AXM Shuttle, MLP and Crawler

**milenio3** · #1 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 01:52 PM

From the AXM models of the great collection from George b, Hans Christian, Paulhbell and other great modelers around here; I want to humbly add this new thread of the whole Shuttle roll-out configuration> Shuttle, ET, boosters, Mobile Launch Platform, and crawler.

This report is a mirror from my thread at the Spanish forum Maquetasenpapel.com, but I was aware that this kind of configuration was not present on this forum.

My topic will be STS-117 for various reasons> flight of my neighbor city, El Paso, Texas' own Danny Olivas, from mexican roots; almost 4 months of delay for the launch due to haise storm that damaged ET's head, so the whole set was back to fix, and a big patch was added on the ET. Then on orbit, Danny fixed some heat resistant blankets from the orbiter (first time on the history of the shuttle program... if I'm not mistaken). Then the mission logo was changed to add the new ISS traveler. So, plenty of good points for making STS-117 a noticeable one.

So here I begin.

Real STS 117

Logo Before

Logo After

**milenio3** · #2 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 02:05 PM

For this project I used 120 gr. cardstock, common ink printer.

Printed sheets from the shuttle only.

Another view.

Orbiter internal structure.

Then one single piece for doors and side fuselage.

Then the cockpit. Each orbiter have a different cockpit, very little interesting differences.

Now the belly and wings. The belly is a new version from the one that Alfonso had a few months ago... so if you don´t have it, go for it now.

The most noticeable differences on the orbiter is on the wings. On the Atlantis, it has 9 modifications since its first flight.

The complete Atlantis orbiter.

**milenio3** · #3 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 02:15 PM

On the crawler that I'll be building, is going to be just as-is, according to Alfonso's instructions and diagrams. I review the excellent thread by George B, and it has many good ideas. But for now, I'll stick to the original.

**willygoat** · #4 (**permalink**) 09-29-2008, 09:56 PM

Very interesting Gerardo! I recently built this exact shuttle myself. I made mine for Clay Anderson, the mission specialist and ISS mission member that was added somewhat "last minute". I got to spend a lot of time with Clay this past spring. Great guy. I also had the opportunity to spend the day with Dr. James Reilly, who was also on the same mission. This is a funny coincidence that both of us have a connection to this shuttle mission.

BTW- your build looks a bagillion times better than mine did

**milenio3** · #5 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 05:17 PM

Now the External Tanks and Boosters.

Here the ET. For this module, some "spots" were added to represent the hail on the tip, when it was already on the launch pad, and cause the delay of almost 3 months for the launch.

This is the interstage modified, since STS117 didn't have it.

Here the interstage piece is glued.

Parts of the ET tip.

All the pieces for the tip. There is a couple of pieces with a big white spot, which is the patch added after the hail storm. This patch is white during the second roll-out, but at the moment of the launch it was rusted and photos appears semi-orange.

And here the only photo I could save from my memory card of the booster. There are new addings to the part to connect the boosters to the external tank. These adding were not on the original release of Sir Alfonso's site; but they are there now, so go and get them!

**milenio3** · #6 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 05:20 PM

The whole STS-117.

But this is not the end of the prject, it is only the beginning. Now, I'm up to the crawler and mobile launch platform. By the way, there are 2 crawlers and 3 mobile platforms. One of the crawler is called Franz and the other is named Hans. I think I'll build the Franz... yeah, like if I could see the difference.

**milenio3** · #7 (**permalink**) 10-01-2008, 05:24 PM

Lets begin with the Franz crawler.

First, the crawler system itself. All the pieces, including the lamination piece, are on the downloadable diagrams. Let's build 4 of these.

Pieces at a glance.

The track pieces. Note the body already built.

Now that the tracks are ready, let's proceed to install the supports cylinders.

All the support cylinders installed.