Space Shuttle Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6 (1:144)

[Logan 5]

20 minutes ago, spaceman said:

Hello everybody,

 

and with that, back to my STS-6 Launch Pad 39A report.

 

After completing and safely stowing the Payload Canister with the associated Transporter as my final sub-project, 

 

 

I returned to the Diorama and, together with my "illumination technician" Arno (McPhönix), further modified the multi-power bank for the pad illumination he had developed. http://www.raumfahrer.net/forum/yabbfiles/Attachments/up045518.gif

 

At that time, the concept of Dio illumination was still in development, and that power bank would have required a rather complex and complicated separate wiring of the individual LED circuits with the power bank's connection clamps. 

 

 

That's why my friend Arno has once again invested a lot of spirit and work  by first preparing a connection plate and mounting it directly behind the power bank. Its 5 x 15 contact pins are connected to those of the power bank using the two connector plugs, the top of which can be seen here. 

 

 

 

On its underside, you can see the soldered wires that have been bundled into a cable harness,

 

 

via which this connection plate is connected to a collection plate with the same contact assignment, which is embedded on the diorama near the RSS in the launch pad cover, to which all the LED circuits are soldered, which are led through cable ducts to this collection plate, which can be seen here from both sides. 

 

 

 

This solution should make the entire wiring process much easier. 

 

In order to get a better idea of the future location of the diorama, I have marked out its outline (160 cm x 90 cm) in the provided room  with several folding rules and have provisionally set up both the shell buildings of the FSS and RSS as well as the modified multi-power bank, as you can see here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the final solution, the power bank will be rotated 90° and mounted so that it can be placed and pulled out under the diorama base plate, as shown in the following image. 

 

 

And these pictures show the modified diorama layout, a bit clearer and up-to-date,

 

 

 

with which I'd like to say goodbye until my return from my vacation. 

Very nice detail Manfred, have a great vacation... Enjoy, all the best Al 

[southwestforests]

On 9/26/2025 at 12:22 PM, spaceman said:

I had a plum-sized stone that needed to be removed.

Going to use it for the asteroid in your diorama of the upcoming asteroid deflection spacecraft?
🤔 😁
Note that I say that as a person who in early 2000s ended up having emergency surgery having gallstones and kidney stones at same time.
Seriously un-fun but it felt so much better when it was done.
Happy healing to ya!

[CaptKirk]

How was Intrepid for you, Manfred? I went last year and found it distinctly underwhelming. The Concorde was beautiful of course - but should still be flying. Hope your recovery is complete. 🙂

[spaceman]

On 9/27/2025 at 7:44 PM, southwestforests said:

Going to use it for the asteroid in your diorama of the upcoming asteroid deflection spacecraft?
🤔 😁
Note that I say that as a person who in early 2000s ended up having emergency surgery having gallstones and kidney stones at same time.
Seriously un-fun but it felt so much better when it was done.
Happy healing to ya!

 

Thanks my friend, and all joking aside, I was glad I had surgery still before my vacation and that everything went well. 

[spaceman]

On 10/5/2025 at 9:39 AM, CaptKirk said:

How was Intrepid for you, Manfred? I went last year and found it distinctly underwhelming. The Concorde was beautiful of course - but should still be flying. Hope your recovery is complete. 🙂

 

I was more interested in the Intrepid's technique and size, I've always wanted to stand on an aircraft carrier and look around, as well as under the deck.

 

The Enterprise was, of course, the main attraction, and the Concorde tour was also interesting. I was surprised by how small and cramped it is.