Slartibartfast Posted February 26, 2022 Share Posted February 26, 2022 On 2/21/2022 at 3:36 PM, spaceman said: Hi Bruce, I'm sure you mean the nose gear, but that's a different weight class. No, sir. The main gear use the pendulum system, or something very similar. Nose gear is standard hydraulic strut. Maybe different weight class but the KAMAG doesn’t make controlled crash landings on carrier decks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted February 26, 2022 Author Share Posted February 26, 2022 (edited) Hello Bruce, a closer look reveals a similar system on the Hornet's main gears but probably only to cushion the landing. Source: wikimedia.org The Pendulum axles of NASA's canister transporters of course serves a different purpose and are specially designed for transporting heavy loads with a maximum weight of the loaded canister of 90 tons and of course not for crash landings. Edited February 26, 2022 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted February 28, 2022 Author Share Posted February 28, 2022 Hello everybody, after the two holder beams for the 24 twin wheel sets have been completed, I have now fixed the two side walls with magnetic holders and then glued them to the cover plate (Styrene 0,25 mm). Then spacers for the driver's cabins and modules were glued on, which were only put down temporarily. Then the end strips (0,25 mm x 1.5 mm) were glued to both front sides, Then the end strips (0,25 mm x 1.5 mm) were glued to both front sides, as well as the carrier beams for the wheel sets adapted. Next I have to tackle the wheel production, ie scratching of 48 single wheels, which then must be glued to 24 twin wheel sets in order to glue them finally onto both sides of the holder beams. In view of the terrible war in Ukraine, I would like to send a solidarity greeting to the Ukrainian people fighting for their freedom: „You'll never walk alone“ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CaptKirk Posted February 28, 2022 Share Posted February 28, 2022 Looking good Manfred! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted February 28, 2022 Author Share Posted February 28, 2022 Thanks Kirk and stay tuned! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 1, 2022 Author Share Posted March 1, 2022 (edited) Hello everybody, today it got down to the nitty-gritty, i.e. punching wheels & spacers till the cow comes home ... For the 48 wheels I used a hole punch (Ø 7 mm) to make a total of 96 discs from Cardboard (1 mm) punched, which required two hammer blows per disc on average. Then I had to push each disc out of the hole punch with a nail, which all in all was quite an ordeal ... For making the spacers (Ø 4 mm) between the twin wheel sets from Styrene (0,5 mm) I used my Punch&Die Set, and Styrene (1 mm) was used for the discs (Ø 4 mm) between the wheel sets and the holder beams. So that the cardboard discs lie exactly on top of each other when gluing them together, I used an angle as a stop, in the corner of which they were fixed and could not slip. This way they could be aligned with the tweezers from both sides and pressed together perfectly from above. Then the 24 wheels, to be attached to the support beams, were painted black on all sides, which was a stressful fiddling. The remaining 24 wheels were only blacked on the back and around the circumference after gluing the printed cover disk. Next comes the assembly of the wheels on the holder beams and the construction of the twin wheel sets, for which I need a clever jig with which I can position the wheels exactly and glue them together. Edited March 1, 2022 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 1, 2022 Author Share Posted March 1, 2022 (edited) Hello everybody, before I get to my special jig, some preparatory work had to be done for the following step-by-step construction of the twin wheel sets. The planned buildup can be seen on the right side of the holder beam. First, the inner spacers (1 mm) are glued to the beams. The inner twin wheels are then glued one after the other, to which the middle spacers (0,5 mm) were previously glued. And lastly, the outer twin wheels are glued on, which completes the twin wheel sets. For the centered gluing the discs onto the holders my good sense of proportion has been enough. But for the exact gluing of the inner wheels I have considered the following jig. To do this, the holder beam was first fixed to a metal support sheet with magnets, onto which I then placed a try square as a stop for the inner wheels, exactly at the upper edge of the wheels, on which I marked the position of the wheels on a tape strip. After gluing the middle spacers (0,5 mm) onto the inner wheels, I thought that it would be easier for assembly if I glued the twin wheels together instead of gluing the single wheels one above the other. I then did the same thing as before, by using a larger try square as the stop only. Then I carefully glued on the twin wheel sets, wherefore I used CA. And with that, the outside of one holder beam is equipped with twin wheel sets, which means that a quarter of the transporter's wheel sets is done. Since my concept for the construction of the wheel sets has proven itself so far, I can now confidently turn to the outside of the other beam, whereby the assembly of the twin wheel sets on the insides of the holder beams should certainly become a bit trickier. But let's wait and see ... Edited March 12, 2022 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 3, 2022 Author Share Posted March 3, 2022 (edited) Hello everybody, and now, the same way as done