PK and Merzo build MIR!

[merzo]

Hi

Yes! The magnets are a great idea. The different elements can be moved separately and build! It is very easy to work, and there are no small parts hazard to break off during construction ...

[closet astronaut]

Gentlemen..it just goes without saying...the intricate details of you'r build's are astounding. PK I think you must have been a Swiss watch maker in a past life....

[Paper Kosmonaut]

Thanks, Closet Astronaut! I think it's a lot of fun doing this double build.
I have started working on Spektr. I used Alfonso's Zarya model as starting point. But there are loads of differences between the much later built ISS module and Spektr. The four radiators are much shorter, the greeblies are different and, of course, the nose cone on Spektr is unique. The other TKS modules on Mir have the same rear end but the outward pointing parts are smaller than Zarya. So there is some scratch building ahead. Tomorrow I'll be designing some parts for these other modules.
Here's a short report in pics on how I am working on Spektr. I painted the module flat white to imitate the blankets it is wrapped in. Most of the greeblies are made from mat paper, reinforced with CA. Nice detail I think is the Lyappa arm with which the modules place themselves at the right port after having arrived at the forward facing docking port. The small arm extends itself and grapples a hardpoint on Mir's docking node. It then undocks itself andf the arm twists around to get the module to either one of the other ports on the node.Then it re-docks itself and is ready for use. This way the cosmonauts in Mir moved Kristall from the starboard port to the forward one to make room for Atlantis without disturbing Mir's jngle of solar panels.
Keep in mind that these pictures all are macro photos and that the irregularities are hard to spot with the naked eye.. (-;

I hope you all have a good and festive last day of the year. I won't be eating any oliebollen myself but I do recommend them.

[merzo]

Hi Jasper

The Lyappa arm is very good! The whole design is great. I always wonder this is the scale, the amount of detail.
Congratulations.

Zoli

[Paper Kosmonaut]

And on the brim of the new year, I make my last post for this thread in 2012.
Spektr has been finished and added to the structure. The solar panels came out very nice and I added a bustle of greeblies on the hull. I also started work on Kristall and that is nearly finished now. I used rolled up paper to make the hull and that gave me the opportunity to also sand the docking node nice and round-ish instead of using the hollow, more edgy part from the model. I used silica balls for the tanks on the module. Painted it flat white and now it only awaits its retracted solar panel. That will all be next year.
I want to wish you all a very prosperous and peaceful 2013. See you in the next year!

[sparky00]

Peaceful and Prosperous New Year to you as well! Simply stunning work-amazing. Thanks for sharing this with us.
erik

[Paper Kosmonaut]

Hi peoples. Hope you had a good New year's eve.
I have some small detailing to show you. I changed the long array on Kvant-1 after I did its former twin (folded) on Kristall. I also added the two masts on Kvant-1.

[Paper Kosmonaut]

Unfortunately, after my previous post here, I came down with the flu and I was not able to do anything. In this tiny scale you'd be able to sneeze a complete space station off your desk!
Anyway, I had to wait until it was somewhat better. Yesterday it really started to improve, so I could make some progress and finished Kvant-2. and with it the entire station the way it looked when Atlantis docked for the first time. Busloads of photos, of course but you will have to wait for a couple of hours, since I now am at work. Pictures follow this evening when I'm home.
I hope we also hear of Merzo somewhere soon. Very curious what he has been up to.

[Paper Kosmonaut]

As promised, here are some pictures of the building of Kvant-2. I used silicate balls for the greeblies. My model of Mir has now been finished, because Priroda came much later than the first docking with Atlantis. And that is going to be the next step in this adventure. Atlantis. I still have to figure out how to position the two craft but we'll find out.

[spacewalker]

Great work PK and Merzo! I love the MIR. If Alfonso´s planned MIR Kit available someday i try my own build of these great spacestation.

regards spacewalker