spaceman Posted March 14, 2017 Author Share Posted March 14, 2017 (edited) Thanks Tracy, I fully agree with you, that it would certainly be difficult to remove the paint from these fragile parts, especially since the contact points should be clean for a good adhesive bond. And that would mean that the fragile sickle holders would have to be sanded gently, which would presumably not happen without breakages. But I've already considered whether I should not paint the spaces between the sickle holders with a fine brush by hand ... I have not painted anything with Airbrush for a long time, which is why I'm simply unsure whether such horizontal surfaces below the ring line would get enough paint. Furthermore the paint application has to be well dosed, which is why several thin layers are advisable and too much paint at one go should be avoided. Because I would bite myself somewhere else if I would spoil my painstakingly scratched details by an unclean varnishing ... Edited March 15, 2017 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 15, 2017 Author Share Posted March 15, 2017 Hello everybody, and because we have dealt with breakages, of which I had to complain already some at the ring line outlets, without damage the last action with the clamping rings unfortunately had not ended. On closer inspection, I have noticed unfortunately that the small nipples on the outer two 6 '' outlets behind the TSMs after the felt 100.000 twists and turns when clamping the ring lines must have been broken, which I had not noticed so far. That is why, for a change, cosmetic operations were announced today, because something like that bothers me, even though it would hardly be noticed by somebody else's. These OPs are, however, rather delicate, since the outlets are only thin round bars (Ø 1 mm), into which still thinner rods (0.3 mm) have been glued as nipples. That is why I have first carefully sanded off the remaining stumps and then still more cautiously drilled small holes with Ø 0,3 mm, but for which I first had to think on a clever clamping condition of the ring line for a stable support. Seek and you shall find, and here the nipple rod is already glued again with a little overhang, which now only needs to be shortened accordingly, what but also does not so easily go out of cupped hands. For the cutting off the supernatant then a different support had to be found and to be newly clamped again, so that the rod also has a stable support and can not break off. But that worked out well, as one can see here. And the same OP then synonymous still at the other ring line, as before. And so the damages have been remedied again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 21, 2017 Author Share Posted March 21, 2017 Hello everybody, in the last few days I have finally brought myself to start with the gluing of the Pipe Supports under the ring line behind the LOX-TSM, for which the already announced removal of the rear SRB Supports was necessary. Since I can carry out the gluing of the supports only step by step, in order to be able to check their seat, I have to remove the ring line now and then, and because I did not want to risk anything, I have removed the disruptive rear SRB Supports. For gluing of the pipe supports, the ring line was then introduced again and its exact seat fixed with the spacers. After that, I tried as a first variant the gluing with MEK and have initially positioned and aligned only three supports under the ring line, as well as dabbed the contact points of the sickle holders on the outer side carefully with a fine brush with MEK, which should be sufficient for a first hold. And as one can see in this picture, that was actually already sufficient. Since in the bracket-holder I can reach now the remaining contact places of the sickle holders from all sides, I can now also glue them completely. And so it can then gradually go on with the next supports. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 Hi all together, for the gluing of the next Pipe Supports I used again my approved bracket-holder in the mini vise, which is best suited for this. With this I have much more freedom of movement for the assembly and can adjust the position of the ring line so that the already attached three Supports lay flat on the support block and I can push the next supports below the line by slightly raising and arbitrarily align. Then I also modified the gluing technique, whereby I carefully dab the normal Revell plastic glue onto the sickle holders with a acupuncture needle, then push the support under the raised ring line and then lower it. This allows for even smaller position corrections until the support sits in the right place. After that, the ring line is still weighted down, so that it can be fixed firmly on the spot. Then I can then take the mini vice with clamped ring line in the hand and stabilize the sickle holders also still from inside and outside with MEK, which should give them the final hold. And this technique I have here exercised with the two Supports behind the corner bow, which also worked great. And in the same way it went