already before, for mounting the wheel sets on the outside of the other holder beam, which is why I can be brief. Since the inner spacers (1 mm) were already glued on, the prepared twin wheel sets could be glued on straight away. Since the wheel sets are still missing on the other side, both beams needed a standing support for a first test. Next, the still missing 12 twin wheel sets were made. However, for the assembly I had to modify my previous jig a bit so that the twin wheel sets already glued to the back of the holder beam cannot be damaged. That's why I laid the holder beam on the larger stop bracket, which left the twins hanging in the air on the underside and nothing could happen to them. As a stop, I then fixed the small angle with the markings on it using various magnets and shims, which I fiddled with for quite a while until everything was stably aligned and in the right position. The gluing of the twins then went in the usual way as before, which then completed the first of the two holder beams, and could now stand freely on its 12 twin wheel sets. And in the same way, the second holder beam was then equipped with the remaining twins. And then it was finally time, and the two holder beams with their total 48 wheels were finished after long and painstaking detailed work, so that the transporter platform could be tried on, which looks pretty good so far. Next, the two driver's cabins and modules can be mounted. Edited March 3, 2022 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CaptKirk Posted March 4, 2022 Share Posted March 4, 2022 Manfred, I'm disappointed. I felt sure there would be valve stems for each tyre... I'm joking of course, and I'm once again impressed by the relentless determination you show when faced with repetitive work like this. Incidentally, why cardboard not styrene for the tyres? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 4, 2022 Author Share Posted March 4, 2022 Thanks Kirk for your funny compliment , I'm always up for such jokes. Funny, I just had a similar question in the Britmodeller forum, or do you also post there under a different name (uilleann)? Regarding the question cardboard vs. styrene I posted the reason for this a week ago, Posted February 26 ... For a more accurate prototype, I also punched round blanks out of Styrene (Ø2 mm), which was quite an ordeal and therefore cannot be used for series production. Also, paper sticks better to cardboard than to styrene. Admittedly, these 96 discs for the 48 wheels were modeling madness already, especially since one can only see the outer wheels under this flat bed transporter anyway. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 6, 2022 Author Share Posted March 6, 2022 (edited) Hello everybody, now that the 24 twin wheel sets have been mounted on the support beams, the driver's cabins and modules can now also be glued at the front and rear side. This was followed by a first fitting of the holder beams, what looked well so far. Then I carefully provisionally set up the two holder beams and checked their all-round distances. So far, so good, but now they finally had to be glued, which couldn't be done out of hand, which is why I had to think about a suitable fixation. However, when I re-measured, I noticed that the two side walls were no longer exactly vertical, but had tilted slightly inwards, what couldn't stay that way. In order to be able to correct this back to the correct inner dimension (40 mm), I made a recess in the middle of both beams, into which I wanted to glue a suitable square profile (4 x 4 x 40 mm) as a cross brace after gluing in the holder beams. Gluing in the beams themselves was then a tricky thing, because I had to ensure that the wheel sets didn't touch the wall, but that a certain distance (0,5 mm) was maintained. To do this, I had to do several things at the same time while gluing, i.e. immediately insert spacers (0,5 mm) and the cross brace and fix the beams from the inside with magnets, but what worked well at both sides. After that was done, I've taken a deep breath and was happy about this partial success, especially since the transporter is taking real shape more and more, here the view onto the front side with the EPS Module, and here onto the back with the I&CS und F&GS Modules. Since one can hardly see any of the interesting details like the pendulum axles & wheels, I kept an eye out for a few more details that I could still scratch. And I've had a few things in the back of my head for quite some time that I want to take a closer look at. As can be seen from this drawing, in addition to the well-known modules in the middle of the transporter, there is also still the Electrical Power Subsystem (EPS), consisting of two Diesel engines-generator modules, as well as Distribution and control panels. Source: NASA Conference Publication 2342 Part 2 (M. E. Donahue) And these EPS Modules can also be seen on this photo of the STS-6, Source: retrospaceimages.com (STS-6) and also in this photo by James MacLaren when you know they are there, although you can only see the front corner. Then there is apparently another control panel in the form of this small box at the front behind the driver's cab. However, this faintly recognizable part directly in front at the driver's cab still puzzles me, which I will hopefully solve. Source: 16streets.com/MacLaren That's it for today. Edited March 6, 2022 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CaptKirk Posted March 7, 2022 Share Posted March 7, 2022 On 3/4/2022 at 6:19 PM, spaceman said: ... do you also post there under a different