This (68 megabyte ZIP folder of jpg images) package contains diagrams to be used in the construction of accurate display models of the B-47. Includes:
1) Boeing drawing 23-2305, “Boeing B-47E Model Drawings 1/100 Scale,” 9000X5432 pixels, dated 1956
2) Boeing drawing 14-5068, “Boeing XB-47 Stratojet Model Drawing,” 13408X8412 pixels, dated 1947
Also included are halfsize and quartersize version for easier viewing and printing.
Air Drawing 57 can be downloaded for $$4.50.
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My next model project for Fantastic Plastic has been confirmed: Space Station V from “2001: A Space Odyssey.” This will be mastered as a CAD model and printed out. The current plan is to include parts for both a *complete* SSV (all resin) and as the *incomplete* SSV as seen in “2001” (with photoetch parts).
Also to be included: Orion III spaceplane. There will, in fact, be *two* Orion III’s, and for a good reason: scale. Since there are no “canon” diagrams of the SSV laying out exactly how big it is, people speculate and make measurements off of screen captures. The closest there is to an “official” diameter was 1000 feet, based on some thing written by tech advisor Fred Ordway. But while the model may have been built to represent that diameter, the story goes that Kubrick thought the station looked too small compared to the Orion III, so he arbitrarily “scaled it up” optically to twice the diameter… 2000 feet. So what the FP kit will do is have two Orion IIIs, one twice the size of the other. The scale of the kit will then be up to the model builder. Current plan is to produce the model at about 8.57″ diameter… meaning either 1/1400 or 1/2800 scale, depending on which Orion III you choose.
Note: the scales listed on the Fantastic Plastic website are a little different from here. At this stage it’s no matter… it’s being built in the computer and can be adjusted with ease. The specifics will be determined a little later.
So.
Does anyone have a BluRay of “2001” and the ability to make full-rez screencaptures? If so, there are some shots that I would really appreciate.
Might be of interest to some of y’all… NASA has a page with a number of 3D CAD models. Stuff like Shuttle, Saturn V, Skylab, etc.
A recent project for a client: replicating a display model stand. The stand to be replicated was for a vintage Lockheed aircraft display model that did not have the original stand. A vintage Lockheed stand was produced to be copied. The stand was composed of a turned walnut base and a specially bent aluminum rod. The walnut based was outsourced to a local woodshop; the aluminum rod was fabricated in-house. This involved turning the exposed end of the rod, bending the rod around a special form and machining flats into the end of the rod to be inserted into the base. Once it was shaped and checked, it was potted in with epoxy, and the underside “fuzzed” in a manner similar to the original. Two bases were fabricated simultaneously to assure that a backup was on-hand in case anything unfortunate occurred. As it turns out, both turned out just fine, so I have a spare Lockheed display stand (used for aircraft such as the F-104 Starfighter, among others). If you are interested in it, contact me.
Photos below show the original Lockheed stand and the two replicas (with blue tape on the aluminum support rods).
A recent project: restoring the decals and finish on a vintage X-24A display model. The paint was to be left as-is; existing cracks and blemishes in the surface were not to be repaired. The goal was to make a display model that retained the appearance of being vintage… just not quite so beat up.
“Before” photos:
Since the paint was to be left alone, the decals could not be sanded or scraped off. Instead, they were removed chemically (primarily: dihydrogen monoxide). In the process of doing so, the overcoat was found to be soluble. Photo below shows the model halfway through the process, with the port side of the craft cleaned of the decals and overcoat, leaving decals and overcoat on the starboard side. The underlying silver paint was found to be substantially brighter with the overcoat off. Presumably the overcoat had fogged over the years due to oxidation and/or UV.
Decals are not available off-the-shelf for this display model, so detailed photos and measurements were made. JBOT Decals was contracted to produce a new set of replacement decals.
Some of the overcoat stubbornly clung to the model. The main patches were on the underside, indicating UV damage as the likeliest of cuplrits for both the oxidation and “loosening” of the stuff. As a result, it was necessary to touch up small portions of the surface; an extensive selection of “silver” paint was procured and one found that matched the existing silver. The patches that needed touchup – and only those patches – were painted and blended in. The end result is invisible. The pitot tube was a red-painted steel rod that had rusted; it was carefully cleaned and repainted.
