Buran 3D Model - Part 3

Nose landing gear completed. I was tempted to added more details, but or my purposes, this is sufficient for the 3D Model of Buran.

The drawings and diagrams I'm working with gives me enough information to create a detailed 3D model, however, my 3D model doesn't compare to this one at Buran.ru. The link was supplied by DaveS in my previous blog entry. Thanks DaveS :)

Buran 3D Model - Part 2

In my lunch break today, I completed the 3D model of Buran's version of the orbital manoeuvring System, and the tail section. Simple. Next task, landing gear, not so simple, no drawings, no decent photos, no video...

Buran 3D Model - Part 1

Recently, I've been reading "Energiya-Buran The Soviet Space Shuttle" by Bart Hendrickx and I've always thought that the two orbiters were almost identical. Well, I was wrong, as I've discovered when I started to 'alter' my standard 3D model of the US Orbiter to look like the Soviet orbiter Buran.

The main differences I could tell before I started to create the 3D model was that the Soviet Orbiter has the nose gear further from the nose, no OMS pods and the lack of main engines. After a an hour of modelling, I started to notice more  and more differences that you can't really tell from photographs.

• The wings on the Soviet Orbiter are slightly more forward.
• The wing profile and leading edge is completely different, compare to the US Orbiter
• The after the payload section on the US Orbiter, the rear section extends out slightly, on Soviet Orbiter, the 'rear' stays almost in line with the payload section.

I'll probably notice more differences as I add more details.

North American Aviation X-15A-2 - External Tanks

I've created the external fuel tanks for the X-15A-2. The actual 3D Model for the X-15A-2 itself is still 'Work-in-progress'.

The cramped texture file needs to be altered so the it incorpates the extra 29inches of the X-15A-2. What I'll probably end up doing is shrinking minor elements of the texture file.

SpaceX Dragon - Rendered with Kerkythea

Been playing with another render application today called Kerkythea. I think I might swap to it for the X-15 Hangar scene as well.

SpaceX Dragon - On Orbit Configuration

This afternoon I started on creating a 3D model of the SpaceX Dragon. Information is very scarce, as it's a commercial private venture. However, and amazingly, I've got enough information to create the Dragon capsule and the trunk section. Already I've completed the Solar panels and hopefully I'll be finishing the trunk section by the next weekend. Thruster sizes and details on the Dragon Capsule, is non existent.

I'll probably do the Falcon9 (and variants) later, as I want to focus on this 3D model for the ISS 3D model.

On a personal note, I admire what Elon Musk and his company have achieved for the space industry, as well as other new companies are now doing, providing new, affordable, solutions to space travel. I think we're now definitely in a new era of space travel.

North American Aviation X-15 - Hangar Render

I've been working a rendered scene using 3D Models of the North American Aviation X-15. Here are two X-15 one with the Boom Nose and XLR-11 engines and the other with the Ball Nose and XLR-99 Engine.

Soyuz model

When the Mir model, I created a basic Soyuz model. I'm tempted to create the full rocket and spacecraft. I've got some information, but it's a mixture of older and newer drawings of the spacecraft and launcher.

This is the Soyuz spacecraft so far:

Mars Science Laboratory - Science Instruments SAM & CheMin, Cameras MARDI and Hazcams (Part 6)

My 3D Model of the Mars Science Laboratory Rover, Curiosity, is now equipped with a couple more science instruments. These are Chemistry & Mineralogy X-Ray Diffraction/X-Ray Fluorescence Instrument, or CheMin to it's friends and the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument Suite.

Left is SAM and right CheMin

I've also added the Hazard Avoidance Cameras (Hazcams) and Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) camera.

Front Hazcams and MARDI 

Rear Hazcam, Left camera has the Lens cap in 

the open position.

Mars Science Laboratory - Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator RTG (Part 5)

I've started to detail the Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG) on the 3D model of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL - Curiosity). The pipe work is a lot more complex than I excepted. For the pipe work on the outside of the structure, I used photographs available at the MSL JPL site and made guesses on the size and direction of the pipes. However, how it interconnects to the main chassis, I have a very limited images, so I made leave that bit out completely.

North American Aviation X-15 - More Cockpit Texturing done(Part 5)

More work done on the North American Aviation X-15 (XLR-11 Version) 3D Model of the cockpit. If I can get 10 hours of work done in the next week, I think I might have it done.

Mars Science Laboratory - Curiosity's Robotic Arm (Part 4)

With recent lunch breaks this week, I've managed to create the 3D model for Curiosity's wheels and I've started to model the robotic arm. I've got some rough dimensions and diagrams to work with, and these have proved useful. However, these diagrams only give basic lengths, nothing detailed about the size and shape of the actuators.

This is going to take a while to get the robotic arm right as I'll be using photos taken for tests at JPL. Then, once I'm happy with the robotic arm, I'll think about starting to 3D modelling the 'hand', which from pictures and diagrams looks very complicated.

Mars Science Laboratory - Curiosity (Part 3)

Yesterday, I started to 3D model the Mast Assembly on the Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity). This includes Mast Cameras and ChemCam.

I'll add the cabling in the final stages, as I don't have any detail drawings where the cables are fed. Next to do on the model is to add better details to the wheels. I was going to start on the arm, but, again, I don't have enough detailed diagrams and drawings to attempt it.

Why does Curiosity remind me of the film Short Circuit? Is Curiosity a pirate version of Johnny Five?

Mars Science Laboratory - Curiosity, Heat Shield and Backshell (Part 2)

I've manage to some 3D modelling done in my lunch breaks for NASA's Mars Science Laboratory. Curiosity now has the High Gain, UHF and Low Gain Antennas. I've also modelled a few of the components on the "Top Deck"

I've also modelled a basic Backshell and Heat Shield