ISS Low Res Model (Part 4)

Well the ISS low res 3D Model is gradually getting less and less low res. I'm starting to proceed along the Integrated Truss Structure adding 'little' details. All I can say is the Truss is a complex object...

Hubble, Bubble, Trouble and Foil! (Part 2)

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope 3D model is now complete with both versions of the Solar Wings. Personally, even though the current Solar Wing maybe technically better, I prefer the original Solar Wings.

Guess I've now got to build the Space Shuttle payload bays for the servicing missions.

ISS Low Res Model (Part 3)

It's been a while since I last did any work on the International Space Station (ISS) project, actually, I've not even looked at this project. The reason why is because there is a lack of good information (mainly technical drawings) on Truss sections. I could of made the truss out of simple boxes, but I wanted to make the the truss look 'real'. I've now got a bunch of photographs and some dimensions that has allowed me to continue this project.

The Truss is now almost complete, I just need to complete Truss section P6.

Hubble, Bubble, Trouble and Foil?

Another element of the Space Shuttle Program I've always admired is NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Launched in April 24th, 1990 by Discovery (STS-31). It has been providing scientists and the public a vast amount of data and some very extraordinary views of our solar system, galaxy and the observable universe.

The reason I miss-phrased the title is because I'm at a loss on how to best make the foil surface, without creating a shed load of polygons. I think, for now, the best strategy is to get the solar arrays created (both versions) and take it from there.

External Tank and Umbilicals

As the NTRS is still off-line, I've had to broaden my searches for technical information. Google and Bing are next to useless to get any high detailed drawings. Sometimes I get a good close up photograph of a part, but the resolution is mostly poor, mostly.

However, from a series of photographs available on the Kennedy Space Center Media Archive I did manage to get good photographs of the External Tank, Umbilical Doors, the Orbiters in Processing, etc. So, for the time being, I have completed the modelling of umbilical and 'pipework' between the External Tank and Orbiter.

Space Shuttle External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters Update

I've been slowly working on the update to the External Tank (ET) and Solid  Rocket Boosters (SRB).

I'll add this to the MLP/Crawler 3D model later.

Space Shuttle External Tank (Part 1)

I've started to add more details to the External Tank (ET), the stringers on intertank, as well as the access door and that GUPC...

Launch Complex 39 (Part 1)

It's late and I'm suffering from insomnia. I've just started work on another Space Shuttle 3D Model, NASA's Launch Complex 39 (LC-39). This is not going to be highly detailed, as I can't get decent drawings.

Now, I better get to bed and try to sleep, now that the hot milk has kicked in...

Crawler Transporter (Part 7)

After getting the 3D model to were I had it last week, I now feel relieved. In the 'older' version of the Crawler Transporter, the walkway had series of major errors that I could not iron out. Basically, the floor was warped, just enough to throw it off so you could see it. Anyway, the new walkway is has a lower polygon count, easier to modify and most importantly, it fits.

I've created the external model of the driver cabs. There are some minor errors in the rear section of the driver cabs, but these can be altered when I get access to clearer photographs of the driver cabs.

Opps, I didn't just lose all that work...

For the last 72 hours I've been working on the handrails and walkways that surround the main structure of the Crawler Transport. I grouped all the parts and I thought I hidden them so I could see another section more clearly. I didn't. What I did was I collapsed the majority of the walkway, handrails and associated parts so that only a few faces existed. Adding insult to injury, I hadn't saved or backed up to the cloud or to my NAS.

Normally, I would of blown my lid off, moaned, had a monumental strop and restarted. However, this is a blessing in disguise. Half way through creating the rails, I found a better way of making the walkway and handrails. It also has the advantages of reducing the polygon count and improving model accuracy. But, I couldn't make the alterations then, as it would of clashed with what already existed.

I've restarted and it's taken fifth of the time to get the bare bones back on the CT. I might have everything back by the end of the night.

Crawler Transporter - (Part 6)

I've neglected the Crawler Transporter for too long. I've improved one corner and with the assistance of JayP (a forum member on NASASpaceFlight), I've got a better understanding on the JEL systems. Once I'm happy with one corner (lower left on the image below), I'll replicate that corner on the other 3. I've also started on walkway and safety rails. There about 70% done and the I need to mirror and flip to the other side.This is a low quality render as I need to get some sleep, but you get the idea.

More Old Space Shuttle Data Found - Switches, Buttons, Panels and Scans of Guillow's Space Shuttle

Today I've been as sick as a dead parrot, and there one thing I hate more than being sick, lying in bed being sick. So, late this afternoon I dragged my bones to the 'workshop/office/games' room and did a bit of house keeping. Festering in the bottom of a drawer was a small cardboard box containing old USB memory sticks. Going through them I found a surprising gem, files relating to the old Space Shuttle project...

The first image is of switches and other panel components that I've drawn to scale.

Using these switches, I planned to add them to the image below, which is the original CRT and MEDS Orbiter forward panels of the flight deck. Some time ago, I was in the process of adding the components to the panels, when a few days later the HDD died and the project was lost. For some reason I copied to a USB memory stick. luckily.

The MEDS version was obtained from the Shuttle Crew Operations Manual (SCOM). The CRT version I think I built it from various PDFs and DXF file that were available at the time, or maybe an older version of the SCOM. I can't remember. I've also have DXF files of the other forward panels (Left, Right and Overhead), but I have nothing saved of the rear panels.

Also on this USB Stick, I've found scans of the Guillow's Space Shuttle Kit No. 1201 which I had purchased a few years ago. My plan at the time was to re-create the balsa parts from the kit plans and keep the original kit intact. I still may do this, but I have other projects rat the moment and at best this is going to be a side line project.

Paper Model VAB & LCC, Version 1

The last version wasn't really a version, it was a quick test to see how fast I could transfer a 3D format to paper. I've updated the texture, simplified the Launch Control Center (LCC) section and scaled it to 1:2400, which gives it a height of 66mm. To download the PDF file please click here to download the PDF version. You'll need the latest version of Adobe Reader, as the first paper is a 3D model. I've also made it available as a Pepakura model (.pdo). This can be downloaded here

Space Shuttle Orbiter's HUD (Paper Model)

I've been using Pepakura Designer 3 a bit more and I've made a paper version of the HUD. So far it's low detail version and I'll add the switches later. You can download load it here.