on down the straight line. And now they hang in rank and file and look . Then came the three flatter supports sitting on the Blast Shield, which I have glued with inserted ring line. And finally, I have glued the small support under the 16'' rejuvenation behind the LOX-TSM, which has only one sickle holder. So I want to let it go for today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 23, 2017 Author Share Posted March 23, 2017 Hello everybody, today I want only present a few pictures about the gluing of the six Pipe Supports on the inside of the ring line behind the LOX-TSM, which took place in the same way. And tomorrow it will go on with the gluing of the first six triangular supports (left) at the outlets of this ring line, which hopefully will work similarly well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 24, 2017 Author Share Posted March 24, 2017 Hello folks, as hoped for, the gluing of the first three triangular supports went smoothly, as can be seen in the following pictures. And then the three supports at the outlets on the inside of the ring line had their turn. So far so good, now I need to repeat the same procedure only still on the other ring line behind the LH2-TSM. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 28, 2017 Author Share Posted March 28, 2017 (edited) Hello everybody, but before I go on with the gluing of the supports on the other ring line, I want to start (again) with the preparation of the Water Bags, which I had already begun a long time ago, until the reconstruction of the SRB exhaust holes up to 1:144 has stopped me. Since I now intend the presentation of the MLP both with and without Water Bags, I first had to think about how best to solve this constructively. These elongated foil water bags, which are suspended into the SRB shafts, are filled with water only to a height of 12" (approx. 30 cm), as can be seen here again. Source: NASA With a width of the (most) bags of also 12'' and a length of 20' (6,10 m shaft width), the result is about 550 liters of water per bag, which corresponds exactly to the volume of my aquarium. First, I want to start with the bags in the back of the chamber (Secondary SRB Hole), with the first part reaching from the shaft back wall to the 18'' outlets (Ø 46 cm) which contains 18 of these red bags. This will inevitably become a few less for my MLP because of the modification of the SRB holes ... As can be seen in this picture, the first water bag is hanging between the chamber back wall and the 36'' feed pipe (Ø 91 cm) and is therefore somewhat narrower than the other bags in front of the pipe. The next two bags are somewhat wider than the remaining ones and also shortened in front ot the feed pipe, which should be taken into account in the following design. Source: flickr.com (Andrew Sheer) So I first took measurements and made a new template for the partition walls, and therefore get to work! Since the distance between the back wall and the feed pipe is rather small, the first bag can be only 1,5 mm wide. For the gluing of the parts with MEK, I have carefully placed Teflon foil underneath. Since the bag has a bit jammed during insertion, the length had to be adjusted slightly. Therefore the question for insertion came up, so it is probably more favorable to insert the bags later from the bottom into the shaft with installed ring line, because the SRB Blast Shield slightly protrudes at the top edge and therefore would disturb. And now to the small-scale production of the individual parts. For the "normal" bags I will use a square profile (2 mm x 2 mm) for the lower webs, and for the partition walls 0,2 mm Styrene Sheet by Evergreen. The next time, however, it will go on with the two wider bags next to the feed pipe (Ø 6,2 mm), for which I will use a rectangular profile (3 mm x 2 mm), after which the normal bags will then follow. Edited March 28, 2017 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Hmmm, these water bags will cover up so much from the beautiful sight with the pipes... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 29, 2017 Author Share Posted March 29, 2017 (edited) Absolutely right, therefore they should be removable, so I can show both versions, with and without Water bags. But you bring me to an idea, maybe I'll only equip one SRB hole with water bags, then one can see both at the same time. Edited March 30, 2017 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 (edited) Hello everybody, here is the next step on the way to the Water Bags, which are going to be composed of several parts, but beautifully in sequence, just like during the later assembly. The first part is the slightly narrower bag (1.5 mm web width) behind the feed pipe, which is already finished and could already be seen in the last post. The next part extends up to the two 18'' outlets to which these individual parts belong, which must be carefully cut out so that the bag package becomes uniform. Below the scissors lie the wider webs (3 mm x 2 mm) and the shortened partition wall for the two bags next to the feed pipe, which were next glued. Then the longer