The Underdog Posted May 20, 2020 Share Posted May 20, 2020 Wow, the ET is coming along nicely. Will be great seeing it completed with its paint application, it will most likely be a "Stunner!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted May 21, 2020 Author Share Posted May 21, 2020 Thanks Underdog, now nothing must not go wrong with the Flour Applicaion, so keep your fingers crossed! I just have still to think about how best to do this, whether I spray the two tank parts individually with spray adhesive and then powder them with flour, or whether I completely glue the tank together and mask the Intertank ... Somehow I have to hold the part/parts, both while the spray adhesive is being applied and during the subsequent flouring. What do the experts think about it? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Slartibartfast Posted May 21, 2020 Share Posted May 21, 2020 Run a string or wire wire through it and hang horizontally. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted May 22, 2020 Author Share Posted May 22, 2020 Thanks Bruce for your tip, I'll come up with a similar solution. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted May 23, 2020 Author Share Posted May 23, 2020 Hello everybody meanwhile I have decided not to flour the two ET Tanks separately, but to glue them together with the Intertank beforehand, which should make handling easier. And for the Flour application I have in mind a horizontal mount similar to the Test rotisserie, for this I'm going to insert the aluminum rod that was already in use through the front Nose Cone opening, which reaches to the Aft Dome. This rod then is clamped in a side holder so that I can turn the tank around its axis during spray gluing and flouring, whereby I will first flour the LH2 Tank, and then the LO2 Tank. Before gluing of the three ET parts, I had to mark the exact position of the 12 Ice Ramps (R20) on the LO2 Tank in order to be able to cut out and mask their contact sites, taking the exact alignment of the GO2 Press. Line up to the Nose Cone had to pay attention, which was not so easy to do. Afterwards I've marked the position of the Ice Ramps with the help of the Newware template, and then were cut them out. Then I had noticed for a longer time that the Newware Ice Ramps are rectangular (3 mm x 3,7 mm), and not square like the original Ramps. These have the dimensions 1,5' x 1,5', which corresponds to 3 mm x 3 mm in 1/144 scale, which is why I will adjust the ramps accordingly, what has already happened with the front ramp. Then I've yet masked the contact areas and the front part of the LO2 PAL Ramp. Thereby however, I had not considered that the PAL Ramp is right next to the Cable Tray (0,5 mm x 0,75 mm) and therefore has to be a little wider, which I've corrected after I had put on the channel for better orientation. That's it again for the moment. Thanks for watching and have a great Sunday. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted May 26, 2020 Author Share Posted May 26, 2020 Hello everybody, so friends, now it's getting serious slowly, because the final Flour application is getting closer. After I had unrigged the entire ET and freed it from all lines, I've first glued together the Intertank with the LO2 Tank, and then also have glued the IT together with the LH2 Tank and removed the SRB Support bar. Then there were some smaller places on the LH2 Tank, like the openings for the two Vertical Struts of the ET/Orbiter Aft Attachments and the LH2 Feedline, as well as for the ET/SRB Aft Attach Struts, which is done meanwhile. After that there were left only the lower parts of the LO2 Feedline Supports, which I've taped with 1 mm tape so that I didn't have to clean them from the glued flour in order to have uniform contact surfaces for gluing the Feedline. Then I still have taped the Manhole Covers, and the openings for the LH2 Recirculation Line and the Diagonal Strut were closed with toothpick tips. Since I will first flour the LH2 Tank, I then have completely taped the Intertank and the LO2 Tank, in order to be able to easily turn the ET when spray gluing and flouring. I will try out the holding device for the Aluminum rod tomorrow and then present it. Well, and these are one by one the necessary utensils for the upcoming Flour Action, the UHU Spray adhesive, the Rice flour, of which I've bought a new pack to be on the safe side and a new can of Vallejo Primer (white). Next I will think on and test the Holding jig, and then I only have to overcome the inhibition threshold for the Final countdown, of which I'm scared a little bit because nothing must go wrong. And therefore please keep all your fingers crossed, dear friends. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted May 26, 2020 Author Share Posted May 26, 2020 Hello everybody, and now to my new jig for the Flour coating of the completely glued ET, which inevitably had to look different than in my first test serieses, when I could horizontally insert the Holding rod with the dummy and let easily rotate around its axis both during the Spray gluing as well as during the Flour coating. For holding the skewered ET I have now chosen this modified arrangement, in which the holding rod is plugged into an upright standing cardboard. Since the aluminum rod has sagged too much when the ET was racked, I had to replace it by a more stable Bamboo rod. This gives the ET a better grip, whereby it can be easily turned with the left hand when spray gluing and flour coating. With this the first part of the ET's Flour coating should work well, I hope so. After priming then the second part can follow, for what the masking on the LO2 Tank is removed, after which the LH2 Tank can be floured and primed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie-Pete Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 I discovered spray welding this week. This looks a very similar method. Can't wait to see the completed model Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mikephilippens Posted May 27, 2020 Share Posted May 27, 2020 You know how to build up the suspense...Manfred Hitchcock Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted May 27, 2020 Author Share Posted May 27, 2020 3 hours ago, Aussie-Pete said: I discovered spray welding this week. This looks a very similar method. Can't wait to see the completed model Thanks Pete, but this method my ET would not survive ... Better not! