Shown is the complete parts layout to be 3-D printed. Additional parts – especially cockpit and missiles – will likely be added in post.
Sep 092009
Sep 092009
Sep 082009
Progress on the multitude of individual nozzles for the Avro Ace. It’s time consuming, but I shudder to imagine what it’d be if I did this by *hand.*
Update: HA!
Sep 082009
An update to this: The Ace will be in 1/48 scale; the Nexus will include the Mars mission payload, but not the Orion.
Sep 072009
elow are rough cuts at the CAD models for two of Fantastic Plastic’s upcoming kits. The Avro Ace (AKA “Spade”) will be released in either 1/72 or 1/48 scale; the CAD model is shown in both scales. Quotes from a separate printing and casting company will determine which scale is produced. The landing gear as shown is quite crude, but adequate for preliminary quoting purposes. The Nexus model is shown with two payloads… a simplified Orion Battleship payload and a generic Mars mission payload. One or both may be included, again based on costs involved with printing and production.
Sep 062009
Just about there on the basic shapes. The spine has been narrowed and reduced in tail height; the vehicle itself has been made flatter. The cockpit is hollowed out, and the canopies are separated. The landing gear bays have been begun.
At this point, it’s still unknown whether this’ll be in 1/72 or 1/48 scale. After a few more tinkerings, the model will be scaled for both and sent to rapid prototyping firms for quotes. Based on that, Fantastic Plastic will make their decision as to scale.
Looking further down the line, the following models have been tentatively accepted:
1/288 Convair Nexus SSTO booster
1/288 Douglas ROMBUS SSTO booster
1/288 Douglas Ithacus troop transport (probably the same kit as the ROMBUS, with parts to build one or the other
The following kits have been confirmed:
1/72 or 1/48 Tremulis “Zero Fighter”
1/144 Convair NX-2 (this will be an old-school physical model, based on a kit I nearly put into production 5 years ago)
1/72 Convair Super Hustler
Sep 042009
Much to do on this model. The central “spine” looks to be too fat by a wide margin, and of course the nozzles are completely nonexistent so far. Still, it’s a start.
Aug 312009
Fantastic Plastic has at long last released a kit of the “Enterprise Ringship” model that I mastered for them (see here and here and here for in-progress shots). See here for the official release page and ordering info.
It’ll make an impressive and unusual kit.
Aug 222009
On display at the NASM Udvar-Hazy facility.
Aug 122009
And here are the photos from 2009. Unlike the 2004 photos, these show the vehicle removed from it’s tilting display, and just sitting on its landing gear. Additionally, the contra-rotating props from within the shroud are gone.
And here’s your convenient scale reference:
