#1
|
||||
|
||||
Rocketdyne F-1 in 1/48
Before embarking on a huge project I have in mind, I wanted to first do a detail of it in its original size. So I started out with wanting to make a model of Greelt's beautiful F-1 engine.
Before I started printing, I tweaked the kit's appearance a little. (Greelt, if you read this, I hope you don't mind!) I added thin vertical lines around the actual exhaust bell, depicting the small coolant tubes. Then I also did the same with the inner cone to give it some more depth and I also recoloured it to make it more like an unflown but tested model. Researching the engine's details I also found out there were more than one variant in how the plumbing around the engine's neck was designed. I couldn't decide which one was best or most definitive so I made a kind of Frankenstein's engine. It might have piping from perhaps the first set of prototypes and smaller plumbing from a later model. I don't really know. I don't really care, actually. In the end I think it gives a really good impression of how the F-1 looked in general and that was my goal anyway. So I started to print out Greelt's engine parts. Right into the first assembly session I started to add details. It became more and more a combination of Greelt's parts and a lot of scratch built parts to add to the depth. Using metallic coloured paper of different shines and kinds I tried to imitate the little surface details and the first small tubes here and there. Okay, I did use some non-paper materials, about 40 cm of 1mm metal wire was incorporated, as well as two sewing pins and twelve small glass beads. the wire was used for the smallest plumbing around the engine's neck, the beads were made into the anchor points for the struts. Also a little aluminium tape was cut up in tiny strips to act as welds at the turbo pump's manifold around the engine's belly. |
Google Adsense |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Lots of parts were shaped using embossing tools. The big pipes around the top of the engine were taking up a lot of time. It was trial and error, rolling, glueing, fitting, taking it all apart, cutting new elbow pieces, refitting and finally glueing it all into place. the end result was a very shiny and busy looking piece of machinery. Now all it needed was a little car to display it on and a base to put the whole shebang to finish it. I made a partial fantasy car with the use of a couple of photographs I found. Al of it was scratch built and edge glued. the frame actually is a similar top and bottom half, the outside is closed and is like a squared tube, the cross beams are I- shaped. the towing handle actually is movable. the wheels on the other hand are glued. Well, what more it there to tell? I just hope you like it!
|
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Excellent work as usual, PK! Your description of the added details is most helpful. Makes me want to build mine!
(Then again, I'm like Doug the dog in the movie Up! I concentrate on one build -- most recently, Gemini -IXA/ATDA -- and then I see another build like PK's F-1 and shout, "Squirrel!" Les (The Voice of Authority -- www.voiceofauthority.net) |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Hi Les,
Thanks! In the time I was working on this one, I already was busy planning my next build. Drawing, thinking and playing with it in my head. It helps me to visualise the model. like I already am building it in my mind. But I also have the same thing as you describe; seeing Joseph Parenti's DC-X I also wanted to build that one, in a diorama setting. So that might come as a little inbetweenie before I'll embark on building a 1/96 Saturn V with a little extra feature.. |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
Wonderful detailing!!!
|
Google Adsense |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Hi PK,
incredible details of an outstanding build, I like it.
__________________
Greetings from Germany Manfred Under construction: Launch Pad 39A with Challenger STS-6 (1:144) |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
this is really nice. If you have the templates, I wouldn't mind posting a "added detail kit" to go with greelt's original. - jleslie48
|
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Thank you all!
@Jon: I'd like to, but I should get Greelt's permission for that, I think. The actually added detail in Greelt's original kit is limited to the inner and outer engine bell's wall. |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
PK, that is magnificant! Simply beautiful.
|
#10
|
||||
|
||||
PK,
Your cooling tube detail really adds to the F-1, both inside and out. I take my little grandson up to the Alamogordo Space Museum Rocket Garden to play when I visit. They have an F-1 sitting out in the sun..My favorite engine...32 million horsepower in a tiny package. No one else ever seems to understand the significance of this engine, and all of the thought that went into it to actually fly. Hope you get Greelt's approval. This is a tiny museum piece, a real jewel. Cheers from Texas |
Google Adsense |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|