SpacecraftReplicas - 1/4 Scale Mercury build

**lancer525** · #1 11-08-2008, 09:33 PM

Well, talk about jumping in with both feet, but I've gotten to a point where I can post on this build.

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Scott did a fantastic job drafting out all the pieces, and at first, it looks really daunting. However, the instructions are pretty well laid out, and although there are a couple of rough spots, it is doable. I'm using Color Mates 65# card stock in Light, Medium, Dark and Deep Morning Mist. Although I should have ordered the Deep Morning Mist sooner.

I started with the Antenna Fairing, since it seemed to me to be a good place to begin.

Here are some photos of the build so far:

Top flange. I decided to use large nuts, instead of coins, as they have a larger flat surface.

This was the second attempt at the main base structure of the fairing, and as you can see, I had some serious warping going on. I never did figure out what caused it, so I had to build four of them before I got one that didn't warp.

I think that building the bottom structure on waxed paper to keep it from sticking to my cutting mat and leaving it there until I added the inner dielectric structure and antenna cone, had something to do with eliminating the warping.

Here, I'm adding the inner dielectric structure. You probably can't tell from the photo, but I've used a bright-white textured paper for the dielectric. It's a very fine ridged pattern, and it looks pretty good.

I found a really neat metallic paper to use for the aluminum antenna reflector inside the dielectric structure. It's "The Paper Company - Metallic Cover 12"x12" - Silver - #10205-030" in case anyone's interested. It works just fine with my HP Inkjet printer.

Here's the antenna fairing to date. The build is progressing, when I have time to work on the thing, and I think this is going to be a pretty good project. It can get a little frustrating, and it takes a while to cut out all those parts, but it's going well, I think.

**rickstef** · #2 11-08-2008, 09:43 PM

Lancer,

any troubles you would encounter would disappear when partaking of the adult beverage you have in the background

drink enough of it, and you might not care about anything anyway

Rick

**lancer525** · #3 11-09-2008, 09:15 AM

Rick:

I have *no* idea how that got there... :o

Actually... I do.

I was using the empty bottle for weight, for another part. Honest...

**Don Boose** · #4 11-09-2008, 09:28 AM

The bottle doesn't look quite empty.

But the build is great, anyway!

Where do you get the colored card stock with those evocative names?

Don

**lancer525** · #5 11-17-2008, 09:00 AM

After an abortive start at the Recovery Section, I decided to go back and finish the detail work on the Antenna Canister, now that my Deep Morning Mist paper arrived.

Built the scanners, brackets, drogue canister, and other internal parts, and here they're added in to the internal structure:

I still have the feeling that there are a few things I am missing somewhere, because there seems to be a number of really tiny parts that are still on the cards, and I have less than no clue where they go.

Used the Deep Morning Mist paper to do the skin, and I found this really great textured paper at a store back home in Georgia. I can't find the tag for the paper, so I don't know the name of it. When I get back from vacation in December, I'll have bought some more, and can post the name of it then. Sorry fellas.

I had a devil of a time doing the destabilizing flap, as I built the first two backwards. That is to say, I built them upside down. The scanner cover housing kept ending up on the other side of the top of the canister, so I'd have to build another one. Finally got it right, but there was some major gnashing of teeth going on... :D I still have the drogue canister cover to build, and then I can set the entire assembly aside to wait for the molded skins that Scott is working on. I'm also going to be taking a break, as I'm going on vacation right after Thanksgiving. For now, I'll focus on the recovery section.

Here's the assembly, as it sits right now.

Boosed:

You can find ColorMates card stock at just about any scrapbooking store. I ordered mine off the Internet, from Createforless.com and have had no issues as yet. It comes 25 sheets per pack, and is relatively inexpensive.

**TheHeebrewHammer** · #6 02-09-2009, 01:39 AM

This is supposed to be a Mercury capsule? It looks a lot more like a Gemini capsule instead.

Zathros · #7 02-09-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHeebrewHammer

This is supposed to be a Mercury capsule? It looks a lot more like a Gemini capsule instead.

Their cousins, "They laugh a lot, they talk a lot, you could loose your mind, their cousins, but one of a kind" Well, Patty Duke was on TV at that time.:D

**TheHeebrewHammer** · #8 02-10-2009, 01:21 AM

Where can we find the plans for this spacecraft?

**lancer525** · #9 02-10-2009, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHeebrewHammer

Where can we find the plans for this spacecraft?

The Mercury and Gemini had a lot in common, in terms of their overall appearance. Much of the basic external structure was really similar, so that's why they resemble one another.

As for finding the plans, you can go to:

Paper Model

And its all there. :D

One note of caution: It isn't for the faint of heart.

**TheHeebrewHammer** · #10 02-11-2009, 09:49 AM

Thanks for the link!