K2Pete Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 (edited) I'm in the process of re-linking images to a few of my threads ... including this one. I had to take a break from my shuttle cutaway ... and had the urge to build this little model. As a re-release of a 1969 model it's inaccuracies are well known. And I'd like to try to accurize it just a bit. The Service Module was lightly sanded and wrapped with a sheet of 5 thou styrene card so I can attach the radiators and other details to it. The underlying structure The Aft Heat shield was the wrong shape, so I used some Milliput to make it a little more correct. The Hi Gain antenna was way out of scale so I rebuilt it to at least be a little closer in scale. The Command Module has panel lines engraved into it and I filled 'em with Mr Surfacer, applied with a brush. Sand and refill and sand and repeat. I'll also reposition the side windows and enlarge the opening in the rendezvous windows. The Umbilical housing will be removed and rebuilt. Starting the New Umbilical housing Edited February 3, 2018 by K2Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted February 10, 2010 Author Share Posted February 10, 2010 (edited) The SM with some added surface details. The CSM so far. And onto the LM. The LM is close, so I'll only replace a couple of side panels on the Ascent Stage. Rebuilding the front 'porch' with styrene rod and piano wire handrails. The Descent Stage with the landing radar shield and the attach points for the upper stage. I'll display the LM with the landing gear in the stowed position so I had to cut apart the folding parts. Starting to wrap the Descent stage with foil from chocolate bars. You can see my scratch built plume deflectors too. That's it so far. This is a fun little kit, with 'little' being the operative word. My fingers are just too big to handle a lot of the little details I wanted to install. Thanx for looking in! Pete Edited February 3, 2018 by K2Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trojan Thunder Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 (edited) Nice job Pete, its amazing what can be done with a little elbow brease and some spare plasctic stock. Looking better already! Edited February 10, 2010 by Trojan Thunder Quote Link to post Share on other sites
singeri Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Love the scratch building.....you're motivating me to build the 1:12 Mercury in my stash. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alvis 3.1 Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 Wow...that's really great rebuilding. I'll have to keep this in mind if I ever get around to building mine. Alvis 3.1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted February 16, 2010 Author Share Posted February 16, 2010 (edited) I'm still plugging away at this ... The LM's Ascent and Descent stages are just about done. I've hollowed out the RCS thrusters and added the RTG cask, MESA and MET, landing probes and plume deflectors on the LM. I've also rebuilt a couple of the little VHS antennae. Before some Paint ... and with some Paint ... and the Descent Stage I also painted some Alclad onto the CM. The Service Module's RCS thrusters were outta scale just a bit, so I figgered I'd rebuild these as well. Kit part on the left, and then the new pieces. I really do enjoy the building aspect of this hobby. Some styrene, some glue, some problem solving and 'bobs yer uncle!' The Radiators on the SM were built too. Just styrene rod glued and trimmed to size. And then masking the SM for paint. That's it for now, just a quick one today. Thanx for looking in gents. Pete Edited February 3, 2018 by K2Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted February 16, 2010 Share Posted February 16, 2010 (edited) The thing I love about your building Pete is your WIP images explain how easy it is to do in a few simple steps. Yet the end result is always stunning to see. Nice work man! BTW, what did you use for the new High Gain antenna dishes? Edited February 16, 2010 by Jay Chladek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HOLMES Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Nice start :lol: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GreyGhost Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Fantastic work, Pete ... Gregg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted February 17, 2010 Author Share Posted February 17, 2010 Thanx very much guys! And thanx Jay. I'd like to post even more WIP pix just to show how easy scratchbuilding is. I'm puzzled when some of the modelers on these fora express difficulty in cutting styrene and gluing it back up again. I enjoy watching Norm Abram on the New Yankee Workshop, although I'm not a woodworker myself, and he can take a 2 X 4 and router it, drill it, cut it and shape it, to make a beautiful piece of furniture. I see modeling in the same light. Take some raw material and manipulate it to fit your requirement. And the dishes for the Hi-Gain, are fuel tanks from a 1/24 Gemini kit. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted February 18, 2010 Author Share Posted February 18, 2010 (edited) Just about done. I've still got to give this a once over and add a coupla details, but for all intents and purposes, it's done. I haven't decided how to display this, either as the stack or 'in flight' ... but this'll do for now. The Hi-Gain antenna is incorrectly deployed for this example, as is the EVA floodlight on the SM. But I'm fairly happy with the way it turned out. Thanx for your comments guys. I really appreciate 'em!! Pete Edited February 3, 2018 by K2Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 WOW! this turned out awesome Pete as usual. would you recommend this kit? i know you put a lot of work in to it to get the level it is now but is it overall a good kit? if you're open to suggestions for display, you could have it with the panels open and just about to break away so the CSM is just floating right in front of the LM. of course you'd have to have some rod or something holding it, but i know with your skills you could figure out a way of it not standing out too bad. just an idea. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted February 19, 2010 Author Share Posted February 19, 2010 Thanx Bill! Would I recommend the kit? I paid close to $70 CDN for it, and after I read a review or two, for some reason, thought I was getting a CM and TWO LMs. One stowed, one in a landing position. So I figgered, I get three little models for $70. Alright I'll bite. Well, obviously, there's only one of each and they're more like toys than scale models. The LMs legs are adjustable, but in a crude way. The kit is just plain inaccurate (I really expected more from Tamiya) but on the plus side, the fit of the various parts is pretty good. I'd feel comfortable recommending the kit if it was, say, $40 CDN ... but I'd be reluctant to recommend it as it is. Thanx again Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Ahh...got it. basically a $70 toy. i think i'll stay away unless i find it on a bargain rack or something. thanks. I still have that Revell Apollo-Soyuz kit in half finished state i need to get back to sometime plus still have to put the finishing touches on the splash down dio. i think i'll get back to those before i think of another apollo kit. Thanks and keep up the great work. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share Posted February 3, 2018 After all these years, I shall add the LES, without the BPC. Michael Key has agreed to re-scale his LES for 1/70 ... and "I'm pleased as punch"! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted February 19, 2018 Author Share Posted February 19, 2018 I received the LES from Shapeways and Michael Key re-scaled it to fit ... and it looks GREAT! I'm as "pleased as punch"! The BPC is missing from the kit, but I always wanted, at least, the LES on this model ... and now ... it shall be done! Now, can you guys suggest a method for cleaning prior to paint? Thanx Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 Wow, nice! : ) Fill up a small cup with alcohol or ethanol. Drop the part in and give it a little shake for a couple minutes. Take the part out and air dry. Dishwashing liquid and a toothbrush works too but that part looks tiny and fragile. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share Posted February 20, 2018 Thanx CJ ... after it's bath and brush, I'll spray some primer on it. And it's not that tiny or fragile ... the Launch Escape System (LES) is about 7" long. Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Hi Pete, Michael Key's 3D LES looks fantastic, is it FUD? What do you think of ultrasonic cleaning? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) Yes, it's FUD. I didn't know about Ultrasonic Cleaning ... I had read on Shapeways' site that Isopropyl Alcohol, Bestine ( Rubber Cement Thinner) Dishwashing Liquid ( Dawn ) or Acetone was suggested. If Ultrasound works, I'd like to know how long to leave the part in the Ultrasound tub. We should start a Thread on How to Clean a 3D part and have it pinned ... Pete Edited February 21, 2018 by K2Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 2 hours ago, K2Pete said: We should start a Thread on How to Clean a 3D part and have it pinned ... do an internet search on "How to Clean a 3D printed part" there are tons of articles and videos Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 (edited) 8 hours ago, K2Pete said: Yes, it's FUD. I didn't know about Ultrasonic Cleaning ... I had read on Shapeways' site that Isopropyl Alcohol, Bestine ( Rubber Cement Thinner) Dishwashing Liquid ( Dawn ) or Acetone was suggested. If Ultrasound works, I'd like to know how long to leave the part in the Ultrasound tub. We should start a Thread on How to Clean a 3D part and have it pinned ... Pete Hi Pete, this Video demonstrates the ultrasonic cleaning in fast motion, before cleaning, and after 3 hours cleaning. Source: bandelin.com Edited February 21, 2018 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hotdog Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 Michael makes a really nice BPC, too! See if he will scale it up for ya. Here's my copy in 1/144 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted February 22, 2018 Author Share Posted February 22, 2018 Manfred, thanx very much for the video. I'll give it a try on the next 3D piece that I buy. Hotdog ... I didn't want a BPC for this kit as it would hide the Command Module ... plus it wasn't part of the kit initially. However, I did buy a BPC, which was fitted for the 1/48 Dragon CM, but only because I wanted to see the quality of the 3D BPC ... and it's lovely! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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