partitions with the "normal" webs (2 mm x 2 mm) follow. And so the first assembly test looks, which shows that the bags fit quite well and it can equally go on up to the 18'' outlets. Then the third part follows, starting with the bag between the two outlets and the following two "normal" bags, followed by the two short bags between the two rear MLP Support Posts, which unfortunately are covered by the guy in the bluey. Source: flickr.com (Jen Scheer) I hope I can insert this connected third part from above, as well as the remaining three short bag parts on the side walls and the front shaft wall. Source: youtube.com (Michel Mephit) So much for the moment. Edited March 30, 2017 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 31, 2017 Author Share Posted March 31, 2017 Hello everybody, here are a few pictures of the continuation of the gluing of the Water Bags in the SRB shaft behind the LOX-TSM. And so it went on. I had to pay attention to the fact that the package could not move upwards, for which I clamped it between magnets and pressed the central webs gently down onto the pad each time and held it tight for a moment. In this way, I have glued ten bags behind the inlet pipe, which extend to the two 18'' outlets. Then it goes on with the third part, which begins with the wider bag between the outlets. As an encore I still have this interesting video, in which the ingenious principle of the SSWS is very impressively illustrated and explained, which one or another may already know. Noise Reduction Technology in Space Shuttle's Lift off Using WATER MIST Enjoy this cool video. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Thanx for the video Manfred! I'll have to do some research on the Water Bags to find out what they do. They must be destroyed during the launch ... And your assembly process of the Water Bags is ... BRILLIANT!! When you glued the SSWS to the MLP, if I recall, the surface is paper ... if that's correct, did you just use white glue or MEK ... or did you, in fact, attach the SSWS to the MLP? I hope you're very pleased with your progress so far ... it is remarkable! and wonderful to watch! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 31, 2017 Author Share Posted March 31, 2017 (edited) 3 hours ago, K2Pete said: Quote Thanx for the video Manfred! I'll have to do some research on the Water Bags to find out what they do. They must be destroyed during the launch ... Thanks Pete for your nice words. Great, that you are also interested in the technical backgroung. The water bags are destroyed during the launch of course, as a result of the gigantic acoustical energy as well as the brutal hot SRB exhaust gases. BTW, one day after a launch, the MLP deck usually looked like the one on this picture, where one can clearly see the rust on the bare metal. These are, however, only cosmetic damage, which after a thorough pad wash down (PWD) was first remedied by sandblasting and subsequent overpainting. Source: NASASpaceFlight.com Forum (padrat) The red shreds in the fence about 300 m away is a part of the water bags. Source: NASASpaceFlight.com Forum (padrat) The grass all around began to grow again within a few weeks ... Source: NASASpaceFlight.com Forum (padrat) Quote Quote When you glued the SSWS to the MLP, if I recall, the surface is paper ... if that's correct, did you just use white glue or MEK ... or did you, in fact, attach the SSWS to the MLP? Slowly Pete, the SSWS is still not glued on the MLP, the surface of which is paper, that's correct. Only after having airbrushed the ring lines with all supports and outlets I can glue them, which I actually wanted to do with CA. But now you have given me an idea, to try it out, about which I have never thought so far, to glue Styrene on paper with MEK ... And lo and behold, that works even, unbelievable. This greatly simplifies the bonding of the pipe supports on the deck, because I do not have to lift them extra. Quote I hope you're very pleased with your progress so far ... it is remarkable! and wonderful to watch! Pete Yeah, Pete, I am surprised by the results and fully satisfied so far. Thanks my friend for your inspiration. Edited March 31, 2017 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted April 3, 2017 Author Share Posted April 3, 2017 Hello guys, before I go on with the next Water Bags, I have made a test arrangement with the Shuttle stack on the MLP to look at the space conditions in the front part of the shaft (Primary SRB Hole), in which then the shorter bags have to be mounted around the SRB. The lineup of the stack was, of course, again a shaky affair, which had to be carried out with the utmost caution in order to avoid fatal crashes. And after this overall impression I put the stack aside and have only placed the support posts upright, in order to get a better view for the further consideration. And so that the support posts cannot always slip away, I have made a small template of the SRB Aft Skirt. And after this detailed view, I then scratched the next two bags, the wider front bag of which is sitting between the two 18'' outlets. And these two