Like most of you, I too learned a lot from his video series and plan on adopting his techniques with my upcoming builds. Our community has lost model building talent that has inspired us all in some way, and now I am left speechless to hear this very sad news. RIP good sir, and may the wind always be at your back!

I am currently working on painting an external tank as well. I have been looking at the various paints to see which comes closest to what I am looking for. Tamiya paints seem to be my choice and I am turning out good results. It takes a little bit of mixing and patience to get the exact shade I am looking for. depending on which era and especially which mission you wish to represent greatly depends on how you mix the colors. I use 3 colors from Tamiya: XF3- flat yellow; XF-7-flat red and XF-10 flat brown. I found these three colors will cover all flights except STS-1&2 as these were

Niart17: I believe the picture of the ODS/HST is from STS-103. The external airlock maiden voyage was on Discovery/STS-82 (second HST servicing mission) as shown in this pic of payload bay doors being closed for launch: http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-82/images/high/KSC-97EC-0264.jpg STS-103 flew the external airlock with ODS ring installed as evident in this Closeout pic as the payload bay doors were closed for launch http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-103/images/high/KSC-99PP-1364.jpg Look at the size of the solar arrays on HST in your pic

Spaceman: I have been following this post for a while now with great interest. I believe it to be an understatement that your attention to detail and skills are out of this world!!! I too am working on the same launch tower kit and have thought of ways to I prove its accuracy. I have already begun one of my kits and am too far along to make any corrections, so it looks like I will be building my first one out of box and giving to my co-worker. Anyways, I noticed in your drawings on page 58 of this forum in the drawing where you have the stack sitting on the MLP & c

Hotdog: I would be more than happy to post them. I should have them up by the end of this weekend. Andy

VCE: Which timeframe were you wanting to model your Atlantis model? The wing blankets appeared different from her maiden voyage on STS 51-J back in 1985 until STS-86 in 1997. When she went for her ODMP (major refurbishment) after the STS-86 mission, that is when her wings changed the pattern. See this link for Atlantis prior to STS-86: http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-86/images/high/KSC-97EC-1222.jpg Here is a good diagram for you of the older style wing pattern prior to STS-101: http://web.archive.org/web/20030714015004/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/refere

I don't they upgraded the look of the HUDs, I think what you are seeing in the photos are protective coverings for them to keep them from getting damaged while in orbit and on the ground during processing. Check out this pic from Atlantis post STS-135 and you can see the HUDs without the protective covering on them: http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/imageviewer.cfm?mediaid=62786&mr=l&w=0&h=0&fn=2012-4351&sn=KSC-2012-4351 Here's a slightly better one post STS-134 Endeavour: http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/imageviewer.cfm?mediaid=58609&mr=l&w=0&h=0&fn=201

I must be crazy to attempt this, but after doing lots of thinking I decided to give it a shot. It will not be an overnight project, thats for sure. I am hoping to have the MLP and stack both completed in about 2 years give or take a few months. I will have two threads going at the same time, one for the stack; one for the MLP. This sucker will be huge in 1_72 Scale!!!! I have not decided which mission will be represented and I am still gathering images for reference of the MLP. I have a few favorite missions in mind, one of each orbiter. Luckily I don't have to decide all that just yet. I have

Bill: Did you try this site? http://web.archive.org/web/20020806164507/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/sodb/ -Andy-

I love the updated version of the elevon panels, it looks very realistic. I am finding out that making custom decals is not as easy as I originally thought, and takes a lot, and I mean a lot, of time. I have been working on the top wing surface For Columbia and Challenger as both these orbiters had the white tiles down the outside portion of the wings. I used a mix of different photos and measured out 8 inch by 8 inch for 1/72 scale by using a scale ruler. (the actual size of the white wing tiles) it takes a lot of trial and error, measuring and fitting to get a good end result. I still have t