I have an 80s Transformer who is a large Space Shuttle, a little over 10" long, and was trying to find an easy way to replicate either real heat shield tiles or something like them. I have pics of the real thing but i'm not sure how well they'd scale down let alone scribe them into the plastic. I had thought of a thin layer of sculpty with a shape of some sort but that seems a bit rough too. Anyone have ideas?
Best way to add heat shield tiles to shuttle?
- Thread starter Wes R
- Start date
jedimaster
Sr Member
You can buy decals for the 1/72 kits. Sounds about the right size. Or you could mod them to fit.
robn1
Master Member
10" is more like 1/144. Try painting the tiles. The old Famous Spaceships book showed this technique, using window screen as a mask to spray through. Paint the shuttle medium gray overall. Then mask and spray the bottom black tiles through the screen, then the upper white tiles.
Zombie_61
Master Member
Robn1 is correct, yours is closer to 1/144 scale. At that scale you shouldn't be able to discern any pattern in the tiles because of the tight gap and "step" tolerances.
If you're trying to replicate a "new" shuttle (i.e., one that wouldn't show the effects of re-entry), mask the area and paint it flat black. You're done.
If you're trying to replicate a "used" shuttle, take a look at this photo. You'll notice the only discernable pattern is around the three landing gear doors and the two square umbilical hatches just forward of the body flap (that somewhat flat section under the main engines). The rest is a random selection of new tiles, semi-new tiles, and scorching. Unfortunately, none of the currently available 1/144 scale decals (and there are very few) replicate this accurately.
When I get around to building my Revell 1/144 scale shuttle in the not-too-distant future (hopefully) I'm planning to mask and paint flat black as suggested above, drybrush using various shades of gray to replicate the scorching effects, then pick out the new and semi-new tiles by hand with a small brush. Time consuming, to be sure, but if you want it done right you have to do it yourself.
If you're trying to replicate a "new" shuttle (i.e., one that wouldn't show the effects of re-entry), mask the area and paint it flat black. You're done.
If you're trying to replicate a "used" shuttle, take a look at this photo. You'll notice the only discernable pattern is around the three landing gear doors and the two square umbilical hatches just forward of the body flap (that somewhat flat section under the main engines). The rest is a random selection of new tiles, semi-new tiles, and scorching. Unfortunately, none of the currently available 1/144 scale decals (and there are very few) replicate this accurately.
When I get around to building my Revell 1/144 scale shuttle in the not-too-distant future (hopefully) I'm planning to mask and paint flat black as suggested above, drybrush using various shades of gray to replicate the scorching effects, then pick out the new and semi-new tiles by hand with a small brush. Time consuming, to be sure, but if you want it done right you have to do it yourself.
If your just wanting to get the effect of tiles try this modified window screen method. Tape a section of window screen with a small enough mesh for your tiles to the bottom of the model. Using flat black spray paint spray the bottom in one direction going side to side. Example, hold the can at the back of the model and spray toward the front of the ship. Keep this angle until the bottom is covered. Do not spray directly "down" at he model, keep the can low at an angle. Once that is dry, take some gunmetal colored paint or dark grey, and hold the can at the nose, pointing toward the rear. Spray until you have the bottom covered. Do not change direction, always have the can pointing toward the rear at a low angle going side to side. This is a technique for doing a carbon fiber type paintjob. You will end up with squares that are black on one edge and grey on the other edge. This will give you an intersting tile effect for your Transformers shuttle.
opal1970
Well-Known Member
Sounds interesting, do you have any pics of this method on a finished build?
Admitadly, without digging deeply, Google did not produce any information in this area.
I need to tear him down and paint him, and do some reengineering, but i'll give the screen technique a try on some scraps to practice. Worse comes to worse I can always just paint the bottom flat black. With it being a Transformer i'm assuming his heat shields would be far different.
opal1970
Well-Known Member
Thank you very much.
JMChladek
Sr Member
Brand new 1/72 shuttle kits are expensive. But if you go to eBay and look for the older boxings of the Revell and Monogram kits (orbiter only, if you want a stack, expect to pay a lot) and you can find some very good bargains. The plastic in the older ones is exactly the same as the current ones.