name (uilleann)? Er, no. There are some great modellers who have contributed there, but a great many more who have left. It's worth looking into why. Transporter is looking fantastic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 7, 2022 Author Share Posted March 7, 2022 (edited) Thanks Kirk, yep, that's right, you left there too ... Well, the interest in this forum is limited and is therefore by far the last place in my forum list (5.), one place behind the ARC ... Edited March 7, 2022 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 7, 2022 Author Share Posted March 7, 2022 (edited) Hello everybody, and so first of all to the EPS Modules, which can be found in detail on photos of the later missions, which should be similar in structure to those of the early missions. Here is a photo of the transporter during the STS-135, the lower area of which I have therefore adopted for my EPS and scaled accordingly. Source: NASA (STS-135) To the right you can see the small Panel at the front behind the driver's cabin, which I first took from the MacLaren photo, but which is too blurry for me, which is why I looked for a different template. Here you can see the outwardly visible area of the EPS Modules, which is completely sufficient for the optics. And this is what the front small panel box looks like, whose location I recapitulated from this photo of the STS-125. Source: NASA (STS-125) In this image you can also see this previously unknown object, but which I could also identify based on other photos, wherewith would also solve this riddle. As you can see without a doubt on this STS-135 photo, this is the rear-view mirror and its bracket, which must be correspondingly large and must protrude more outwards than usual so that the driver can also see the 18 m long transporter completely to the rear when maneuvering. Source: NASA (STS-135) On my scale (1:160), the rear-view mirrors should therefore be 3,5 mm x 1,5 mm and thus about twice as large as the rear-view mirrors of the Astrovan, which should therefore already be feasible. However, I'm still not sure whether I should really do this gimmick with the filigree holder (Ø 0,1 mm) ... Here are the current images of the transporter, and here for comparison the original outfit of the KAMAG transporter that I started with. And finally for today a little preview of the vehicles on the Diorama, which makes me confident. Edited March 7, 2022 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
freshnewstart Posted March 7, 2022 Share Posted March 7, 2022 One can allmost forget what this massive projekt is about 😁 Soooo COOL Mr. Spaceman 😊 Jesper Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 7, 2022 Author Share Posted March 7, 2022 Thanks Jesper! If so, then you just need to read the first page every once in a while ... Jokes aside! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted March 7, 2022 Share Posted March 7, 2022 5 hours ago, spaceman said: Source: NASA (STS-135) On my scale (1:160), the rear-view mirrors should therefore be 3,5 mm x 1,5 mm and thus about twice as large as the rear-view mirrors of the Astrovan, which should therefore already be feasible. However, I'm still not sure whether I should really do this gimmick with the filigree holder (Ø 0,1 mm) ... I think the main thing that differentiates your models is all-l-l-l the details you add. So the mirrors, the Fire Extinguisher, the cabling, the details underneath ... are your trademark. You know you want to include it all! ;^ D I don't know how you keep your quality up to these high standards, but we're glad you are! Thanx Manfred! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 8, 2022 Author Share Posted March 8, 2022 Thanks Pete for your nice words! But with my passion for detail it is like with an allergy, as soon as I find interesting details, I start thinking about whether and how I could scratch them best way. But sometimes I get a fright when I have scaled their dimensions to 1:160 and see how tiny they are. That's why I have to slow myself down then so as not to lose myself too much in this dreamery, because in the meantime I'm trusting myself to do some crazy things, according to my slogan Nothing is impossible ... BTW, you'll laugh, but I've already measured the Fire Extinguisher, which should be Ø 1 mm x 4 mm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CaptKirk Posted March 8, 2022 Share Posted March 8, 2022 1 x 4mm doesn't sound too bad (it's a slice of 1mm rod after all). What I worry about is how you'll do the hose, or the instruction decal! Incidentally, what's up next after these vehicles? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 8, 2022 Author Share Posted March 8, 2022 Thanks Kirk for your compassion, it's really touching that you get worried for me about the Fire extinguisher details ... Let's wait and see, you know, Nothing is impossible! But first again to the Fire extinguisher on this last image. That time on the STS-6 transporter there was no fire extinguisher at that place, as one can see in this picture. Source: 16streets.com/MacLaren But opposite on the other side there was one at the I&CS Module as one can see in this image. And this thing I'll try only just for fun, and I've got an idea already too. Source: retrospaceimages.com (STS-6) Then of course the Payload Canister on the transporter is still missing. But then it should be enough with the vehicles for the time being, a Tanker truck and a Fire brigade will be added later. Following it then continues with the lighting of the MLP, which has been on the agenda for a long