Right On Replicas, LLC Step-by-Step Review 20141020* Space Shuttle with Fuel Tank and Boosters 1:72 Scale Monogram Model Kit #85-5089 Review (Part 1 of 2) Background: The United States Space Transportation System (STS), commonly referred to as the Space Shuttle, provides complete Earth-to-Orbit and return capabilities with versatility unmatched in the world. The Space Shuttles flew a total of 135 missions since the very first launch which took place on April 12, 1981. The 6 Shuttles (Enterprise (Test Vehicle) Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour) Accumulated 1330d 18h 9m 44s Flight time, and traveled around the Earth 21,158 times. For the Modeler: This is a review of the Space Shuttle with Fuel Tank and Boosters; a 1:72 Scale Monogram Model Kit #85-5089. Revell rates this build as a Skill Level 3 for the advanced builder. This boxing was released in 2011. The kit contains 128 parts molded in White with waterslide decals. The instruction set is very clear and well laid out. The kit features; a display stand to hold launch ready shuttle with fuel tank and booster rockets, a detailed opening cargo bay with optional payload assemblies, authentic NASA markings for six different Shuttle liveries, (Enterprise, Columbia, Discovery, Challenger, Atlantis and Endeavour). Finished Dimensions are: Height 80cm (31 ½ ), Wingspan 33.33cm (13 1/8 ). For this review I ve decided to build Discovery, STS-95. That was the flight where Senator John Glenn went back into space for a second time at the age of 77 as a Mission Specialist on October 29, 1998. It was the 25th flight of Discovery and the 92nd mission flown since the start of the Space Shuttle program. This is a very large and impressive model and you ll need some shelf space to display it as the centerpiece of your space models collection.
Fig 0b 01 This is the kits box art and parts layout. Fig 02, 03) I started the kit by washing and rinsing all the parts to remove any mold release or foreign debris that could contaminate paint. Step 1 Base Assembly Fig 04) Remove the base components removed from the tree. Glue the support posts to the base and the plate support to the name plate using Testors liquid cement. Fig 06 9right) Paint the Base and Name Plate with Testors Acryl Semi Gloss Black
Fig 07) This series of pictures starting from the top left to right show how I applied the Gold Bare-Metal Foil to the words on the Name Plate. A) Cut a piece larger than the area you want to cover. B) Use a tack rag and remove any dust or debris from the area you want to cover. Remove backing from the foil and carefully place over the area. C) Using a Q-Tip, carefully press the foil onto the letters D) Using a Tooth Pick, carefully press down the foil around tight corners. Some tearing may occur, but this is OK. Continue to burnish the foil until you re happy with look. E) Using a new #11 Exacto Blade or razor blade, carefully cut away the foil you don t want and peal it back. There could be area that come up while your removing the foil, don t worry. F) After you remove the foil, go back and burnish the letters again. Fig 08) The completed Foiled Name Plate. Fig 09) Glue the Name Plate to the Base with Testors Liquid Cement. Step 1 is complete. I ll set this aside until the rest of the model is ready.
Steps 2, 3, & 4 Tank Assembly Fig 10) Tank components removed from the tree Fig 11) Drilled out 10 holes on one half of the Tank using a #53 drill. Make sure you only drill out the half that the Shuttle sits on. Both halves are the same and have indents where the holes go so you must choose which side to drill out. Fig 12) Glue the Tank halves together using Testors Liquid Cement.
Fig 13) Painted the Forward and Rear Feed Lines with Testors Acryl Semi-Gloss Black. Fig 14) Glued the Top and Bottom onto the Tank Halves using Testors Liquid Cement. After they dried, I applied a coat of Squadron Products Putty to the seams. Unfortunately, the Tank has a rough texture to it to simulate the insulation. Sanding the seams smooth is not an option, so this did not work.
Fig 15) Masked off the Tank Assembly to apply texture paint. Fig 16) I found a product at Home Depot called Rust-Oleum American Accents Stone Texture Finish. I applied a very light coat to all the seams and allowed it to dry for 2 days.
Fig 17) Applied a coat of Tamiya Primer to the Tank Assembly. Fig 18) Primed the Rear Struts with Tamiya Primer Fig 19) Painted the top of the Nose Cone with Alclad Gloss Black. After this dried overnight, I masked off the top and sprayed the very tip with Alclad Chrome.
Fig 20) Painted the smooth areas and various spots on the Tank with Poly Scale F414255 D&RGW Building Cream Fig 21) Painted the Oxygen Supply Line with Poly Scale F414255 D&RGW Building Cream, then the top cap with Model Master Gunship Gray FS36118 Fig 22) Painted the Rear Struts with Poly Scale F414255 D&RGW Building Cream, then the cylinders with Model Master Gunship Gray FS36118.
Fig 23) Painted the Shuttle Lower Attachment Structure with Model Master Gunship Gray FS36118. Fig 24) After masking off the Lower Attachment Structure, and the smooth areas where I wanted the Building Cream color to show, I painted the entire Tank with Poly Scale F41485 SP Daylight Orange. Fig 25) I mixed up 2 colors for this step. 4 parts Poly Scale F41485 SP Daylight Orange and 1 part Poly Scale F414152 Milwaukee Railroad Orange. I applied this to different areas to give a blotchy look.
