To take a small break from the Atlas, I started a new model. I’ll be modeling it as STS-61A Challenger. STS-61A was Challenger’s last successful mission before its last launch on STS-51L. It will have the payload bay doors open to show the Spacelab D-1 module which was it’s primary mission for this flight. It will be an on orbit model so I won’t be using the External Tank or SRB’s.
Here is a shot of the white parts.
The black and clear parts.
This kit has been in the stash for a while. The decals have started to yellow a bit. But I probably won’t be using the kit decals anyway. There are missing markings and some of the colors don’t look right. So I’ll have to make some custom decals. For the black tiles I’ll be using some decals from Keith McNeil that I picked up some time back.
The payload bay part is OK, it does have some details that will need to be added or changed. Part of that will be for the Canadarm. The anchor part is very large and blocky. The arm resting points are similarly blocky. It also is missing the two small windows at the back of the crew section. To represent the thermal blankets I’ll try using foil painted white. below is a look at the payload bay.
I did a dry fit of the payload bay and one of the payload bay doors. There is no way the doors will be able to open as far as they need to go.
With that noted, I moved on to the Spacelab parts. First was the tunnel that went from the crew cabin to the lab. It has a section that was not on this flight. It sits above the part that mates to the crew cabin (left side in the photo). Here is a photo.
I removed that part with a razor saw.
Next I noticed that there were large rectangular blocks that held the pins that mounted the tunnel to the payload floor. They would be very visible on the model and were not on the actual tunnel. I figured that I could remove an angled section from the sides of the blocks that would put them out of view and still retain the mounting pins. Here is a pic.
You can see two small holes in the modified part. I had not noticed that the block was partially hollow. I had to be careful not to remove too much of the block. The other end was solid. I also cut a section from the removed tunnel part to use as the top of the modified tunnel.
Next I looked at the Spacelab module itself. There were some raised areas that were supposed to represent hand holds on the outside of the module. They were very crude and too large.
I carefully removed them.
I then did a dry fit to the payload bay. It looks much better.
More to come. Thanks for looking.
Luhman-ations 