A thin glosscoat was applied and then the decals; a satin clearcoat was then applied over the decals, finishing the process. The end result is a model with virtually invisible repairs to the decals; with the exception of the pre-existing surface imperfections, it looks right-out-of-the-box.
This model was restored for collector and aviation photography Chad Slattery, owner/proprietor of Chad Slattery Photography. Mr. Slattery kindly provided this testimonial:
Scott’s engineering background, combined with his meticulous craftsmanship and deep knowledge of aviation history, make him the go-to resource for restoring (or re-creating) desktop models. He sends photos to help explain procedures, makes regular progress reports, and is careful to only do what is requested. I cannot recommend him highly enough.
If you have a vintage display model in need or repair – or if you want to commission an entirely new one, just let me know.
After spending yet more time going through my files arranging things in preparation for maybe doing the Shuttle Wind Tunnel Models collection, I find I have north of 500 reports, at nearly 8 gig. Of those, about 250 reports/2.8 gig are of pre-Shuttle program manned lifting entry vehicles and lifting bodies… NASA reports on Dyna Soar, HL-10, M2, X-24, etc. What I’m now contemplating is breaking it up further… a “X-24A Wind Tunnel Models” book,” an “M2F1/F2/F3 Wind Tunnel Models” book, etc. and work up to various aspect of the Shuttle program. By breaking it up, the books become individually more affordable. A dozen books of 30 pages might be better than one book of 360 pages, especially if someone only wants the info on the unbuilt logistics spacecraft concepts.
The books themselves would be largely restricted to the relevant graphics… photos of the models (which in some cases were the actual vehicles), diagrams, cross-sections, that sort of thing. The books would be for people who want to model the designs or render them or… whatever. But the actual *data* simply would not pack into affordable books. So I’m thinking of having a CD-ROM or DVD supplement with all the reports that go with a particular book, available separately.
In any event, these would be fairly low priority publications. Comments welcome.
I have a big fat pile of early Space Shuttle wind tunnel test reports, and it’s occurred to me that they could serve as the basis of an attractive book (or couple of books). I have put together a small, short, hastily-assembled prototype/mockup, downloadable below in PDF form, to give a rough idea of what I mean. Would something like this be of interest to y’all? It would be interesting not only from a historical standpoint, but also or model makers.
If interested, let me know… if I get enough “yes, I’d buy if the price wasn’t insane” comments, then I will go ahead. It’ll be something of a back-burner project, unless the response is overwhelming.
shuttle wind tunnel models proto.pdf
NOTE: the PDF was saved with maximum compression to save filesize, and the illustration s received minimal massaging to improve image quality. This is simply a test to gauge potential customer interest.
Large format drawing of the B-1A bomber. Scanned at 300 dpi grayscale from a 1/150 scale drawing (Rockwell, dated 1976), presents top/bottom, side, front views along with landing gear details and numerous fuselage, nacelle, wing and stabilizer cross-sections. Intended to aid model builders.
BONUS: Contemporary B-1 publicity material… “B-1 Mission Versatility” brochure, USAF B-1 Strategic Bomber Fact Sheet.
BONUS BONUS: Smaller, equivalent drawing of the B-1B. Shows changes from A to B model.
download order: $5.50
Another film from the San Diego Aerospace Museum archive:
[youtube Z7DcqfFpb4Y]
This one chronicles the development of the XF2Y-1 “Sea Dart,” a supersonic delta-winged jet fighter designed to operate from the water. Interestingly, this film spends a fair amount of time showing the Skate concept, a swept-wing seaplane concept. Back In The Day, analysis was by means of actual testing, rather than computer analysis, and here that meant building 1/10 scale models and catapult launching them over the water. Some of the landings were just plain *ugly.*
A famous UFO has turned out to be a hoax. How can life go on? Nothing will ever be the same!
Mysterious UFO made of polystyrene
