Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high

[wasili]

Hello all,

It's a bit different from the regular modelling subjects posted here, so i hope it fits.

I'm currently working on a 3,5ft tall red-and-white moonrocket from one of my favourite comic books: Tintin. It's a commisioned build based on a previous version i did of the rocket in the early 90's. Then i turned wooden bucks for vacvorming in 4mm thick styrene, with perspex wings. Spend ages sanding and filling a one-off. No castings or silicone back then.

This new commision gave me the opportunity to refurbish the original bucks, using silicone molds to achieve the end result in PU (cast, and metal reinforced wing) and foam filled epoxy or polyester for the body). I always wanted one myself, so here's the chance to do so while working on the one for the client.

The final result is to be a decorative piece, so no interior, stepladders, or figures.

For those that have no idea what i'm talking about, here's the cover of the french language version: "Objectif Lune" or "Destination Moon". And just so you know...it was first published in 1953.

I have to finish the build within a week, so i'll be posting pics of the build starting from tomorrow.

Cheers,

Wasili

 

[Laffo]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket

Please tell me there will be a kit.
Laffo.

 

[wasili]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket

First let me see how the castings turn out...

so.....maybe a kit...and if so, then very limited numbers...

 

[altername]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket

First let me see how the castings turn out...

so.....maybe a kit...and if so, then very limited numbers...

Awesome idea! I'm a big fan of this graphic novel and rocket.

 

[Laffo]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket

Let us know. That'd be great.
Laffo.

 

[phase pistol]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket

While we wait, here's one I picked up a few years ago.. wooden, about 14 inches tall.

The shape is a bit off compared to the drawing above.. note how the thickest part of the hull is higher up than the middle, on the drawing.

 

[Jeeves]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket

Interested in a kit depending on pics and prices...and of course if you end up making one!

 

[MonsieurTox]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket

That's an awesome subject ! "Objectif Lune" is one of my fav of Tintin's comic books, I will follow this thread with great interest !

 

[wasili]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket

While we wait, here's one I picked up a few years ago.. wooden, about 14 inches tall.

The shape is a bit off compared to the drawing above.. note how the thickest part of the hull is higher up than the middle, on the drawing.

This is the thing that bothered me the most when i build it for the first time. There is a blueprint of sorts in the graphic novel, with the main hull being different from the 'real' one in all the other drawings. Just like Phase Pistol describes. But the weird thing is that nearly all commercially available ones are derived from this 'incorrect' blueprint. I made my blueprints from the cover (post #1), so no incorrect lines there

Wasili

 

[CaptCBoard]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket

Wasili--

Please email me. AtomicCity@gmail.com

Thanks!

Scott

 

[wasili]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket

email send

 

[wasili]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket

Here's the first update with pics. I dug out the old MDF bucks for the body (main hull) and the teardrop legs ( 1 half for the top and 1 half for the dome ). Nothing for the wings themselves.

The old hull buck has warped over time. It isn't much, but still about half an inch. From tip to toe, it's ok, i just can't lie it down flat on a table. I sprayed the bare mdf with a thick layer of sprayfiller, and made an epoxy mold. Forgive the crappy looking mold, as i'm not used to epoxy, and didn't have the patience to do a proper tinted one.

Today i foamed two halves from that mold, cut and sanded them flat on the back. They do follow the warpage from the warped buck, but later when i glue the two halves together, i push them together eliminating the gap in between.

Now on to the wings. I recast the wooden bucks for the leg in pu, and glued them together. Something missing from the commercially available ones in the past was a nice sectional shape for the wing. The biggest ones even used a thick and flat piece of material, following the original profile. No fillets or anything.

For mine i went for a subtle tearshaped wing, yet thick and strong enough to withstand a beating. I decided on 12mm thick, so i cut some cibatool (chemiwood, renshape, etc.) on a bandsaw, and glued it to the leg bulb. The transition from the top of the wing to the leg bulb was tricky to make it work (i go from 12mm thick wing material to a pointy tip on the bulb), but i think i captured that. Bit difficult to see in the pic, will show it later on.

