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

[elliott]

You really dig deep for information, Manfred and it is certainly paying off for you (and us). I admire your determination to get things right and not compromise. Keep up the excellent work.

[paperengineer]

sorry to get off topics but dude, you're a good drawer! Based on that drawing, a caligrapher or artist seems like a good secondary job for you.

[spacerunner]

Originally Posted by elliott

You really dig deep for information, Manfred and it is certainly paying off for you (and us). I admire your determination to get things right and not compromise. Keep up the excellent work.

Thanks elliott for your nice compliments,

but compromises I have enough to cope, so the other things should be as correct as possible, so I can be happy.

[spacerunner]

Originally Posted by paperengineer

sorry to get off topics but dude, you're a good drawer! Based on that drawing, a caligrapher or artist seems like a good secondary job for you.

Thanks PE for your nice words,
small tools you need already, but this is not rocket science.

[spacerunner]

Hi, just before the Easter holidays,

and now ready to begin the pipe bending for Fire Suppression System, in which I want to go step by step. Although I'm not sure if I will be able to turn the whole line at once, but I will at least try. If not, I would have to split the line, usefully then in each case on one of these supports below the TSM's, or on the clamping band right, and cover the connecting point with it.


Source: NASA

The strands already shown with the two nozzle pairs forward before the TSM's on the Blast Shield must be installed separately anyway.


Source: NASA

It was especially important to always compare the bends with the installation diagram,



as well as to try on the line on the MLP. And as you can see, that already fits to the LOX TSM around quite well so far, although such tests are a delicate matter and I put the precious part rather quickly aside.



And that would be one half of the line made before, and it goes around the corner to the LH2 TSM.



So that to make these bends more closely, I again used my Balsa retainers, which give it more stability,



and the TSM replaced by a Balsa dummy, which is tough.



To adjust the height of the missing supports (0,75x0,38 mm) I put underneath a corresponding Evergreen strip of appropriate thickness.



To bend the tight curves above the Blast Shield this old TSM silhouette is a good orientation.







The next is the acid test of the line with the two TSM's.

[spacerunner]

And this test is so far also okay, both from the front,



and from the rear.



Now, of course, still missing a number of details such as the supports, clamping rings and nozzles at the rear part of the line, as well as the front two strands.

And then the ends of the line must be structured in front of the TSM's that I have provisionally made longer. And at the beginning of the line from the upper deck there is this thickening with the flange (see 2nd picture) that I at least wanted to indicate.


Source: NASA

So, there is already waiting still a lot of Easter fumbling for me ...

Let's see what I can still do until then.

Therefore, in advance Happy Easter!

[sharunas]

Very precise pipe work!

Happy Easter You too Manfred!

[gene1772]

Space runner, you are truly a renaissance man! You can build a master piece, draw, and bend pipe with the best of um. Outstanding pipe work sir!

[spacerunner]

Thank you guys for your words of praise, I try my best and I am happy if you like it.

Some details are indeed close to the limit of what is possible at this scale, but my patience is still unbroken, even if I could sometimes go through the roof ...

In this sense, Happy Easter!

[Bengt Fredén]

HAPPY EASTER, Manfred!

And thank you for bringing us constant inspiration and a better understanding of the intricacies of the space shuttle launch platform system.

All the best from Stockholm,
Bengt