fit well so far already to the previous bags, wherewith the Secondary SRB Hole would be covered up. So far again for today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted April 4, 2017 Author Share Posted April 4, 2017 Hello everybody, and with the clear-sightedness template, the perspective is naturally even better. So then let's go on with the two short middle Water bags in the front shaft section right in front of the SRB, as can be seen in this picture from the STS-2. Source: NASA And here we go with these two bags in "handbag format", which are made quickly. And they fit well into the gap between the SRB Supports, and thus also between the MLP Support Posts. The same two bags sit directly in front of the front shaft wall and have their turn now. And so slowly the Primary SRB Hole fills up. Tomorrow the two side Water Bags will be added. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted April 6, 2017 Author Share Posted April 6, 2017 Hello everybody, today I will scratch the side Water Bags, for which the parts have been prepared. The gluing on the PTFE foil was unproblematic again. The outer bag had to be slightly shorter, so that it fits between the two 12'' outlets. After the first side bags were ready, I realized that I had cut two sheets too little. But that was quickly done, and here both bags are ready, which could then be tried in the shaft. And as one can see, they fit well between the MLP Support Posts. The left SRB shaft is fully equipped now and so I can turn to the right shaft tomorrow, in order to glue the Pipe Supports under the ring line. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted April 8, 2017 Author Share Posted April 8, 2017 Hello everybody, but until now I was not able for doing so, because other interesting things have distracted me. And because it just fits to the SSWS, here out of sequence, a look over to the Pad 39A, on which one now more often can admire the SSWS of SpaceX, which looks something different. For me, these pictures were new and extremely interesting, which is why I want to show them here briefly. Here is a picture of a SpaceX Water Deluge Test with a linked huge HiRes shot, Source: flickr.com/NASA Kennedy (Kim Shiflett) and here in full action at the recent launch of the Falcon 9. Source: twitter.com/NASASpaceflight (Ben Cooper) and here a shot from the FSS perspective. Source: twitter.com/NASASpaceflight (Ben Cooper) But one will have to become adjusted slowly to these pictures from Pad 39A ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Those are wonderful pictures ... thanx! And your Water Bags are ... just ... WOW!! The care and consideration you're taking in this build is just ... blowing my mind! The fit of your short and side water bags is per-r-rfect! It simply amazes me! Thanx for the updates ... ! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted April 9, 2017 Author Share Posted April 9, 2017 Thanks Pete for your nice remarks, BTW, I don't know how you are feeling, but this image hurts me somehow, when I see that the RSS now is also going dismanteled piece by piece ... Source: twitter.com (Ben Cooper) But the memories of this fantastic shuttle years will remain forever ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted April 13, 2017 Author Share Posted April 13, 2017 Hello everybody, today to the gluing of the Pipe Supports under the ring line behind the LH2-TSM. First, I have glued the three supports on the SRB Blast Shield, because this determines the clear height of the ring line over the MLP deck, under which the rest of the supports must find place. How remeasurements of the height of the supports have shown, the latter fluctuates by 0.1 - 0.2 mm, which is why I initially placed them only provisionally under the ring line, so as to be able to compensate for minor differences by replacing the supports. Afterwards, I then glued the front, middle and rear support, so as to get a uniform alignment in the longitudinal direction. After that, I have removed the ring line again and went back to the bracket holder in the mini vise, which offers more degrees of freedom for the gluing of the supports. After this strand was completely equipped, it went on behind the front bow. For gluing of the six supports on the inside of the line and the six triangular supports under the outlets I then have inserted the ring line again into the shaft. So far again for today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted April 15, 2017 Author Share Posted April 15, 2017 Hello everybody, now there is only one last assembly step to complete the difficult SSWS chapter, which I want to do today. Now there are only 12 supports left, and after the position of the ring line was stabilized, I have begun with the gluing of the first six supports under the ring line, and so it went on to No. 6. Next came the six triangular supports under the outlets, First on the Blast Shield at the inside of the shaft, and then on the outside. And after the small support under the 16'' rejuvenation was glued still, the deed is actually done and the SSWS thus finally completed, or is