Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high
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wasili
Sr Member
Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 3rd update with pics page 2 **
A cutaway build sounds very interesting.
There was a french book in (i think) the early 90's that dealt with Tintin and science. It featured comparisons o fthe drawings with, for example, past and current space travel technology. There were pictures inside of a large conceptmodel of the interior of the Tintin moonrocket. I cannot remember if that was made by Hergé, or after the fact for the book. I have colorcopies of it somewhere.
If you want, i can try to dig them up...
And thank you "Moocriket", it's fun to build at the same time.
Cheers,
Wasili
A cutaway build sounds very interesting.
There was a french book in (i think) the early 90's that dealt with Tintin and science. It featured comparisons o fthe drawings with, for example, past and current space travel technology. There were pictures inside of a large conceptmodel of the interior of the Tintin moonrocket. I cannot remember if that was made by Hergé, or after the fact for the book. I have colorcopies of it somewhere.
If you want, i can try to dig them up...
And thank you "Moocriket", it's fun to build at the same time.
Cheers,
Wasili
wasili
Sr Member
Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 4th update with pics page 2 **
Hey PetarB, will dig them up. Can take a while though...
On to Tuesday's update..
I received word today that the client will not be back until somewhere this monday, so i have three more days to finish this up. Today i spend most of the day restocking on materials, and doing final prep for the leg-mold.
The fibreglass jacket split apart without much trouble, but i didn't put enough mold release in some spots. Two bits broke out of the flange. Nothing serious though, but a lesson for next time. I was hoping that the clay would come out a bit easier, still took me an hour per side to clean.
More tomorrow.
Cheers,
Wasili
Hey PetarB, will dig them up. Can take a while though...
On to Tuesday's update..
I received word today that the client will not be back until somewhere this monday, so i have three more days to finish this up. Today i spend most of the day restocking on materials, and doing final prep for the leg-mold.
The fibreglass jacket split apart without much trouble, but i didn't put enough mold release in some spots. Two bits broke out of the flange. Nothing serious though, but a lesson for next time. I was hoping that the clay would come out a bit easier, still took me an hour per side to clean.
More tomorrow.
Cheers,
Wasili
wasili
Sr Member
Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 5th update with pics page 3 **
Howdy ho,
Wednesdays update.
Added a block to the end of the wing, so the castings from this are easier to position and it will strengthen the bond with the hull (larger surface). The small styrene triangles are there to ensure no airbubbles are trapped in the cast.
On to the molding. I positioned the wing in the mold jacket and poured a bit of silicone in the bulb section. Once hardened it will lock most of the master, basically freefloating inside the mold without any support.
Then put the other half of the moldjacket on top, and tilted the whole a 90 degrees. Poured batches of silicone to lessen the tension on the moldjacket seems ( i had no idea if i would get a blue floor, if i filled up the mold at one ). Filled it till the top. The white strip sticking out of the silicone is the same one as the one in the first pic in this post.
I use a new silicone from a brand called Zhermack. It's blue, additionhardening, super low viscosity, lasts for about 10 minutes. Hardens in 4 hours. Because it was so warm today, i could take it from the storage (where i have my vac chamber), within 30 minutes of the last pour. Love that stuff..
More tomorrow.
Cheers,
Wasili
Howdy ho,
Wednesdays update.
Added a block to the end of the wing, so the castings from this are easier to position and it will strengthen the bond with the hull (larger surface). The small styrene triangles are there to ensure no airbubbles are trapped in the cast.
On to the molding. I positioned the wing in the mold jacket and poured a bit of silicone in the bulb section. Once hardened it will lock most of the master, basically freefloating inside the mold without any support.
Then put the other half of the moldjacket on top, and tilted the whole a 90 degrees. Poured batches of silicone to lessen the tension on the moldjacket seems ( i had no idea if i would get a blue floor, if i filled up the mold at one ). Filled it till the top. The white strip sticking out of the silicone is the same one as the one in the first pic in this post.
I use a new silicone from a brand called Zhermack. It's blue, additionhardening, super low viscosity, lasts for about 10 minutes. Hardens in 4 hours. Because it was so warm today, i could take it from the storage (where i have my vac chamber), within 30 minutes of the last pour. Love that stuff..
More tomorrow.
Cheers,
Wasili
Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 6th update with pics page 3 **
Fast, clean work Wasili! I'm very impressed...and I'm feeling like a caveman...I can barely comprehend how you are doing what you are doing. :lol The "freestanding" mold is pretty flipping cool.
