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 CaptCBoard |
The Little D (5.5-Foot Discovery) |
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Posts: 1258 (07/27/01 23:51:01) |
(Sorry... this post is first, so I can't remove it, I can only edit it. The photos it contained no longer exist and the info was way out of date, so just move on to the next posts. I'm going to remove posts that have no real info, too, just to clean things up a bit.)
Scott |
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CaptCBoard |
The Latest Action on the Little D Front! | ||
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Posts: 1258 (01/14/03 19:14:25) |
As most of you know, there as been a lot of road pass under my wheels since the prior posting-- all kinds of stuff got in the way of progress on all kinds of stuff, including the Little D. I've gotten things squared away to the point that I'm able to get back to these things that should have been done long, long ago. Toward that-- please take a look at these new photos:
 As you can see, the command module is underway! It is about 75% finished now, though you can't really tell from these photos. The white of the plastic makes getting a good image difficult, but once all the details are finished I'll be able to primer it and everything will pop out quite nicely.   I will have more photos in a week or two. The collar and yolk, the two pieces right behind the CM, were supposed to be delivered to me this week, but the machinist just called and said it would be another week before he'd have them done. By that time, I'll have the engine module roughed out and will be adding the detailing to it. There is still a way to go on this model, but I think all of you will be seeing them in your own hands over the summer. I know that sounds like a long time (still...) and if I can get things done faster I certainly will. I'm used to how long things take to put together a Big D, so I may be over-estimating. We'll see! Scott |
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CaptCBoard |
Re: Photos: Spine Modules | ||
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Posts: 1258 (08/05/03 19:06:45) |
Better late than never, right? Here are the photos I was hoping to post weeks ago. These parts are the first out of the mold for the spine modules. You will notice there are some details missing, like small panels on the narrow edges. I totally forgot those darn things, so I'll have to add them and make another mold. Fortunately, due to the scale of this model, the mold is small-- for a change!
  Please keep in mind that the images you see here show the parts much larger than they really are! The longest module is 2 15/16 inches long! For a good reference, note that the central spar is only 3/8 of an inch in diameter!   Also note that the mounting blocks are 'stand-ins'. I'm having masters machined, so they will be perfectly symmetrical. What I have here are some temporary mounting blocks made just to be able to shoot these photos. There will be additional detail on them when they are finished. I'll have some more photos soon, which will include a comparison shot or two of these parts and the same parts from the Big D! Scott CaptCBoard@AOL.com |
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CaptCBoard |
Re: Full Length Spine | ||
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Posts: 1258 (08/25/03 22:09:54) |
I've finally been able to assemble one complete spine!
 The masters for the 'real' mounting blocks are still being machined, so I molded the 'stand-ins' to be able to continue working on the model. As far as an overall visual is concerned, you won't notice much difference once the machined versions are used. And I still need to make the connectors that go between the module groupings.  I've placed one of the full-length modules from the 11-footer here, so you can see the difference. I still need to do some more modifications to the module masters before taking them into production. Small panel detail along the edge bevel (you can see them on the larger module) and the details of the inside ends need to be thinned down-- they nearly touch now. Also note, once the whole thing is painted, the details will blend together. Right now your eye can pick out differences between dark gray modules and the lighter tan ones and that will really throw your perceptions off! I'll be detailing out the antenna module itself very soon and will post photos of it when it is ready. The antenna parts are being made by Kurt Zendler, so I won't have them until he's finished. He did the same parts for the 11-footer. He's very meticulous, so we won't be seeing those for a while yet! More soon! Scott CaptCBoard@AOL.com |
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CaptCBoard |
Re: Little D Antenna Array | ||
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Posts: 1258 (10/05/03 22:55:41) |
Kurt Zendler strikes again!! Have a look at this little jewel!
 Sorry for the bad focus and lighting, but I just had to get some shots of this up. Actually, this thing looks MUCH nicer than what you see in the photos! Top shot compares the Big D antenna parts to the one's for the Little D. The only thing I regret about all of this is that we could not do the ribbing properly. Actually, the ribbing on the back of the big dish is correct, but for the front face it had to be changed. The problem is that Kurt was working with the smallest possible plastic strips, but they were too heavy. It looks okay on the back, but on the front the ribbing is too close together and it looked really clunky. So, I had him do every-other rib. I think it looks fine, but its not accurate. Same for the smaller dishes. We decided to eliminate the ribbing altogether as it just didn't look right. I think using pencil lines on the small dishes will be a good compromise. That is actually a technique that was used on the original filming models. There were pencil lines all over the Moonbus and Orion! I hope to get these parts into rubber this week, which means a glued-together version will be ready shortly after. The base is also in the top shot, but you can't see much of it. I'll make sure the next photos are done in good light-- with proper focus! Scott |
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CaptCBoard |
Re: Finished Antenna Module | ||
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Posts: 1258 (12/23/03 18:03:52) |
Here are some photos of the finished antenna module-- once again Kurt has outdone himself!!
  If you look closely, you can see how Kurt managed to duplicate 90% of the detail that was on the larger version. And you'll have to trust me-- the photos do not do this piece justice! |
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CaptCBoard |
Re: New Photos | ||
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Posts: 1258 (01/19/04 00:51:21) |
I have finally gotten the propulsion module finished! The exhaust nozzle on the left is from the 11-foot model.
  While this is a nice, close picture, its just too close. These things are less than 2 inches across! I'm working on other parts now and should have the whole ship finished in another week. I hope. I thought I'd be done with this a month ago! Scott CaptCBoard@AOL.com |
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CaptCBoard |
Re: Command Module | ||
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Posts: 1258 (02/06/04 17:06:57) |
The command module is now nearly complete!
 Aside from some minor detailing, the emergency airlock is the only part left to be done. The master for that is being made by stereolithography so the details will be very crisp and accurate. I tried to build it by hand, but it just was not happening! Scott CaptCBoard@AOL.com |
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CaptCBoard |
Re: Latest images | ||
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Posts: 1258 (08/15/05 21:08:27) |
As you all know by now, I'm doing many things at once. This means everything is advancing, but nothing is advancing fast. That will be changing very soon as now all the Underwriter's project models are reaching the point that concentrating on one for a couple of weeks will see it finished. Case in point: The Little Discovery model. Please have a look at the following images--
     There are very few details left to be added to this model. One thing I still need to do is to have etched brass parts made for the cross-arms on the dishes. Keep in mind that this model was photographed using a single 100 watt bulb and it only has the white-over-gray primer coat on it. The model has to be painted with gray primer first as the tan color of the resin is very difficult to cover with just white paint. This also helps bring out some of the details as the gray will always show through, just like the tan does, but the gray is a more correct tone. This is the second 'pilot' model-- a model assembled out of parts to prove and solve fit problems. I have to say it went together rather well, but I still need to make some changes to be able to put this into final production. Very easy changes, but all involve making new molds. All this will happen after I finish the move to my new shop, so its going to be a few more weeks. Once we have done that, these models are going to pour out of here like water!! Scott CaptCBoard@AOL.com |
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jeddahbill(d) |
Looks Great! | ||
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Posts: 8 (08/16/05 18:37:34) |
These latest photos really begin to illustrate the superb detail that has gone into the Little Discovery. The wait has been long, but the results should be fantastic. I can't wait to come and get mine when it is ready!
Great work Scott, Regards, Bill |
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Unregistered(d) |
Brings a Tear to the Eye | ||
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Posts: 0 (08/18/05 04:07:23) |
Dear Scott,
You really have been very generous in involving us in your work, struggles and successes. This last bit of progress is quite breath-taking. Good luck with your move's completion, As Ever, Eliot |
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