spaceman

Thanks Mike for looking in on me again after a longer time.

Wait and see, maybe in my next life ...

Hello everybody, is there anybody in there? And thus to this new variant for the production of the Handrail brackets that I have been thinking about. The idea behind it is actually simple and based on the production of such a U profile with a greater length, from which I then carefully cut off small 1 mm long pieces and close on one side. Thought and done, gluing the side strips (0,13 mm x 0,75 mm) to the base strip (0,25 mm x 0,5 mm) took place again in the proven manner by fixing between the rulers. Such a Steel ruler is also

Hello everybody, originally I had immediately thought of my narrowest Evergreen profiles, but both the H profiles and the U profiles are 1,5 mm wide, which would not match to the filigree handrails. Then I've compared a Channel profile (1,3 mm) with my planned four-part variant (right), which, when using strips (0,2 mm x 0,75 mm) for the sides, is approx. 0,9 mm wide, which looks more pleasing in combination with the round rod (Ø 0,45 mm) of the handrail struts. And if I would cut a Styrene strip (0,13mm x 0,75mm) for the sides, it should loo

No problem Kirk, 1:160 is a little bit smaller, if you want so from the Underworld. The dimensions determined from the NASA drawing are decisive, whereby the blue dimension (diameter of the handrails) is my reference dimension. BTW, please ignore the blue 12, it comes only from copy and paste.

Hi Kirk, thanks for your tip and that you have ruminated about it and want help me. I've immediately thought of my narrowest Evergreen profiles too, but both the H and U shapes are 1,5 mm wide, which doesn't match the delicate Handrails. Then I took a Channel profile which is 1,3 mm wide and compared it with my version (right) which is 0,9 mm wide, using 0,2 mm thick strips for the sides, which looks like this. I think if I would cut a strip (0,13 mm x 0,75 mm) for the sides it should look still a little bit better, still closer

Hello everybody, well, the smaller the details to be scratched, the closer you have to look to see their shape and being able to determine the needed dimensions. As you can see in this image section, the Holder sockets are in the form of small U-profiles in which the handrails are articulated. Source: forum.nasaspaceflight.com (STS-9, Ares67) Since this photo shows the canister used during STS-9 (11/1983), it can be assumed that these Handrails and Ladders already existed at the time of STS-6 (04/1983), but unfortunately I don't have any dir

Thanks Kirk, I do what I can and always try to find the best doable solution.

Hello everybody, and thus for gluing the remaining two Handrail pairs, again using the proven method, here first Handrails G-3, and here Handrails G-4. And here is the obligatory test fitting atop the template that I like. As already mentioned, however, all Handrails on the feet also need similar mounts like the Outriggers, so that they can be erected or folded up as required. And these are 18 pieces, which should become similarly tiny.

Hello everybody, but since I want to stay in the exercise, I'll scratch the remaining Railings first. Then it's the turn of the holder brackets. Since the side struts are already cut off, these are the prepared struts for the two Railings G-2, which were glued in the same manner. And now the remaining Railings G-3 and G-4 can follow. Once you know how to do it and the dimensions are known, it's nearly child's play.

Hi Al, I don't think it's possible to delete the double post directly. You can only copy your last post into the double post as an update. Don't tell me you are thinking about first steps towards a Launch Pad Diorama ...

Hello everybody, first of all, here is a photo from the early years of the Shuttle Program (1980), on which the erected Railings can be seen, so that nothing could happen to the Can Crew guys when installing the Payload into the Payload Changeout Room (PCR). Source: Library of Congress, HAER FL-8-11-I And with this to the two lower Railings G-1, whose six individual parts I've cut out of round rods (Ø 0,45 mm). First of all, I thought about how best to assemble the railing and in which order I should glue the individual struts together. Doin

Thanks Kirk for looking in on me again, it's always just small steps, but it's going on, albeit only with difficulty because of this tiny crazy stuff.

Hello together, the second Outrigger is waiting for me, let's go. The twin should at least look similar to its brother. Only the Vertical Support Strut has to point to the other side, which I took into account in good time. The way they both are standing there now, I think I've done quite well with them. And here is the test fitting on the Starboard Side. Next I'll probably turn to these Railings on the Forward Bulkhead of the canister,

Hello everybody, for the sake of completeness, here is the lower Support strut bracket of the Outrigger required when folded, and here its later position on the Port Side of the canister. Although my size comparison using the Eurocent is always very impressive, the comparison of the outrigger with a Can Crew worker shows the actual relation in the model scale 1:160, which is otherwise difficult to imagine. Even more impressive are original photos like this one, on which workers dismantle the Guide Shoe o

Hi Al, then go step by step, Learning by doing is a good approach, I stay tuned.

Hi Al, I thought you would try to recreate the modules of the JEL Hydraulic Units based on Mischa Klement's kit solution for a more realistic look. Or have you made a different decision and still want to stick with the simpler solution based on David Maier's kit?

Hello everybody, today I took on the Lifting Trunnions for lifting and transporting the canister, which are located at different heights on both sides at its bulkheads. Source: NASA (STS-135) As one can see in this image, the Lifting trunnions consist of three parts, a cylindrical base on which the trunnion with a slightly smaller diameter sits, and an outer cover plate, Source: NASA (STS-125) which is probably screwed to the trunnion to secure it after the crane's Lifting plate has been attached. Source: NASA (

Hi Al, as I can see you are seemingly following my way, my Crawler kit is number 443.

Hello everybody, after the provisional fitting of the Outrigger, the parts were now glued together, first the two diagonal struts with the holding plate, which later is glued with the Guide shoe. To do this, the two diagonal struts were fixed with tape, after what the upper cross strut and to it the lateral hinge plates could be glued, which are articulated in the holders on the side wall for folding and unfolding the outrigger. And here at the latest, compared to the drawing, I noticed that the Guide shoes (8 mm) were

Then you have an awesome guide for modifying Maier's building bricks into more realistic looking JEL Hydraulic Units.

Hi Al, do you know Jürgen Ziegler's awesome construction report and his great videos about the construction of Mischa Klement's NASA Crawler Transporter - cardboard model - papercraft model?

Thank you my friend, you enrich the colorful palette of compliments again. I hope I can continue to entertain you.

Hi Al, that would definitely be the better solution. I'll keep my fingers pressed.

In David Maier's Paper kit many details in his typical design are only indicated by partially blurred textures. This is particularly noticeable with the rustic-looking modules of the JEL Hydraulic Unit for equalization the Crawler transporter on the slant Crawlerway up to the Launch pad. I had already dealt with this problem in my thread in 2021, Posted May 4, 2021, what then looks like this at the finished model of my friend Michael Knobloch (mk311049). Source: papermodelers.com (mk311049) which are only built box-shaped and covered with