Of course, I'm still hopeful that you'll be able to make an extra casting or two. :love
Best,
-Raj
Fast, clean work Wasili! I'm very impressed...and I'm feeling like a caveman...I can barely comprehend how you are doing what you are doing. :lol The "freestanding" mold is pretty flipping cool.
Of course, I'm still hopeful that you'll be able to make an extra casting or two. :love
Best,
-Raj
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wasili
Sr Member
Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 6th update with pics page 3 **
Hey Jeeves,
Thanx for the kind comments.
I'll make the announcement for a kit (details and pricing) mid next week, after this one's done. The run will be very limited though..
Thursday update.......none...
...
I'll be working the entire weekend, so i took the day off today (it helps that i'm my own boss). I'll be up on full speed again tomorrow casting the wings and laying up the hull...
Sorry guys..
More indeed tomorrow. Same Rocket-time, same Rocket-channel...
Cheers,
Wasili
Hey Jeeves,
Thanx for the kind comments.
I'll make the announcement for a kit (details and pricing) mid next week, after this one's done. The run will be very limited though..
Thursday update.......none...
...I'll be working the entire weekend, so i took the day off today (it helps that i'm my own boss). I'll be up on full speed again tomorrow casting the wings and laying up the hull...
Sorry guys..
More indeed tomorrow. Same Rocket-time, same Rocket-channel...
Cheers,
Wasili
Last edited by a moderator:
wasili
Sr Member
Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 6th update with pics page 3 **
Friday's update...
>> note to oneself....."next time...seal mdf with plenty of wax or similar goo"
or
moldlock
or
wasted my time today prying the slicone from the mold support box, had to break it apart in order to get it out. The silicone mold itself is ok, but the box is in pieces. I'm glueing it together so that it can act as a support again.
As long as one learns from crap like this, it should be ok...i guess...:unsure
More tomorrow
Cheers,
Wasili
Friday's update...
>> note to oneself....."next time...seal mdf with plenty of wax or similar goo"
or
moldlock
or
wasted my time today prying the slicone from the mold support box, had to break it apart in order to get it out. The silicone mold itself is ok, but the box is in pieces. I'm glueing it together so that it can act as a support again.
As long as one learns from crap like this, it should be ok...i guess...:unsure
More tomorrow
Cheers,
Wasili
wasili
Sr Member
Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 6th update with pics page 3 **
Saturday's update..
While i'm fixing the support jacket for the wing silicone mold, i'm preparing the foam inserts for the castings from the same mold.
I'm using 3 minute fast cast pu resin, so the less material i pour, the better. The foam inserts also keep the brass tubes in place that go through the wings. That will prevent any potential future sagging of the wings...Hey it's still resin...why take a chance there.
I roughly cut the foamblocks, marked the center on the top, and hammered a metal rod into it. The rod is easy as i can put it in a lathe, or just a drill, and sand it the correct shape. I'm making a contour mold to control the shape.
More tomorrow.
Cheers,
Wasili
Saturday's update..
While i'm fixing the support jacket for the wing silicone mold, i'm preparing the foam inserts for the castings from the same mold.
I'm using 3 minute fast cast pu resin, so the less material i pour, the better. The foam inserts also keep the brass tubes in place that go through the wings. That will prevent any potential future sagging of the wings...Hey it's still resin...why take a chance there.
I roughly cut the foamblocks, marked the center on the top, and hammered a metal rod into it. The rod is easy as i can put it in a lathe, or just a drill, and sand it the correct shape. I'm making a contour mold to control the shape.
More tomorrow.
Cheers,
Wasili
Kuhn Global
Sr Member
Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 8th update with pics page 3 **
I love this classic sci-fi stuff! FANTASTIC!
I love this classic sci-fi stuff! FANTASTIC!
wasili
Sr Member
Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 8th update with pics page 3 **
Thanx Kurt..
.
.
Monday's update.
I cnc'ed the profile of the foam inserts from some leftover plex. This way if i need another one, i already have it on file.
Made a setup from a cheap workmate, so i can use my powerdrill as a lathe.
With a vile i shaped the foam, and used the plex profile either to check or to shape the foam.
While working on the last one (below pic on the left), it started to rain, so quickly i finished it up. Doesn't look nearly as sharp as the other ones, but it's good enough as an insert. Won't be visible anyway at the end.
More tomorrow.
Cheers,
Wasili
Thanx Kurt..
.
.
Monday's update.
I cnc'ed the profile of the foam inserts from some leftover plex. This way if i need another one, i already have it on file.
Made a setup from a cheap workmate, so i can use my powerdrill as a lathe.
With a vile i shaped the foam, and used the plex profile either to check or to shape the foam.
