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

[spacerunner]

Hello everybody,

well, with the missing details I now have to think about the order in which I attach them to the PLC, because I always have to take into account a safe support of the Canister in order not to break off any components, which is becoming increasingly difficult.

On the one hand, there are the extremely fragile Ladders on the side walls to reach the Access platforms,


Source: NASA (STS-135)

which must be handled with extreme caution, especially since their manufacture was very complex.

Then there are also the RSS Outriggers, one of which is mounted at the front end of the Starboard Side, which can be seen here in the unfolded state as I plan to build it for the lifting process of the canister to the Payload Changeout Room (PCR) of the RSS.


Source: NASA (STS-135)

The other outrigger is located at the front end of the Port Side, which can be seen here in the folded state.


Source: NASA (STS-135)

And this is what they look like in scale 1:160.



Then the two pneumatic lines for operating the Door actuator Screw jacks are also still missing on each side,


Source: NASA (STS-135)

which are connected to the Door actuator pneumatic drive), which I will bend out of Nickel Silver wire (Ø 0,2 mm).

Then there are several hand rails on the FWD bulkhead for the safe handling of the Can Crew in Vertical Transport Mode.


Source: NASA (1980)

I can save myself the trouble of using the two ladders, as they were only needed during working at canister in the Horizontal Transport Mode, to get to the Personnel Door and the Payload Bay Doors.



That is still not all, but it should suffice for today,



at least I'm glad that I found the parts in my inventory again.

[spacerunner]

Hello everybody,

first, I wanted to bend and try on the thin pneumatic lines (Ø 0,2 mm) according to my 1:1 template of the canister, so that I could then glue them.

Here only the thin nickel silver wire was laid for test onto the template.



After fixing the wire with tape, I started bending it, initially with sufficient overhang next to the Door drive,



because for connecting the end of the line to the pneumatic unit involves millimeters, what I had to examine and measure more closely.

Then I've already attached the pneumatic connections to both ends of the line, for which I used my thinnest insulating hose (Ø 0,5 mm).



Furthermore, I have to take into account that the lower of the two pneumatic lines must run over the right Tie-down Lug Plate, as can be seen in this image.



I've already made the lug plates, but now I just need to paint them white.



Then there are also these tiny Grab rails that I also want to scratch build, as they were important for the Can Crew to be able hold on to, during folding out the Door actuators on the doors top.



which also need to be painted,



for which I prepared these holders from toothpicks with a Pattex tip,



as well as this mount for the Lug Plates, which are sitting on a tape strip, whose adhesive side facing up, which I glued onto a steel ruler.



And that’s what I’ll continue with in the next post.

[spacerunner]

Thanks my friends for looking in on me again and again. Hope I could entertain you well.

And now to the painting of the tiny PLC components for which I prepared my extraction system.

Since there were only so few parts, I didn't want to paint them with the airbrush gun,



instead, I used the TAMIYA spray can again, which I had shaken well and tempered in a warm water bath.



However, the dosage of the spray jet is a bit of a problem, as it is easy to apply too much paint.

While I was happy with the Tie-down Lug Plates, the Grab Rails got a bit too much paint for my taste, what I don't like them as they seem too thick and round.





Then I placed one of the Lug Plates on the front of the Port Side to determine the exact height of the pneumatic line running above it.



When I had put the prepared pneumatic line on it, I noticed that the lower end with the connection was too low, which also cannot remain that way.



Slightly frustrated, I then had to take a deep breath and have bent new grab rails by using three steel rulers (approx. 1,5 mm) placed on top of each other,



which were then painted white in two coats.



They are now slimmer, I like them better than the first handles,



which also look well at the container.



Then I bent a new pneumatic line for the Portside,



which now needs to be further adjusted and bent exactly at the transition into the pneumatic drive,



wherewith I want to leave it at for now.