Fig 26) Removed the masking to reveal the painted Tank. The light area s represent repaired foam on the Tank after the initial Paint was applied. Fig 27) Painted the Feed Lines Supports and Rail with Poly Scale F414255 D&RGW Building Cream Fig 28) Painted the Upper Shuttle Attachment Testors Enamel Rust.
Fig 29) Attached the Feed Lines and Rear Struts to the Tank using Thick Super Glue. Fig 30) Attached the Oxygen and Hydrogen Supply Lines and the Upper Shuttle Attachment to the Tank using Thick Super Glue. I ll set the Tank Assembly aside until the Booster Rockets are ready to install.
Step 5 Booster Rocket Assemblies (make 2 sets) Fig 31) Booster Rocket components removed from the tree Fig 32) Glued the Upper Booster halves and Lower Halves together using Testors Liquid Cement.
Fig 33) Glued the Nose Cones onto the Booster Rockets using Testors Liquid Cement. Fig 34) Glued the Booster Skirt onto the Lower Booster Rocket with Testors Liquid Cement. Filled the seams with Squadron Putty and allowed to dry. Fig 35) Filled the seams on the Upper Booster Rockets with Squadron Putty and allowed to dry.
Fig 36) Sanded all seams with 400 grit sandpaper then applied a coat of Tamiya Primer. Fig 37) There were several areas that still needed filling so I applied more Squadron Putty allowed to dry, then sanded with 400 grit sandpaper. Fig 38) Painted the Upper, Lower, Interface Rings, and Separation Motors with Testors Acryl 4769 Flat White
Fig 39) Painted all the rings on the Lower Booster Rockets with Testors Acryl Flat Black. After that dried, I masked off the Black then applied Poly Scale F414152 Milwaukee Railroad Orange to the underside of the rings. Fig 40) Painted all the rings and other small details on the upper Booster Rockets with Testors Acryl Flat Black. The Pads were painted with Poly Scale F41485 SP Daylight Orange. Fig 41) Painted the underside of the Interface Rings with Poly Scale F414152 Milwaukee Railroad Orange.
Fig 42) The Exhaust Nozzles and Heat Shields are painted Steel color. To accomplish this, I first spray a coat of Alclad Gloss Black.
Fig 43) After the Gloss Black dries overnight, I applied a coat of Alclad Steel. Fig 44) Glued the Heat Shields and Nozzles onto the lower Booster Rockets using thick Super Glue.
Fig 45) The Separation Motors each come with 5 motors. One motor must be removed from each. I did this using a razor blade. The right and left boosters are the same until the motors are installed. You remove the opposite one for the other booster. The motors were attached to the Boosters using Micro Krystal Klear. Fig 46) Glued the Boosters onto the Fuel Tank using thick Super Glue.
Fig 47) Completed Fuel Tank and Boosters. I ll set this aside until the Shuttle is ready to install.
Step 6 & 7 Shuttle Assembly & Nose Gear Door Fig 48) Shuttle components removed from the tree Fig 49) Painted the inside of the Cockpit with Testors Acryl Light Gray.
Fig 50) The access door window was masked off by punching out a 5/32 round piece of Tamiya Tape. I secured the window to the inside of left Fuselage half with Micro Krystal Klear. Fig 51) Glued the Fuselage halves together using Testors Liquid Cement. I held the halves together with tape and clamps.
Fig 52) Since the Shuttle will be displayed with the Gear in the stowed position, the Nose Gear Door is glued into position using Testors Liquid Cement. Step 8 Main / Nose Wheel Assembly Since the Shuttle will be displayed in the Fuel Tank and Boosters, this step is skipped. Step 9 Flight Deck Assembly Fig 53) Flight Deck components removed from the tree. Fig 54) Painted the entire Flight Deck with Testors Acryl Light Gray.
Fig 55a) Painted the Seat Cushions with Testors Enamel GM Engine Blue, the Seat Belts Testors Enamel Tan, and the control sticks Testors Acryl Flat Black. Fig 55a) I applied the Instrument Panel Decal to the Panel, and brought out the details by rubbing a black pencil over the raised lines. I glued the seats and control sticks into the Flight Deck with Testors Liquid Cement.
Fig 56) Masked off the glass portion of the upper windows and glued onto the Inner Flight Deck using Micro Krystal Klear. Fig 57) Glued the Flight Deck into the Fuselage using Testors Liquid Cement.
Step 10 Front Bulkhead Assembly Fig 59) Remove the Front Bulkhead from the tree and paint the inside of the Front Bulkhead with Testors Acryl Light Gray. Fig 60) Masked off the Payload Bay Windows and secured to the Front Bulkhead using Micro Krystal Klear. Fig 61) I installed a piece of 1/8 thick Styrene to the bottom of the fuselage to help secure the Front Bulkhead. Using a stick cut to fit into the payload bay, I sandwiched this between the rear of the fuselage and the Front Bulkhead, then I applied Testors Liquid Cement around the Bulkhead. I let this dry overnight.
Step 11 Payload Door Assembly Fig 63 Remove the Payload Door components from the tree then paint the Outside of the Payload Doors with Tamiya Flat White Primer. Fig 64 & 65) The inside of the doors are Aluminum. I Painted the inside of the doors with Alclad Gloss Black then followed up with Alclad Chrome. I ll set the doors aside until final assembly Continued on Part 2