While working on the last one (below pic on the left), it started to rain, so quickly i finished it up. Doesn't look nearly as sharp as the other ones, but it's good enough as an insert. Won't be visible anyway at the end.
More tomorrow.
Cheers,
Wasili
Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 9th update with pics page 4 **
OK, that's really cool! You are like McGuyver! I've never seen a power drill to lathe conversion before! LOL. Makes perfect sense, though. Nice job on the pods / engines.
So, these are foam inserts for structural support inside a resin shell? Can you explain why you chose this vs using expanding foam inside the shell after it is cast? Sorry if this is a clueless question - just curious.
Still lovin' this project!
-Raj
OK, that's really cool! You are like McGuyver! I've never seen a power drill to lathe conversion before! LOL. Makes perfect sense, though. Nice job on the pods / engines.
So, these are foam inserts for structural support inside a resin shell? Can you explain why you chose this vs using expanding foam inside the shell after it is cast? Sorry if this is a clueless question - just curious.
Still lovin' this project!
-Raj
wasili
Sr Member
Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 9th update with pics page 4 **
Hey Raj,
I will hang the foaminserts into the mold using the metal supports for the wing, and then fill it up with pu resin. This way the foaminsert will always fit, the shell is an everage 5 - 6mm thick and the wings will be solid. And i only want foam in the bulb, not the wing. The weight per wing becomes standard as well.
If i cast a shell first in pu resin, in the completely closed silicone mold, i have no control over the thickness of the shell. And the expanding foam might distort the casting (if it expands in the wrong spots). Sure it would work, but this is the way i'm used to do it.
Best,
Wasili
Hey Raj,
I will hang the foaminserts into the mold using the metal supports for the wing, and then fill it up with pu resin. This way the foaminsert will always fit, the shell is an everage 5 - 6mm thick and the wings will be solid. And i only want foam in the bulb, not the wing. The weight per wing becomes standard as well.
If i cast a shell first in pu resin, in the completely closed silicone mold, i have no control over the thickness of the shell. And the expanding foam might distort the casting (if it expands in the wrong spots). Sure it would work, but this is the way i'm used to do it.
Best,
Wasili
wasili
Sr Member
Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 9th update with pics page 4 **
Wednesday's update.
I stuck the (sanded) brass tubes into the foam, and added styrene 'dots'. When inserted into the silicone mold, the styrene positions the foam exactly in the middle.
Added some extra 18mm thick MDF to have the mold upright. The first pour was a bit messy on the top of the mold, so i made some quick and dirty pouring funnels from paper.
The three castings i need for finishing the commissioned model. They are not flawless, so the "production" version will be cast a bit differently. Mostly slower kicking resin will do the trick.
And i simply couldn't resist setting it up...It still needs fitting, and the wings are stuck in loose. The cameralens does distort the shape a bit.
More soon.
Cheers,
Wasili
Wednesday's update.
I stuck the (sanded) brass tubes into the foam, and added styrene 'dots'. When inserted into the silicone mold, the styrene positions the foam exactly in the middle.
Added some extra 18mm thick MDF to have the mold upright. The first pour was a bit messy on the top of the mold, so i made some quick and dirty pouring funnels from paper.
The three castings i need for finishing the commissioned model. They are not flawless, so the "production" version will be cast a bit differently. Mostly slower kicking resin will do the trick.
And i simply couldn't resist setting it up...It still needs fitting, and the wings are stuck in loose. The cameralens does distort the shape a bit.
More soon.
Cheers,
Wasili
Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 10th update with pics page 4 **
Classic.thumbsup
Classic.
thumbsup
Re: Tintin - Moonrocket 3,5ft high ** 10th update with pics page 4 **
This really is the ultimate 'golden age' rocketship, for me. It was really well worked out, too, Herge put some real-world engineering into it. One thing I've always wanted to know - IIRC it was supposed to have a NERVA-style atomic engine, but would the design allow for enough propellant volume to actually get into space? I have no idea how to figure that out, but if it did then you could actually build a practical version. Course getting back down again might be another matter.
Anyway, great work, Wasili. Will there be any surface detail/panelling on this?
This really is the ultimate 'golden age' rocketship, for me. It was really well worked out, too, Herge put some real-world engineering into it. One thing I've always wanted to know - IIRC it was supposed to have a NERVA-style atomic engine, but would the design allow for enough propellant volume to actually get into space? I have no idea how to figure that out, but if it did then you could actually build a practical version. Course getting back down again might be another matter.
Anyway, great work, Wasili. Will there be any surface detail/panelling on this?
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