there still something missing? You are right, of course, since the two slim Supports are still missing under the 9'' transitions, which I quickly added. And to the celebration of the day the Rainbirds are also coming along in order to finally round out the picture. And here with a little better light, further panorama perspectives of the SSWS Status Quo. But this should be enough now, and so I will now look in on the paint shop, whether the guys eventually have time and desire. But before Easter nothing will happen anyway, and so I just want to wish you all Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crowe-t Posted April 15, 2017 Share Posted April 15, 2017 (edited) Manfred, Congratulations on a job well done! The SSWS is incredible! Have a Happy Easter! Mike. Edited April 15, 2017 by crowe-t Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted April 15, 2017 Author Share Posted April 15, 2017 (edited) Thanks Mike for your congrats, I also find that the result after several starts is rather impressive and I'm also fully satisfied and enthusiastic. The SSWS in its entirety was a hard nut and took lots of effort and was, above all, very time consuming, but so I had always imagined it, wherefore all the effort was really worth it. After this milestone has now been reached, I can sit back for a moment and so my tired eyes can relaxe a little bit ... Edited April 15, 2017 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted April 29, 2017 Author Share Posted April 29, 2017 Hello everybody, the break was really long enough, but after the SSWS stress it has benefited me. To the warm-up I have first done some small things, which I have kicked so far down the road again and again. There were initially still to do the openings for the Rainbirds, what were now finally made. Since the openings in the paper kit were somewhat too small, they had to be corrected anyway. In addition, I had deepened them too far already, since they should only be about 0.5 mm deep. And so the MLP deck looks now from above. After that, I went to the Stair Housing once more, with which I was not completely satisfied, especially since it was built in an early stage, in which I was still not as exacting and crazy for details as today. Since the housing from the Paper Kit especially at the back with the door looked relatively pale, I had it at that time a bit weathered, which then but became a bit too dark. In addition, I had now found some detail photos, which have naturally animated me for scratching. In this picture one can see some details that seemed to me feasible, especially this red warning bell in the upper left corner. Source: capcomespace.net Here is a similar picture from that time from the other side. Source: www.apollosaturn.com (John Duncan) This is why I built the housing once again, and now I find that the coloring, except for the too bright door, it fits better into the picture than the old one, which in turn is pure taste. And now to the required small parts, e.g. this bell. At first, I had thought of small red discs, which I had punched out of the cap of a thumbtack, which should be about 1.4 mm in diameter. Then, of course, there are also pin needles with correspondingly small, flat head, which I dipped briefly in red color, which looks almost even better. For the red box underneath the bell, I used the holder of an interdental brush, from which I have cut off one of these side pins, which correspond to the required size with 1 mm x 1 mm. As one can see in the pictures, the bell sits on a small support or socket, which I still need to color. Then I tried the lower longer locking lever made of 0.3 mm steel wire, which is inserted in a brass pipe (0.4 mm) and could be rotated thereby. The ball handle is a glue drop, but it is still a bit too big. Since the lever seems to be too long and too thick on the housing, I have tried the whole thing again a little smaller and shorter, with brass wire 0.2 mm in a 0.3 mm brass tube, but still without a ball handle. This could already look better and should be tried on today. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted April 30, 2017 Author Share Posted April 30, 2017 (edited) Hello everybody, and so on with the equipment of the Stair Housing with some accessories, which has now also got a new door with a from red to green foldable warning sign, of which I have unfortunately shot no close-up. The two locking levers I have bent once more using 0.2 mm brass wire, which are in a brass tube (Ø 0.3 mm), here the longer lower lever, and here together with the smaller upper lever, both with a small glue ball. After both levers were painted gray, they could also be installed, and the red warning bell and the small box underneath are already attached, wherewith the Stair Housing is finished and looks good so far. And here are some pictures with the housing on the MLP top deck. Again only a small step, but at least a little progress ... Yeah, now one can hear the bell ringing ... Edited April 30, 2017 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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