Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Scifi and Fantasy => Topic started by: Frank3k on July 05, 2017, 06:56:50 AM

Title: 1/72 "Dorito" reentry vehicle
Post by: Frank3k on July 05, 2017, 06:56:50 AM
The Hawk Manned Orbiting Laboratory kit was a neat kit based on a Convair proposal:
(http://fantastic-plastic.com/CONVAIR%20ATLAS%20MOL%20RE-RELEASE%20BOX%20ART.jpg)
image from the Fantastic Plastic (http://fantastic-plastic.com/CONVAIR%20ATLAS%20MOL%20PAGE.htm) page about this kit. Note that the shape of the vehicle on the boxtop does not match the parts in the kit.

I've always liked the little "dorito" reentry vehicles and I scratchbuilt my interpretation (http://frank.bol.ucla.edu/rvx.htm) years ago. I sold that model shortly after I made it and have always wanted to recreate it. After years of procrastinating, I decided to interpret the kit parts in 1/72 scale. Here are the results from Shapeways.

As received from Shapeways. The rear plate (which is slightly warped) is joined to the main body with short round sprues. The crew hatch is also on a sprue, inside the body. The fingerprint pattern on the surface is courtesy of the Shapeways printer:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4289/35723410945_78c1594fcd_o.jpg)


The bottom side. I added the landing skid doors:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4288/35554599232_504de2f052_o.jpg)


The parts, separated. The four engines and attachment ring are my additions. I also added a hatch for a parachute in the middle and two small thrusters on each side of the engine section: (https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4239/35554599152_dbbf674d0c_o.jpg)

Press fit. The snipped off sprues are at the top:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4129/35554599112_6f440085ca_o.jpg)

Back end. The fit's not bad, considering the slight warp:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4087/35554599272_49e6d9df35_o.jpg)

Side/rear view:
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4082/35723410755_4698c22148_o.jpg)

I was thinking of adding a cockpit tub that could slide in, but very little of the cockpit will be visible.

I'll modify the model to make it cheaper to print (right now it's only printable in Frosted Ultra Detail) and I may just close the cockpit hatch. I discovered that Winchell Chung has made 3-views of the reentry vehicle as shown on the box top; it has flat surfaces instead of a curved surface.  I'll ask him if I can convert the drawings to a 3D printed object.

Thanks for looking!
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: Dr. YoKai on July 05, 2017, 07:38:09 AM
 Looks terrific, Frank - will you be going with the box art yellow, or going the morelikely NASA white?

Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: LemonJello on July 05, 2017, 07:20:34 PM
Very Cool!
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: Frank3k on July 06, 2017, 12:00:51 AM
Looks terrific, Frank - will you be going with the box art yellow, or going the morelikely NASA white?

I'm going to paint it with white primer, then black and sand away until all the printer artifacts are gone. I'll see how it looks in all white before I decide. I like the retro yellow color, too. The bottom will probably stay black. The Convair artwork seems to show an all metal finish.
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: GTX_Admin on July 07, 2017, 02:38:33 AM
Looking good.
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: Brian da Basher on July 10, 2017, 07:42:09 AM
That looks amazing, Frank!

I really enjoy the early space/sci-fi stuff you build and this one looks on course to be a winner!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: Buzzbomb on July 10, 2017, 11:55:53 AM
Always looks good the shapeways stuff
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: Frank3k on July 10, 2017, 01:27:50 PM
I'm almost done with this. I need to overcoat with clear or clear satin to protect the decals and I need to work on the windows. I decided to go with a dark steel color (Vallejo Metallics) over black primer. The areas that receive less heat are in Vallejo Aluminum:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4242/35698259231_55292da5bd_o.jpg)

The stars and bars don't line up with each other, but they line up with "US AIR FORCE". I should have thought this out better...

Here it is on a gray background; it may be easier to see the discoloration on the nose due to reentry heating:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4213/35442341090_ec03f01109_o.jpg)

Underside. I left some of the printing artifacts visible, to give the flat areas some structure and to give the impression of thermal tiles or blankets. Unfortunately, some of them look like scratches. There are two dark metallic shades here - Vallejo Magnesium and Vallejo Steel (on the leading edges):

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4242/35442341060_8df7d5323a_o.jpg)

Out of focus rear end. I used gold Bare Metal Foil to give it some interest. I used BMF Chrome for the area behind the engines, which I knocked off to gain access to the area. They're pinned in place with thin brass rods:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4288/35442341030_3e3de99083_o.jpg)

Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on July 10, 2017, 04:19:12 PM
With a coat of paint and decals your little dorito looks quite authentic :)
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: andonio64 on July 10, 2017, 06:38:47 PM
wow, amazing!
I love the way those Vallejo colours work.
Never used them, I googled for them and found they're acrylics, but for airbrush.
Anybody ever used them by brush?

AnDonio
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: Frank3k on July 11, 2017, 12:15:53 AM
Andonio, I've brushed them in small areas; they work fine hand brushed.
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: Brian da Basher on July 11, 2017, 02:47:25 AM
That looks fantastic, Frank! I really like how you rendered the heat shield panels and re-entry discoloration!

Don't worry about the insignia. I wouldn't have noticed it was off slightly if you hadn't mentioned it.

Good luck with the windows. Are you sure you wouldn't prefer an AppleŽ product instead?
 ;D ;D ;D
Brian da Basher
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: GTX_Admin on July 11, 2017, 03:07:19 AM
Looks great!
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: Buzzbomb on July 11, 2017, 06:48:58 AM
Really nice.
The printing artifacts work just dandy in this case
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: andonio64 on July 11, 2017, 10:33:54 PM
Andonio, I've brushed them in small areas; they work fine hand brushed.

Thank you Frank3k!
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: Frank3k on July 16, 2017, 07:48:57 AM
Thanks for the comments. This one is finished. The next one will be either a cheaper, simplified version of this one (windows will be sunken depressions in the fuselage, hatch won't be separate) or one based on the kit boxtop, with more angular surfaces.

Visiting my dusty One Man space station (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=1917):

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/35776157002_e56bbac5ed_o.jpg)

"Dude, your Space Uber is here!"

Thanks for looking!
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: Old Wombat on July 16, 2017, 09:30:10 AM
Looks good! Be great as a mini dio. :) :)
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: Dr. YoKai on July 17, 2017, 08:49:36 PM
(Rushes to trademark "SpaceLyft" before somebody else does...)

 Looks terrific, Frank!
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: Frank3k on July 17, 2017, 11:50:32 PM
SpaceLyft is even better!

Winchell Chung sent me his variant design based on the boxtop artwork, so that one's next.
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: The Big Gimper on July 18, 2017, 01:17:28 AM
That is one spicy Dorito.  :)

What about a small-ish space station where multiple Dorito's can dock and replenish supplies (just ran out of Spicy Nacho flavour), install new air filters and to exchange crews?
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" rentry vehicle
Post by: Brian da Basher on July 20, 2017, 06:15:56 AM
Looks good! Be great as a mini dio. :) :)

I couldn't agree more!

I do not have enough "huzzahs!" for this little beauty!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: 1/72 "Dorito" reentry vehicle
Post by: sletch on September 24, 2017, 01:35:28 AM
Hello,

Considering the age of the kit, your job is impressive.

Frederic