1/15th scale Space Shuttle

[handiabled]

Absolutely outstanding detail being put into this restoration

[jmarc]

NNNNNNNNNNeat !

[bradley25mm]

So today, Chris came down from Cincinnati. . Our main goal today replace the original hinges with more streamlined piano hinges . We had to cut new slots to accommodate the new ones. Thanks for having a look.

[mrt51]

Wow!

[keavdog]

Wow... and is that a C8 Corvette under the covers back there???

[themongoose]

Dec 26, 2023 20:31:19 GMT -5 keavdog said:

Wow... and is that a C8 Corvette under the covers back there???

Yeah, talk about scary! I was super paranoid just walking around the garage with a hammer and screwdriver in my hand 🤯 I got to sit in it 🧑🏼‍🎄 Merry Christmas to me 🥂

[bradley25mm]

Thanks, a lot guys for all the comments on this project. Probably one of the coolest things I’ve ever been able to do. That very nice Corvette that you see in the garage is not mine. My brother asked me to babysit it for a few days for him. I did want to start it up in the garage just to see how it sounded. I’m gonna say is wow!!!.

Christopher

[406 Silverado]

This is coming along very well Christopher and Chris. Sometimes it still "wows" me for you guys to have such an opportunity.

Those Vettes really are "all that". I don't like the rear of the cars but hey......you can't have everything.

[bradley25mm]

Fellow modelers,
      I have made some much-needed progress on the nose. All of the tiling has been complete, from the nose of the orbiter to the beginning of the cargo bay. Every place that you see purple tape is where the thermal blanket material will go.(athletic tape.)
       The next step is to install all of the thruster nozzles that have been cut. Each nozzle will get a cone in the end of it. Thanks so much for having a look.

Christopher
        

[jeaton01]

Looks like you are stepping this up many notches from the original build.

[brandonk]

Jan 11, 2024 13:36:36 GMT -5 jeaton01 said:

Looks like you are stepping this up many notches from the original build.

I agree. You are most certainly making it far better than before. Excellent.!!

[jmarc]

[bradley25mm]

Jan 11, 2024 17:45:06 GMT -5 jmarc said:

😂😂😂

[bradley25mm]

Finally some color

[midnightprowler]

Wow.

[kyledehart5]

Are we sure this is 1/15 scale and you guys didn’t accidentally take home a full size shuttle? Incredible!!

[bradley25mm]

The shuttle is now primed. Every place that you don’t see primer is where
tiling still has to be done. I’ve started applying the athletic tape to the front nose. I had to scratch, build some small exhaust nozzles to fit those that are actually on Atlantis. Chris and I have decided that it’s probably a good idea to do a little bit of work in the cargo bay. In the event of the museum wants to post it with the doors open sometime later, this will give us a Headstart on any scratch building we have to do Thanks a lot for having a look.

[bradley25mm]

Plastic sheeting was attached to the inside of the cargo bay doors. Had to strip the old foil off because it was starting to peel. When the athletic tape is applied, there are small fibers that can still be seen on the surface. To fix this I first took brush on scenic glue and coated each panel. Once that was dry, I applied regular scenic glue. This does one of two things. It improves adhesion of the athletic tape, and it gets rid of all the fuzzies. Are usually just take the brush and go One Direction when I’m putting the glue on. Once the glue is dried completely overnight, you can actually send it with some 320 grit sandpaper. This knocks down all of the small bumps that might be left over. It leaves a nice smooth surface, yet you can still see the detail of the athletic tape underneath the glue.

[406 Silverado]

Every time I look in on this thread I am super amazed at not only the progress but the project as a whole. You guys are kickin' "A" and takin names with this one. Looking forward to seeing what you guys have in store for that cargo bay Christopher.

[kyledehart5]

I couldn’t agree More. This is truly remarkable. Just incredible work

[Steve Zuleski]

Bradley, I'm surprised that you haven't had a news crew show up to see just what you and crew are doing, this is nuts, in an incredible way!

Brother, my hat is off to you guys, awesome work! This is true modeling in a real sense of the word, HUGE!

P.S. I think a lot of us would say, "Thanks for caring enough to keep the Shuttle Heritage alive!" Ruck On USA!

[handiabled]

You guys are taking this restoration to the next level. Just outstanding work

[fox]

That is truly outstanding! Can't think of anything else to say. 

Stay safe.
Jim

[deafpanzer]

Everything looks great. It is already looking 50x better than the original look. How many hours have you done on it so far?

[bradley25mm]

Jan 25, 2024 12:28:06 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Everything looks great. It is already looking 50x better than the original look. How many hours have you done on it so far?

Thanks a lot for the comment. I’d say 200 hours at this point. That’s is just the Shuttle work. Since it has been a team effort, here is the breakdown for the rest of the team members. Chris is what I would refer to as our project engineer. Our numbers guy. (he’s an engineer by trade). He’s made several trips down to Louisville, spending all day working with me in the garage. His hours: Priceless!! Harry made the decals that went on the engine bells, and pre scored all of the tile work for the entire project. His hours: 25. Myles reformatted all of the 1/72nd graphics to 1/15th scale that will be used for the project. His hours: 35. There is a graphics company in Bowling Green that is going to make both vinyl graphics and vinyl mask. (some of the graphics will be airbrushed on the shuttle for added authenticity. Just like the real one) I’m not sure how many hours the owner has inches at work so far. I guess at a minimum it’s probably around 20 so far.
Each one of these modelers bring some extraordinary skills to this project. I’m glad that I can be counted among them.

[tatocorvette]

After staring at the keyboard for a few minutes trying to say something, Nope. I'm speechless. 
What an honor and what super cool project...

[jmarc]

IIIIIIIIIIIIIImpressive !

[lyle]

Oct 7, 2023 21:07:36 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Oh WOW!! What a grand and honorable undertaking. I'll be watching this for DANG sure Christopher!!!

Double dog ditto! That is awesome. 

[bradley25mm]

Good afternoon!!! (In Kentucky anyway)
       Made some more progress on Atlantis. One whole side of the shuttle, is now either covered with athletic tape, or plastic styrene sheet. The one good thing about the plastic sheeting is that once it is glue down, you can carve whatever shape you need into it with a number 11 blade.  Thanks for having a look.

Christopher



   

[lyle]

That’s awesome! Why the tape?