Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Antonio Sobral on November 14, 2018, 05:18:51 AM

Title: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Antonio Sobral on November 14, 2018, 05:18:51 AM: Hi Guys

This is the 3rd Chapter of my personal Space Saga.

Even though I am a big fan of Mr. Heinlein's work, the title has nothing to do with his book :)
I just happen to like the title, and it happens to be true.

So this time I will try to represent, to the best of my modelling skills, the Apollo 11 LEM landed on the Moon.
No "what-ifs" involved. Sorry guys. Just a humble homage to the guys that did, it almost 50 years ago.

The kit I will be using is the good old Airfix one, from 1970.

(https://i.postimg.cc/G34qtvL6/Moon-01.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/gkRsqd6D/Moon-02.jpg)

And my bible for this small, yet very interesting and challenging project, is the book "Moonfire", by Norman Mailer,
here in the Portuguese version:

(https://i.postimg.cc/ncRhRrwJ/Moon-06.jpg)

Enough of nostalgia, and let's get down to work :)

I will be using the kit base, so I made a suitable support/raiser:

(https://i.postimg.cc/Gtzm1mLv/Moon-08.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/SxnNw4wz/Moon-09.jpg)

Sorting out all the pieces and preparing them will be the next step (the most boring one :) ).

(https://i.postimg.cc/9QsF2Shg/Moon-10.jpg)

From what I have seen so far, the biggest challenge will be to emulate the different textures and surfaces.

(https://i.postimg.cc/XvFNY8Nj/Moon-07.jpg)

So now is time to study all the photos and all the details I can find.

Thanks for watching!

To be continued...
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: kitnut617 on November 14, 2018, 06:16:03 AM: This will be interesting, I bought one of those Lander kits not long ago to do again because I had built it once before many moons ago.
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Old Wombat on November 14, 2018, 07:06:17 AM: Woh! So organised! :icon_surprised:
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: GTX_Admin on November 15, 2018, 01:41:46 AM: Looking forward to seeing your work.
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Brian da Basher on November 15, 2018, 05:08:41 AM: You've got to have the patience of a saint to sort through all those greeblies, Antonio.

This one will be a lot of fun to follow!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Antonio Sobral on November 19, 2018, 05:46:42 PM: Hi guys

Since the base area is too small, I will not be using some of the gadgets supplied with the kit.

(https://i.postimg.cc/1zSCbyjm/Moon-19.jpg)

So I will reserve the spare parts for a future project.

(https://i.postimg.cc/bJntRgC5/Moon-12.jpg)

The rest of the parts were sorted and cleaned-up.

(https://i.postimg.cc/s2vSMsps/Moon-11.jpg)

The first modifications.

(https://i.postimg.cc/PJk8VD05/Moon-13.jpg)

The foreseen final setup.

(https://i.postimg.cc/gcvhXM6X/Moon-14.jpg)

And the first try with the kitchen metal foil.

(https://i.postimg.cc/NF723Mw7/Moon-15.jpg)

Now I have a ton of photos from the Nasa archives to peruse.

Lack of documentation will definitely NOT be a problem :)

Thanks for watching!
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Antonio Sobral on November 26, 2018, 03:01:43 AM: Hi guys

Some advances on the LM-5 Eagle.

Rebuilding the plume deflectors

(https://i.postimg.cc/44mjtMJN/Moon-21.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/XX6y2dMN/Moon-22.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/bYWWRTJ0/Moon-23.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Sorting out all the mods needed...

(https://i.postimg.cc/CxWBKXs6/Moon-33.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/MTwn7B47/Moon-34.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Modifying the landing pads...

(https://i.postimg.cc/WtLxxVkg/Moon-37.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/y6Md7ShX/Moon-38.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

And several other modifications...

(https://i.postimg.cc/vBZsD9sq/Moon-39.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/xCpSmCj0/Moon-40.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/vmzyQhpx/Moon-41.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/1XLhWjN2/Moon-42.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/pXFt9RwH/Moon-43.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/7hCrnkbS/Moon-44.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/g0ddFQBP/Moon-45.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/XNhb7pDL/Moon-46.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/wjYYLnzs/Moon-47.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

(https://i.postimg.cc/9QP5p1Xg/Moon-48.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)

Thanks for watching!

To be continued...
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Brian da Basher on November 26, 2018, 05:22:13 AM: What a treat to see an update to this wonderful project!

That's some outstanding detail work, Antonio!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Old Wombat on November 26, 2018, 06:10:44 AM: :D :smiley:
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: andonio64 on November 27, 2018, 02:38:36 PM: Another great work to follow!!!
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Antonio Sobral on January 14, 2019, 11:59:34 PM: Thanks for the comments!

And many many weeks later, and with the H-D Needlecast '46 done, it is time to reach for the moon again :)

With the construction pretty much done, is time to choose the colors to use.

After persuing the photos and documents again, here is my favorite set :)

(https://i.postimg.cc/CKzMrBPf/Moon-49.jpg)

For the wrinkled "metallic" surfaces, instead of the obvious chocolate wrapping foils, I am thinking of using
just plain kitchen aluminium foil painted over with Alclad.

