Lunokhod 2 Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 Carrying on with my 1/48 LM-6, I just completed fixing the various panels around the aft section. They were printed on paper with gloss varnish for the grey panels and satin varnish for the black ones. Before that, since the final model will be displayed on a rod and attached to the CSM, the first step was to 3D print a 6 mm diameter tube fitted inside the ascent stage. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lunokhod 2 Posted January 3, 2020 Author Share Posted January 3, 2020 I just finished to put all panels around the mid-section of my 1/48 lunar module. Quite a lot of parts to assemble. I didn't tell you before but at this time the descent stage has 289 parts (it will have a bit more whan the landing probes will be attached) and the ascent stage 123, of course it will have many more when I start the forward section and all details. Happy new year to all of you Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 Ah-h-h Vincent ... this looks so-o-o good! Printing on paper is such a simple solution ... obviously, the varnish didn't smear the pigment? How much did you experiment with the varnish? ... and the Glossy varnish on the Grey panels looks per-r-rfect! The precision of your assembly of these tiny parts amazes me ... this is real "eye-candy"! Merci Vincent! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lunokhod 2 Posted January 14, 2020 Author Share Posted January 14, 2020 Before applying all the panels to the forward section of my 1/48 LM I completed the rendezvous and main windows and installed the main hatch. CDR and rendezvous windows are provided by Rick Sternbach. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lunokhod 2 Posted February 21, 2020 Author Share Posted February 21, 2020 I just completed covering the forward section of the LM (about 135 panels) and then covering the entire ascent stage. The ascent stage has 271 parts so far and 289 for the descent stage however since there are quite a remaining few parts to install, the final number of parts for the ascent stage will be higher than the descent stage. Progress in pictures : Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lunokhod 2 Posted February 27, 2020 Author Share Posted February 27, 2020 The aft section of the ascent stage is now complete with all its details. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted February 28, 2020 Share Posted February 28, 2020 Amazing attaention to details as always. Keep up the great work! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Underdog Posted March 5, 2020 Share Posted March 5, 2020 Wow, you're doing a great job on the model. Very savvy using printed-paper for the LM panels, who would'd thought about that one? The results are looking spectacular! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lunokhod 2 Posted March 8, 2020 Author Share Posted March 8, 2020 (edited) The mid-section of my 1/48 LM ascent stage stage is now complete with all its details i.e. the ascent engine, the various umbilicals, the position lights, the fuel drains, the S-band high gain antenna, the H2O boilers, the docking target, the VHF antennas and the EVA antenna to which the various vents here and there must be added. Edited March 8, 2020 by Lunokhod 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 A superb piece of work ! Having built a few 1/48 LMs myself, your result is great to see! The coils on the VHF antennae, were they 3D printed too or did you coil them out of wire yourself? Once again, M Meens, you've set the bar very high! Well done! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lunokhod 2 Posted March 9, 2020 Author Share Posted March 9, 2020 Yes the coils on the VHF antennas were 3D printed too. We really are at the limit here. I didn't break the antenna but broke the two supports while putting aluminium paper around. Fortunately the superglue works on this kind of resin. All parts were printed on shapeways except one of the cross braces on the descent stage, it was broken and I printed a replacement on my Photon resin printer. The part seems a bit more solid than the Shapeways one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lunokhod 2 Posted March 20, 2020 Author Share Posted March 20, 2020 And finally all details on the forward section of the LM. I now need to assemble the two stages together as well as the landing probes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lunokhod 2 Posted March 21, 2020 Author Share Posted March 21, 2020 After I assembled the ascent and descent stages together and added the landing probes, I declare the 1/48 LM model finished. Next steps : the stand and the CSM. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 I never get tired of seeing an Apollo Lunar Module ... and your models of it! 2 questions Vincent ... 1. Did you seal the printed paper facets on the Ascent stage? ( are they printed on Laser or Inkjet? ) 2. The rendezvous Antenna is rotated in such a position that I wonder if you had a specific reason for it? I admire your attention to detail every ... single ... detail ... and the end result is lovely to see! Merci M Meens Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ret Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 Wow - absolutely amazing attention to detail - very inspiring! Thank you for sharing. RET Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lunokhod 2 Posted March 22, 2020 Author Share Posted March 22, 2020 To answer Pete's questions, yes all paper facets were sealed on the moel using superglue (just a few drops on each side of the facets, making sure I used some varnish before and wrinkled them a bit). All facets were printed on my inkjet printer at home. For the rendez-vous antenna, I choose this orientation which corresponds to the orientation a few minutes after undocking of Interpid. For you information the current model has 696 parts (289 for the descent stage and 407 for the ascent stage) and it took me 89 hours 34 mn (almost 8 mn per part) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lunokhod 2 Posted April 9, 2020 Author Share Posted April 9, 2020 I have always thought that a good model requires a nice stand. I think the worst example is the 1/32 Monogram CSM, such a nice kit and an ugly stand. Anyways I tried to design something for my 1/48 LM/CSM combination and I hope you will like it. The next and final step will be the 1/48 CSM model. The last picture shows a cone (arrow) that is placed there to stop the CSM when it will be inserted into the rod. The files for this stand are available on Cults3D. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 Congratulations, Vincent! The stand looks fantastic, really perfect. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dekon70 Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Outstanding! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
niart17 Posted April 16, 2020 Share Posted April 16, 2020 Looks fantastic! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brett M Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 Now that’s impressive work! Congrats on a fine build....and I’m looking forward to seeing the CSM! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
The Underdog Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 Extremely nice effort, beautiful looking LEM and custom stand. Looking forward to the addition of the CM, that will truly complete the model. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lunokhod 2 Posted April 24, 2020 Author Share Posted April 24, 2020 (edited) For several years I had the 1/48 RealSpace CSM that I wanted to use for my LM/CSM combination. Unfortunately I rapidly saw that the Service Module was unusable, something happened to the resin at some point and the cylinder looked like a spoiled food can. I probably could had sanded it to make it perfectly cylindrical but it meant removing all the details. I then decided to use the work I had already done with the 1/32 CSM and downscale it to 1/48. So in this model the Service Module is a complete design of mine except for the high gain antenna dishes and the decals. all parts were printed on an Anycubic Photon resin printer. Edited April 24, 2020 by Lunokhod 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 This is what I hoping to see ... a new CSM! And the detail around the RCS is extraordinary! Incroyable! Will the resolution of 3D printers get any better? Merci Vincent! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted April 24, 2020 Share Posted April 24, 2020 Wow very nice! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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