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted May 27, 2020 Author Share Posted May 27, 2020 2 hours ago, mikephilippens said: You know how to build up the suspense...Manfred Hitchcock Thanks Mike, I still want to entertain you, guys, that's why the show must go on ... Therefore stay tuned and keep your fingers crossed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted May 28, 2020 Author Share Posted May 28, 2020 (edited) Hello everybody, in view of the occasion, here is a little side leap to the meanwhile almost unrecognizable Launch Pad 39A, on which in the meantime Elon Musk with his company SpaceX is at home and had planned a historic thunderbolt yesterday. Source: wikipedia.org Certainly, many of you, like me, waited eagerly for the start of the SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 (SpX-DM2) last night, but due to the unfavorable weather conditions it had to be canceled and rescheduled to Saturday. Here is an image of the crew, Douglas Hurley (left) und Robert Behnken. Source: wikipedia.org Matching to this here is an image of my friend Scott Phillips with the DM-2 Commander Douglas Hurley with one of his legendary Hardwood Shuttle Tribute Models after the last Shuttle Mission STS-135, in which Doug Hurley participated as a pilot of the Atlantis. In the image on the right is Michael D. Leinbach, the then Shuttle Launch Director of NASA, including STS-135. Source: Scott Phillips So far, Scott "Shuttleman" Phillips has created more than 450 such one-of-a-kind handcrafted wooden shuttle models from a wide variety of wood types to reflect and honor the execellence and legacy of the Shuttle Program, and had let many of them signed by the shuttle crews at the time, of which he is very proud. Edited May 29, 2020 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie-Pete Posted May 28, 2020 Share Posted May 28, 2020 51 minutes ago, spaceman said: Hello everybody, in view of the occasion, here is a little side leap to the meanwhile almost unrecognizable Launch Pad 39A, on which in the meantime Elon Musk with his company SpaceX is at home and had planned a historic thunderbolt yesterday. Source: wikipedia.org Certainly, many of you, like me, waited eagerly for the start of the SpaceX Demonstration Mission 2 (SpX-DM2) last night, but due to the unfavorable weather conditions it had to be canceled and rescheduled to Saturday. Here is an image of the crew, Douglas Hurley (left) und Robert Behnken. Source: wikipedia.org Matching to this here is an image of my friend Scott Phillips with the DM-2 Commander Douglas Hurley with one of his legendary Hardwood Shuttle Tribute Models after the last Shuttle Mission STS-135, in which Doug Hurley participated as a pilot of the Atlantis. Source: Scott Phillips So far, Scott "Shuttleman" Phillips has created more than 450 such one-of-a-kind models from a wide variety of wood types to reflect and honor the execellence and legacy of the Shuttle Program, and had let many of them signed by the shuttle crews at the time, of which he is very proud. Th eright stuff but they are no Bob and Mike. I got up early to watch the launch. Maybe I should have stayed in bed and it would have gone off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted May 29, 2020 Author Share Posted May 29, 2020 Live is Life - Na, Na, Nana Na ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 Hello friends, now it was finally time and I was able to position the ET in the flour chamber for his countdown. The spray adhesive I had previously placed in a warm water bath and then shaken it vigorously again so that it can be sprayed easily. Then once again a short test grip with rubber glove and next door a few test sprays on a cardboard that were okay and gave green light. Afterwards, the LH2 Tank was sprayed under repeated turns and at the Aft Dome and then a photo was quickly taken. And then the flour dusting came in ... and it was generously applied all around with the sieve and lightly pressed down with the finger, while the ET was turned several times. Then it was enough with the flour dusting and the excess flour could be shaken off by tapping lightly. Then I went into my office and was able to have a close look at the preliminary result, which looks pretty nice so far. Now everything should dry properly before the remaining flour can be brushed off. And then the flour layer can be fixed with a first primer coat. Let's see what the result looks like after brushing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crowe-t Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 Manfred, It looks impressive already! Mike. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 How'd it go? Don't leave us hanging for too long : ) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted May 31, 2020 Author Share Posted May 31, 2020 Thanks Mike and Joe, and keep cool and curious. And now, based on the hit by Silver Convention - Fly, Robin, Fly (1975) ... Dry, ET, Dry! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CaptKirk Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 Great work Manfred. Nice to know that the tank is suitable for vegans - which may keep Gino from being tempted to take a bite. Once again, your attention to detail is second to none. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted May 31, 2020 Author Share Posted May 31, 2020 Thanks Kirk, I'm only not allowed to put strips of chicken breast nearby. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 You are a brave man ... I'm confident that this is going to look most excellent! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted May 31, 2020 Author Share Posted May 31, 2020 Thanks Pete, I hope the risk will keep within a limit ... Therefore Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aussie-Pete Posted May 31, 2020 Share Posted May 31, 2020 Well done Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 Thanks Pete. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 Hello everybody on Whit Monday, after the spray adhesive has certainly dried, I've picked up the soft long-haired brush and carefully brushed off the excess flour. This was followed by a gentle Peeling with a pointed tweezer, with which small lints were removed. And this is how the LH2 Tank now looks after the Flour coating. Here is a cut-out at higher magnification. I'm very satisfied with this result, so that the priming can follow now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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