Added some sprayfiller, and touched up the last bits with poly filer.

More updates tomorrow.

Cheers,

Wasili

 

[wasili]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket ** 1st update with pics post#12 **

It's a bit of a weekend, so i didn't do that much.

Preparing the mold jacket before the silicone pouring. I have a thing with MDF boxes for moldsupport, but wanted to try a clay layup. First time i'm using this technique (or the clay for that matter), so it took me the better part of the day to work the clay. I used NSP from Chavant.

More tomorrow..

Cheers,

Wasili

 

[wasili]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket ** 2nd update with pics page 2 **

Sunday update...

Both my kids are down with a fever, so taking care of them took the better part of the day. I still have to finish this build on time, so that does make me a bit nervous.

Flipped over the wing, scraped off the excess clay from the 'mohawk'. Filled the remainder of the bulb with clay.

I'm quite new with this (working with clay), but luckily it went a bit faster than the other side. I still have difficulty smoothening (as in 'no bumps') the clay. Anyone have some good tips ?

After the last pic below, i filled the corners with clay, smoothened it ( fingers, brush and water) and added some mold release.

I'm currently waiting for the pva to dry, so i can lay up the 2nd half of the polyester jacket. Finally tomorrow i can pour some silicone. Latest on tuesday i'll have my cast wings.

More tomorrow

Cheers,

Wasili

 

[moes1]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket ** 3rd update with pics page 2 **

Here is a couple of pics of a build I saw in Lübeck Germany last year.
I can't remember the builders name, but it was impressive.

Btw - pictures are HUGE

 

[wasili]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket ** 3rd update with pics page 2 **

nice idea, and nice figures..

 

[MooCriket]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 3rd update with pics page 2 **

Very Cool:thumbsup

 

[3d-builder]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 3rd update with pics page 2 **

Beautiful building thread....nice to see work like this.
I love the curved shapes at the end of the wings, you
did a great job capturing this!

Regards,
Michael

 

[PetarB]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 3rd update with pics page 2 **

I've been considering a cutaway build of this for some time. Your build is very inspiring Wasili! Looking forwards to more progress!
Regards, Petar

 

[wasili]

Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 3rd update with pics page 2 **

Thanx guys,

I love working on this project. The fact that research and blueprinting was done in an instant was nice for a change as well. It's a relatively simple shape.

Anyway, here's mondays update...

I finished the fibreglass jacket for the leg-mold, but haven't poured the silicone yet. I have a vacuumchamber for casting in my storage, but it takes time to get there. Scheduled for tomorrowmorning. I did run out of MEK for the polyesther (just the last layer) on the same day my supplier is closed, so had to finish it with poly filler...Looks a bit like crap now.

For the rest of the day i focused on the hull. To save time for the commisioned build, i decided to skip making a silicone mold for the hull. I don't have enough silicone to do it, and even though i ordered more immediately when i found out, i won't get it on time to finish the build before the deadline. I'll make a proper silicone mold next week when i work on my own model.

I'm using the two foam blanks i made last friday. I made the antenna from 1mm dia stainless, put a twist in it (to make sure you can't pull it out by accident after spraying is done) and embedded it in the foam with poly filler.

Next i stuck both halves together only using globs of polyfiller around the centerline. I needed a third pair of hands to squeeze everything together while the filler set, but instead ended up using my knee in the middle. It kinda shows :unsure....Ah well, will fill that up.

The only part of the hull not being fibreglassed is the "exhaust". There's no open hole with this model, it's simply flat. From leftover plex i cnc'ed a circle with the centerlines for the wings engraved in it, and stuck it on the bottom. It's plex, so after spraying you won't see the lines anymore. I made a setup to make sure the circle is glued perfectly perpendicular and in line with the top antenna.

Using the centerlines as a guide, i roughly cut out the slots for the wings. This is where i love pu-foam. I'll keep checking the fit and make sure they are at right angles, until the moment the wings are glued in.

Everything looks a bit rough today, so go easy on me....

More tomorrow.

Cheers,

Wasili