The test results:

(https://i.postimg.cc/xdhfwfhp/Moon-50.jpg)

I kind of like it. Still need to do some more mixing tests, but I see the light at the end of the tunnel... I just hop is not a train :)
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: arctic warrior on January 15, 2019, 12:50:40 AM: I did build this several decades ago but your enhancement is terrific. 8)
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Antonio Sobral on February 25, 2019, 04:20:08 PM: Hi guys

A few advances on this project, which is an example of procrastination at its best ;)

Some experiments to emulate the mylar and metallic coatings without using aluminium (or aluminum :smiley: ) foil.
Just a toothpick, some Tamiya putty and some AK True Metal paste:

Find the differences!
(https://i.postimg.cc/xTg3sRh8/Moon-61.jpg)

It looked all right to me, so the method stayed.

Some more detail painting on the ascension module:
(https://i.postimg.cc/ydFF0X0V/Moon-62.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/3xRCzGQB/Moon-63.jpg)

The landing gear.
(https://i.postimg.cc/wBR5jdvR/Moon-64.jpg)

And the base with some basic paint.
(https://i.postimg.cc/hjFLJ3zy/Moon-66.jpg)

Tamiya putty on the descending module.
(https://i.postimg.cc/Jzy8KHk9/Moon-67.jpg)

Paintings used:
(https://i.postimg.cc/NMxvL13r/Moon-68.jpg)

And the final result.
(https://i.postimg.cc/cC4y3vWk/Moon-69.jpg)

Auto-adhesive paper cut to measure for the black coating.
(https://i.postimg.cc/6pDXP6VT/Moon-70.jpg)

After painting.
(https://i.postimg.cc/4yLCQXNf/Moon-71.jpg)

And a very early sneak preview of the final result (hopefully).
(https://i.postimg.cc/YSYHBc8R/Moon-72.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/k4Cdnjpm/Moon-73.jpg)

And that's all for now. Thanks for watching!.
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Buzzbomb on February 25, 2019, 07:45:38 PM: Great work.
I know how hard it is to get this foil work to happen.
I went down a similar path but in 1/48 using the Dragon LEM kit.
http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/SSM/lmmoon2.jpg (http://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/SSM/lmmoon2.jpg)

Nice details as well and you are doing it in 1/72!!! :o
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Antonio Sobral on May 03, 2019, 04:02:40 AM: Thanks!

But after several hiccups, I finally managed to finish this!

Procrastination is such a nasty word... :)

Anyway, please find below the final photos...

(https://i.postimg.cc/nV7PW4FJ/Moon-81.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/jjmMg5B2/Moon-82.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/pXH6Mmrn/Moon-83.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/xT3Ff9Np/Moon-84.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/Y9FbJ7w3/Moon-85.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/pdp0J8G3/Moon-86.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/9QXgzsGm/Moon-87.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/13WCFMHp/Moon-88.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/j2rZT1xr/Moon-89.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/nc208TN6/Moon-90.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/ZYrwHJHY/Moon-91.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/VNxF9hbb/Moon-92.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/13YBXXmB/Moon-93.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/jjwX7TCb/Moon-94.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/t4gD9Wj7/Moon-95.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/ncp0wNS4/Moon-96.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/XqcxYgqB/Moon-97.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/QtcJfqpY/Moon-98.jpg)

(https://i.postimg.cc/MHxbNj56/Moon-99.jpg)

Could it be better? But of course! And for a long margin :)

Could it be worse? Definitely! Never underestimate the capacity of a modeller to screw up a model! :)

Does it look like the real thing? I guess so. No one looking at the vignette will think it is the Hamlet's soliloquy :)

So, all things considered, I ended up pretty happy with the result!

This concludes the 3rd part of my "Space Conquest (personal) Saga".

Thanks for watching!

And beware, because I have already 3 more Parts planned :)
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: apophenia on May 03, 2019, 04:04:55 AM: Lovely work? And I concur with buzzbomb about the foil :smiley:
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Brian da Basher on May 03, 2019, 04:49:33 AM: Talk about a real gem of a model! Those metallics look great and sparkle nicely.
8)
Amazing work, Antonio!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Old Wombat on May 03, 2019, 07:38:48 AM: Really nice job, Antonio! :smiley:

I've always been intrigued by the "robot face" of the front of the lander.

Be waiting to see the next builds! :))
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: finsrin on May 03, 2019, 08:00:22 AM: "So, all things considered, I ended up pretty happy with the result!" I must say so. 8)
Two orders of magnitude beyond my best builds. If this was baseball - would be a Grand Slam.
Like my model pictures to be fine like yours. What camera are you using ?
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: elmayerle on May 03, 2019, 09:46:27 AM: "Beautiful!" is entirely too much of an understatement for this one, as is "Bloody Gorgeous!", but those will have to do. My hat's off to you, Antonio.
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: The Big Gimper on May 03, 2019, 10:01:35 AM: Amazing work Mr. A.

I literally hear the sound of the astronaut's boots crushing the moon's regolith.
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Robomog on May 04, 2019, 03:38:23 PM: Wow, I mean like WOW !

Awesome model Antonio, far surpasses anything I could do
:icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza: :smiley:

Mog
>^-.-^<
Title: Re: The Conquest of Space - Part 3: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Post by: Antonio Sobral on May 07, 2019, 05:49:38 AM: Thanks a lot for the nice words and comments!

But if you think 1/72 was small enough.....

(https://i.postimg.cc/0NVPFyqF/LMini-05.jpg)

...think again ;D ;D ;D

But that's another story...