as205

I decided to add the Ku-band antenna to this model. I found an antenna that I should be able to modify for this model in my box of old parts. It started out as a Lunar Module steerable S-band antenna on a Revel 1/96 scale model. Below is a picture of the original part. I did some chopping and adding of small rod sections and strips and came up with a passable version for the 1/200 Hasegawa shuttle. Here is a photo of the completed amalgamation before I give it a new paint job. I then moved on to modifying the payload bay part. I removed a large block of plas

Wow, like others have said, take it easy and heal up quickly. When we get really cold down here in Oklahoma it seems like ice is what we usually get. I like snow much better.

I forgot one image in my previous post. I added the rest of the tunnel to the Atlas. I've got a few more bits that need to be added before painting starts. I've got to add some more details before I can start painting. Namely, the vernier motors and the tank pressurization lines. Between day sitting for our 10 month old grandson and bouncing between this model and my 1/200 Challenger model, things have slowed down a lot. Still plugging away though.

The below image shows the long equipment pod and the instrument tunnel that I fashioned out of 1/8″ x 1/16″ styrene strip. I rounded the corners of the top of the strip and then sanded the tip of the equipment pod so that they matched. Here they are just dry fitted to show the attachment. Next I used some 1/4″ half round stock cut 1/2″ long to create a rate gyro housing. I marked where the tapers started and then sanded a taper from the mark to the end to match the instrument tunnel. Here they are just laid next to each other. I also sanded a curve into the back of the rate g

I used the Micro Metal Foil Adhesive you mentioned. White grocery bag plastic is a good idea too. I hadn't thought of that. Randy

It took a while but I finally had time to work on the Atlas. The below photo is one of the vernier engines. While test fitting it to the booster side I noticed that the back was not quite long enough. I cut some 0.040 stock and used Plast-Zap to attach it. I then sanded and filled it to fit the rest of the part. I’ll do the same for the one that goes on the other side. I also had to sand some of the underside rear of the part so it would fit over the retaining ring. Each of the vernier engine housings have a pressurization line that runs from the top of the housing to a locat

More work done on Challenger. The below photo shows the tunnel press fit to the Spacelab. I covered it with slightly wrinkled foil. I think it gives me a good approximation of the thermal blankets. I’ll cover the Spacelab itself after I finish adding some details. The front of the Spacelab module had some extensions that housed some additional equipment like various tanks. I marked the front of the lab to show where I need to attach the extensions. The pencil doesn’t show up well in the photo. After measuring the height of the cone shape I cut some 0.010 she

I've watched a couple of YouTube videos on that kit. I think I'll have to get one.

Wow! Great work on that kit. Now I really know what I'm in for when I pull that one out of the stash. Keep it up Pete! Randy

My project for the group build will be the Hasegawa 1/200 scale Space Shuttle kit representing Challenger flight STS-61A. It was Challenger’s last successful mission before its last launch on STS-51L. It will have the payload bay doors open to show the Spacelab D-1 module which was it’s primary mission for this flight. It will be an on orbit model so I won’t be using the External Tank or SRB’s. Here is a shot of the white parts. The black and clear parts. This kit has been in the stash for a while. The decals have started to yellow a bit. B

It's looking good so far. I've got that one in my way too large stash. Randy

When I get started on my Challenger build it will be of STS-61-A, the last successful flight of Challenger. It was a Spacelab mission and also had the largest crew of the Shuttle program. Gathering up some references right now and I hope to get started soon. It will not be the full stack, just the shuttle with the Spacelab in the cargo bay.

I decided that the nozzles had to be modified. The below photo is of an Atlas D restoration. It shows the booster engine nozzles well. When comparing the kit nozzles to the actual, there was just too much wrong. The sustainer nozzle had similar non scale details. The nozzles are also not quite right in shape, but fixing that would mean scratch building completely new nozzles. I began by sanding off all the external details of the nozzles. I then went through a few iterations of fill-sand-prime to make sure I had a smooth outer surface. I didn’t try to scribe the tiny vertical

Next on the build, I opened the small zip-lock bag that contained the vernier motors for the Atlas. The below picture shows the parts from the bag. The instructions say to drill out the nozzles to make them look like real nozzles. I would have done that even if it wasn't in the instructions but then I noticed a problem. There was a major bubble in one of the nozzles. This would make it very hard to drill a hole down the middle. I don't have any way to clamp something that small in order to use my drill press. Drilling it by hand would be nearly impossible since the drill woul

I too have a Hasegawa 1/200 Shuttle. I have it to go with the AMT Man In Space set. Then again I also have a 1/200 SLS I could do too. Maybe I'll be done with the Wings Atlas by then. Ha!