niart17 Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 (edited) Ok, I'm trying to find some more information that seems to be pretty elusive. Does anybody have a resource for either dimensioned drawings of the Orbiter Docking System or even any of the dimensions of any of the components. I can find tons of photos of it, but there don't seem to be any size information out there on the interwebs that I can find. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance, Bill Edited October 16, 2015 by niart17 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hotdog Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Hi Bill, I so-o-o hope you are making a 3D model of the docking system for Shapeways! While none of the drawings I've found have any dimensions, one thing you might try is downloading the 1/144 paper model off of the AXM site and scaling it up to 1/72. Perhaps this would be a good starting point? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted October 16, 2014 Author Share Posted October 16, 2014 Hi Bill, I so-o-o hope you are making a 3D model of the docking system for Shapeways! While none of the drawings I've found have any dimensions, one thing you might try is downloading the 1/144 paper model off of the AXM site and scaling it up to 1/72. Perhaps this would be a good starting point? Well ya read my mind. Yup, started playing with the docking system. I have pulled some sizes off of the AMX models, and I'm sure they are probably close, but I sure would like to get at least a few real dimensions to confirm what I'm coming up with. Obviously the size will have to be tweaked a bit to fit into the models payload bay and still look proportionally correct. But if I can get some of the main dimensions right, everything else should fall in place. I'll post some progress on it when I get enough to look at. I don't think I'll be able to do the blanket material covering it since I think that would drive the polycount WAAAY high, but the good thing about that is I can do the main body parts in WSF since it will have to be covered with foil or somoething, and do all the detail items in FUD for the resolution. That should bring the cost down quite a bit. We'll see. Thanks, if anyone has any more information that would be really helpful. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hotdog Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Hi Bill, Here is a page with some basic dimensions: This comes from the 750-page booklet, "JSC-20466 EVA Tools and Equipment Reference Book". It's a neat reference that has drawings for EVERYTHING the shuttle astronauts use in relation to EVA's, including dimensions, of tools, MMU, even the Omega watch the astronauts wear. You can get the whole book from ntrs.nasa.gov Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 Gee Bill ... you seem to be the whiz-kid when it comes to sourcing obscure information! If you can't find it ... it may not exist ... I'll ask over at Nasaspaceflight, unless you're a member over there. Maybe one o' those guys can help. Oh ... and thanx very much for ALL the info you DO find for us! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted October 16, 2014 Author Share Posted October 16, 2014 Hi Bill, Here is a page with some basic dimensions Awesome Hotdog! Exactly what I needed! That will help a lot. And Pete, I am far behind the curve on finding obscure information. Just look at all the great pics Manfred posts up in his build. Every time he post a new set of pics, I'm all over it with my save button like a buzzard over fresh roadkill! And you've been known to produce some pretty obscure stuff yourself. I just do my part whenever I can. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted October 16, 2014 Author Share Posted October 16, 2014 I'll ask over at Nasaspaceflight, unless you're a member over there. Maybe one o' those guys can help. Pete I have not joined that site yet. It seems like the really good information is mostly for the paying members and I can't justify paying for membership just yet. At least not to the the CFO of the household. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted October 16, 2014 Author Share Posted October 16, 2014 hmmm...I have to question some of those dimensions on that drawing Hotdog. According to that, the main body is 67.31" diameter and it fits inside of the square area of the truss which they call-out as 57.5" wide. It doesn't appear to neck down so I'm not sure the round peg will fit in the square hole so to speak. I'll still use some of it for reference, but it sure does seem a little wonky. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 On Nasaspaceflight, one response donated was the same as Hotdog's image. But upon taking a look at the drawing and the dimensions, A and B do not, indeed, make sense. Now, I've learned NOT to trust the actual drawing 100%, but having said that ... C shows a strut to be 4" in diameter. But the visual dimension of A compared to B, supposedly less than 2", is visually inaccurate. In other words, the width differential between A and B is much less than shown. Either way, Bill, you are right, the drawing is not correct. Whether it's the actual graphic or the dimensions, we'll hafta wait and see. Or you may have to directly overlay this drawing with a photograph and see where the error lies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hotdog Posted October 16, 2014 Share Posted October 16, 2014 I'm guessing the 57.50 is a typo, and they meant 67.50? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted October 16, 2014 Author Share Posted October 16, 2014 (edited) I'm guessing the 57.50 is a typo, and they meant 67.50? That theory may be right, but maybe the other way, whre 67.31 is wrong and it should be 57.31"? It would seem that there isn't much clearance between those components so maybe that's it. I will try that and see how it looks. Thanks again guys, I knew you all would jump to the task. 'Preciate it y'all. Bill Edited October 16, 2014 by niart17 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted October 17, 2014 Author Share Posted October 17, 2014 (edited) Ok, here is a render of some very preliminary work on it. I'm still not convinced some of those numbers are right so I'm tweaking as I go. Overall I think the proportions are getting closer. I MAY be able to do a "one size fits all" between the two shuttle kits, but their payload bays are about 1/16" different in width so I'll have to see how obvious it is. A good amount of this will need to be covered with foil or something to represent the blankets so some of the detail can be a little vague just to get the shapes to work under the blankets. Any suggestions or insight for sizes or details? Thanks, Bill Edited October 17, 2014 by niart17 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 So far ... so good! Bill, here's the link to a thread on Nasaspaceflight ... in the last post, a photo is included from underneath ... http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=35857.0 Now I do realize that you've got images out the wazoo, but here's just one more. The end plates need to be increased in vertical size. I apologize because I again realize that this is a very preliminary rendering ... but just wanted to letcha know. As far as details go, your whatever you decide to include will be quite sufficient! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted October 17, 2014 Author Share Posted October 17, 2014 (edited) Awesome Pete! Thanks for going over there and checking around for me. I guess I need to at least join the regular site over there. I know there's a wealth of information. That picture is VERY helpful. My motto is you can never have too much reference materials! Thanks! I know what you mean about the end plates. Looking at this picture below that has some of the blankets pulled away, it appears that it's wider on the ends because of an "I" beam type shape is mounted under the main frame structure. Looks like maybe it's used as a wire way or something. In fact there are several areas around the structure where you can see more of them. I will try to add those as accurately placed as possible so when it's covered with the blankets it should all look right. The handholds may be a bit of an issue since to be to scale they may fall under the minimum print limitations. Those will probably need to be added the good ol' fashioned way. I also did notice I have the viewports(?) a little too low, they should be falling just under the frame structure. I'll fix that. Thanks again! Edited October 17, 2014 by niart17 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted October 21, 2014 Author Share Posted October 21, 2014 A little more progress on this one. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 Got a little more done on this. Does anybody have any better shots of the framework I've highlighted on the pic below? I can't tell from the photos I've found if it's attached to the hatch or up above it or what and I can't tell how all the interior structure is set up. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RG-4 Posted October 23, 2014 Share Posted October 23, 2014 You can see a little of what you need on this pic. But I guess you already have this one. http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/detail.cfm?mediaid=54080 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 Actually that is a BIG help. It's an angle I haven't been able to find that shows the rear area of the inside. Perfect! Thanks. I see now why I was getting mixed up the rear area of the frame IS above the hatch and then tapers down to connect to the hatch. That's why I could see shadows of the frame in some pictures but not in others. Amazing how ONE photo from just a very slightly different angle can really show so much more information then you have from a bunch of others. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
egt95 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 Wow, Bill. That's pretty impressive. This is for 1/72 scale? Any chance for a 1/144? I'll have to check, but I believe the newer 1/100 Tamiya model has the space station airlock adapter. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 Wow, Bill. That's pretty impressive. This is for 1/72 scale? Any chance for a 1/144? I'll have to check, but I believe the newer 1/100 Tamiya model has the space station airlock adapter. Mike Thanks Mike. Yes, right now this is scaled for 1/72. It could be scaled down for 1/144 but I suspect a lot of the details would have to be simplified because of falling below the minimum print limits. But I will see once I get it all done what it would take to scale it down. For this one I think the main body and frame work will be best in WSF material with the details around the docking ring and various other parts in FUD. I still one day want to get the Tamiya 1/100 shuttle model. I hear it's great and it looks very detailed. Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted October 24, 2014 Share Posted October 24, 2014 The detail you're depicting is incredible - but won't most of it be hidden by the thermal blankets? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted October 24, 2014 Author Share Posted October 24, 2014 (edited) Yes, the main body and the truss work is covered with blankets. That's why I didn't detail the body much but rather added features that once wrapped with foil or something to simulate blankets it will hopefully have all the right bumps in the right places. That's one reason why the cross-bracing struts don't have the connections details since they are covered as well. But the interior details and the upper docking ring area isn't cover with blankets so that is more detailed and will be printed in FUD to maintain all the details. It should look right once completed and painted up. Bill Edited October 24, 2014 by niart17 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
egt95 Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 :hmmm:/> ... What could we come up with that would simulate thermal blankets for this item? I bet the use of some good medical tape of some kind would work well..... It looks really good though. Can't wait to see the finished product. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted October 25, 2014 Share Posted October 25, 2014 (edited) Check out this 'flyover' of Endeavour's payload bay in California. The ODS is clearly visible near the end of the video. Edited October 25, 2014 by habu2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted October 29, 2014 Author Share Posted October 29, 2014 Thanks Habu, very cool video. Here is where I am currently. For the most part the modeling is done but for a few minor details. Now I just need to figure the best way for the parts break down and what options I will want to include. The docking ring itself will be a separate assembly, I just don't know the best way to make it where you can do any of the 3 positions. Perhaps include optional struts for different lengths. I'll have to work that out. It will have two of the truss storage boxes as separate parts but I may do a few others in the various styles they had throughout the program. Different missions carried them in different locations and some were totally different than what I show here. Also the lights will have to be separate parts but not sure the best to make assembly easy. Anyway, if you guys see anything else it could use or anything that needs changing let me know. Thanks for looking, Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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