time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 12, 2022 Author Share Posted March 12, 2022 (edited) Hello everybody, so then get to work! The simplest solution would be such a printout, which I could still stick on cardboard, but I quickly discarded this. Instead I used the red insulating tube from a thin wire (Ø 1 mm) into which I inserted a pin (Ø 1 mm) and at 4 mm pinched it off with a side cutter. Then I glued on the tiny instruction label, wherewith was almost the end of my first prototype. Then I glued it to a holder made of a channel profile (1,3 mm), which didn't look bad so far. However, since I found out when re-measuring my reference photo that the extinguisher was a bit too short, I lengthened the tube pieces to 4 mm, which would result in a length with the needle of 5 mm. Since I had come up with a slightly larger diameter (1,4 mm) of the extinguisher during the re-measurement too, I searched in my stock and actually found a slightly stronger wire (Ø 1,2 mm), which appealed to me more than the wire I used first (Ø ≤ 1 mm). And when I took a closer look at higher magnification, I then considered whether the cute thing couldn't be shown a little more realistically, and came up with the following solution. For the hose (Ø = 0,2 mm) I've quickly cut off a few hairs of a suitable thickness from our hand broom, and threaded a hair into the red sleeve before inserting the pin, which would not have been possible afterwards, but it worked out well. As a funnel of this CO2 Fire extinguisher I have used this black insulating tube. So that no mishap should happen to me when pinching off the needle, I've put the needle into an eraser and then cut it with the side cutters while holding the broom hair with my fingers, which was not a problem since I had fixed the extinguisher at an angling rod, so to speak. Then I glued the extinguisher to the somewhat larger bracket Channel (1,7 mm), which of course had to be fixed again for this, of course. In this position, the further assembly then took place. First the funnel was glued on with CA and the thin "hose" was threaded into it. Finally, the instruction label was glued on, the protruding hose was cut off, and lasty the protruding Channel was cut off, and the work was done. And I have to say, I like the thing a lot better than its predecessor and that's why it goes through my strict quality control. Now the extinguisher only had to be attached to the transporter, for which I fixed it stably between two brackets, which also worked - All's well that ends well! And I think there are definitely some similarities compared to the original. Source: retrospaceimages.com (STS-6) Finally, a small addendum which shows the attached bumper, of course also on the back. Now, of course, the other side of the transporter also needs its Fire extinguisher, but its Making-of is no longer a problem. Edited March 12, 2022 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted March 13, 2022 Share Posted March 13, 2022 i'm sitting here just ... shaking ... my ... head ... in disbelief ... The itsy - bitsy extinguisher is very, very well done! The end solution is satisfying ... but the journey you take us all on, with your photos, to show your thought processes, your re-thinking and your MOST creative solution is most gratifying for US, the viewer! Through these images, we can sense that you're still enjoying this build. You seem genuinely excited to have a problem ( replicating an insignificant part ) and then, solve it. With superb results! And that resulting solution enhances the entire, larger assembly! Thank You Manfred! Keep up the great work! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 (edited) Thanks Pete for your kind words and for your enthusiasm, but I've really enjoyed this midget too and if it entertained you too, I'm glad. Well, Kirk's allusion has already challenged me a little bit, and I'm always up for such jokes, on the other hand this detail just stimulated me, precisely because it is actually so small and inconspicuous and is hardly noticeable from a normal viewer's perspective, let alone when the Transporter with the Payload Canister will stand on the Pad diorama ... Okay, that was quite a hassle for this midget, but it was still doable, if only for the fun of it. And sometimes I have to test my limits ... But it's always the same realization, I needed about three times as much time for the whole detailed research and working out a feasible solution, including the search for materials, as for the scratching itself. And I also have to keep a cool head, although I could still tear my hair out and freak out every now and then. The joy is all the greater when I then see that a part has turned out the way I imagined it, even if it is just such a seemingly insignificant tiny thing. Edited March 13, 2022 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CaptKirk Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 When this whole diorama is finished, I think I will need to put aside at least 2 days at whatever museum it is in to appreciate the microscopic detail. Simply awesome, Manfred. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted March 14, 2022 Author Share Posted March 14, 2022 (edited) Thanks Kirk for your nice compliment, great that you like my tiny CO2 Fire extinguisher. You are very welcome for a flying visit to my house museum in the Filder Space Center (FSC), where every year an Open house will take place. Edited March 15, 2022 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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