Space Tug (circa 1970)
- Thread starter JCalhoun
- Start date
joberg
Legendary Member
Looking good so far. As much as you wanna put greeblies at the bottom of the vehicule, as much I would refrain to over do it (my two cents). As you can see by those drawings, most of the machinery and "stuff" is fairly enclosed into access panels (yes,I know, lots of panel scribing you'll have to make for that model). As for your little plastic pipes, a hot hairdryer will do also and it's easier to control the bend of the pipe. Try to imagine the greeblies serving some kind of purpose. If I put this box there, and a pipe going to that box, where the pipe is going to go from there? You could drill a hole into your floor and bend your pipe in there, or stopping your pipe at another panel/box. The variations are endless.
Eager to see your next update
Eager to see your next update
JCalhoun
Active Member
Agreed — keeping the greeblies to a minimum. The pervious photo was me just setting pieces around to get a sense of how busy it would look. Definitely going to add some pipes though....
Cut some rectangular pieces of acrylic to act as supporting walls/partitions:
The wide area closest in the last photo is the main cabin area. I like to imagine the other pie sections contain the fuel bottle, oxygen tanks, fuel cells, etc.
Cut some rectangular pieces of acrylic to act as supporting walls/partitions:
The wide area closest in the last photo is the main cabin area. I like to imagine the other pie sections contain the fuel bottle, oxygen tanks, fuel cells, etc.
JCalhoun
Active Member
I'm thinking I may leave an open access panel or two on the back side of the space tug. It's a good excuse to show those imagined fuel/oxygen tanks — and an excuse to add greeblies.
I'll probably only leave open/exposed the lower third or so of the above compartment.
This will be difficult to paint when mostly closed up, do people paint things like this in advance? I may at the least primer it.
I'll probably only leave open/exposed the lower third or so of the above compartment.
This will be difficult to paint when mostly closed up, do people paint things like this in advance? I may at the least primer it.
Last edited:
JCalhoun
Active Member
Oh yeah, I remembered I don't know how to paint. Too much primer and it started to pool up and begin to run.... Good thing this is an area that will be barely visible, Still time to learn to paint!
In any event, you can see the tanks and plumbing in the two sections above. Only a small pair access hatches will reveal them in the rear of the space tug.
Here I quickly tried it out with a piece of paper with cutouts wrapped around the space tug:
Moving around front to detail the cockpit next....
In any event, you can see the tanks and plumbing in the two sections above. Only a small pair access hatches will reveal them in the rear of the space tug.
Here I quickly tried it out with a piece of paper with cutouts wrapped around the space tug:
Moving around front to detail the cockpit next....
Britcinescribe
Well-Known Member
No...the shot I'm thinking had some astronauts in the foreground, and was very shadowy, with some rockiness in the background. But, yeah. Same red lighting and in the "pads down" configuration.
I haven't thought about this design (although occasionally seeing it in illustrations) in about 40 years. I was obsessed with this as a kid.
You've got me hugely nostalgic about building one of my own, now. Your build is looking great!
I haven't thought about this design (although occasionally seeing it in illustrations) in about 40 years. I was obsessed with this as a kid.
You've got me hugely nostalgic about building one of my own, now. Your build is looking great!
JCalhoun
Active Member
As I begin the cockpit detail, started with a door that leads to the airlock & access tunnel in the center of the tug.
Designed the door on the computer, printed the parts out, cut them from styrene:
Cut and filed them as best I could. Glued the parts together and added some greeblies — completed door.
And so glued it in place within the cockpit:
Designed the door on the computer, printed the parts out, cut them from styrene:
Cut and filed them as best I could. Glued the parts together and added some greeblies — completed door.
And so glued it in place within the cockpit:
JCalhoun
Active Member
Started painting the cockpit — realize I have no idea how to paint.... Oh well, learning.
Meanwhile, at about the same time a couple of parts from Shapeways showed up while the final laser-cut parts from Sculpteo also arrived.
I hit the 3D printed Shapeways parts with primer (these were "RCS" units someone designed as replacements for a plastic Apollo space model kit). They look a little large for my space tug's scale — but close enough.
I had to bevel the edges of the laser-cut window parts so that they abut against one another more cleanly, Taping together the laser-cut window parts and putting them in place just to see how it will all fit together.
First though, I need to finish painting the cockpit before I can seal it off (build it over).
Meanwhile, at about the same time a couple of parts from Shapeways showed up while the final laser-cut parts from Sculpteo also arrived.
I hit the 3D printed Shapeways parts with primer (these were "RCS" units someone designed as replacements for a plastic Apollo space model kit). They look a little large for my space tug's scale — but close enough.
I had to bevel the edges of the laser-cut window parts so that they abut against one another more cleanly, Taping together the laser-cut window parts and putting them in place just to see how it will all fit together.
First though, I need to finish painting the cockpit before I can seal it off (build it over).
modelcitizen
Sr Member
nice. i wouldn't worry about any "glow".
angrytrooper
Member
What you have created here is just really cool.. I love it, Can't wait to see this in all its completed glory.
Analyzer
Master Member
Fantastic work so far
Not sure if it helps, but to light block things I have used aluminum/silver foil tape ( the kind you would use on heating ducts)
Sticks great and blocks all light.
I place it on the inside and cut out parts for light to pass through or pock holes in it etc...
another option is prime black, paint a metallic color, then paint the base coat color
Not sure if it helps, but to light block things I have used aluminum/silver foil tape ( the kind you would use on heating ducts)
Sticks great and blocks all light.
I place it on the inside and cut out parts for light to pass through or pock holes in it etc...
another option is prime black, paint a metallic color, then paint the base coat color
Britcinescribe
Well-Known Member
Dude, This is turning into my favorite build at the moment. I can't wait to see this finished.
portland182
Well-Known Member
Scroll down about 3/4 of the page for space tug stuff
https://spaceflighthistory.blogspot.com/2016_01_01_archive.html
Jim
https://spaceflighthistory.blogspot.com/2016_01_01_archive.html
Jim
There was a concept called an OTV--essentially a tug with a disk type aerobrake sticking out well over the rim
OTV
This may also inspire you:
https://www.aiaa.org/uploadedfiles/...uttle_launches/shuttlevariationsfinalaiaa.pdf
Figure 12 on page 6 shows what might be the closest real spacecraft ever got to the TOS Enterprise. Page 7 also shaows lenticular designs were also still on folks minds.
The largest saucer design looked at by Phil Bono
Bono Saucer
OTV
This may also inspire you:
https://www.aiaa.org/uploadedfiles/...uttle_launches/shuttlevariationsfinalaiaa.pdf
Figure 12 on page 6 shows what might be the closest real spacecraft ever got to the TOS Enterprise. Page 7 also shaows lenticular designs were also still on folks minds.
The largest saucer design looked at by Phil Bono
Bono Saucer
