shuttle orbiter "model"

[usn_skwerl]

I have decided to tackle a huge challenge in the next year or two. I'll be making a shuttle orbiter - sans ET and SRB - PC case. It'll be about 4ft tall, 1/30 scale. The wings, vertical tail and belly wont have much function for the PC that I can foresee, unless someone here has an idea), but the nose will house some small, basic components. Do you guys have any idea where I could buy a good, rigid - and if possible, cheap - foam (besides signfoam.com) for making the parts? <br /><br />I think I'll be making the PLB doors out of white plastic sheet. <br /><br />The PC guts will be in the cargo bay. Accessories, fans, etc will be in nose and tail tructures. It's gonna be vertical, but I might also design it so the orbiter can actually sit on wheels I might add to the assembly. <br /><br />All comments, suggestions and ideas are welcome! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[docm]

Try Balsa-Foam (7 lb/cu-ft) , Balsa-Foam II (12 lb/cu-ft) or Balsa-Foam III (20 lb/cu-ft. They're designed for the purpose and used by model makers & sculptors. <br /><br />They're so named because they work like balsa or bass wood, take water based finishes etc. and some 2-part resins like Envirotex. Gluing: wood glue, CA's made for foam, hot glue etc.<br /><br />BF I is best shaped by hand carving tools while BF II and III can be worked nicely with power tools on low speed given proper care. They have no memory so impression forming is also possible.<br /><br />Manufacturer: American Foam Technologies<br /><br />Google for retailers. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[usn_skwerl]

awesome, thanks for the link. much appreciated. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[rybanis]

If you were to water cool the system, you could put the radiators in the wings, with fans mounted on the bottoms out of sight. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[usn_skwerl]

it's not a bad idea, but I figured if I had an 80mm fan in each SSME and a little mesh in the windows and maybe the crew hatch, it would be sufficient enough cooling, considering I'd have positve, high-volume air from south to north. I might have to hollow out some of the wings to fit the motherboard in, though. <br /><br />I need to work on a rough drawing on some printer paper to see how it'll look at 1/30 scale; whether I'll have enough room in the volume given for everything, and additions/upgrades later <br /><br />edit; horrible typos <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[usn_skwerl]

Extreme mathematical error; my sizes and measurements were WAY off. A typical ATX MoBo with CPU, optical drives and PSU wouldn't fit into the payload bay with even the slightest room to spare for ventilation. For somereason i thought the bay would be 12" across, not 6". The 80mm fans I was going to use in the SSME's would be twice the size allowed (40mm) by 1/30 scale.<br /><br />I'm now stuck. My weak contingency would be to increase the scale from 1/30 to 1/20 or 1/15. That would make the shuttle 6ft or 8 ft long. I don't have space for that kind of footprint. Damn...<br /><br />As they say..."Back to the drawing board" <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Maybe you would have better luck fitting it into a capsule <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[usn_skwerl]

i thought about that too, but im not gonna patronize a beta version.<br /><br />If it were Saturn/Apollo I was as passionate about as I am with the STS, I'd have a lot more to go with. But not this "tail wagging the dog" crap. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobblebob]

Good luck with it, will look forward to seeing the end result <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[usn_skwerl]

i gotta figure out if its feasable...maybe make the whole stack somehow...i just don't have the space. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

One of those mini motherboards might fit. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[docm]

I'd recommend starting with one of the small form factor boards made by Biostar (SFF), Shuttle (XPC), AOpen (XC Cube) and others. These boards are absolutely TINY.<br /><br />SFF info: http://www.sfftech.com/<br /><br />Examples: <br /><br />http://www.biostar-usa.com/bbmain.asp<br /><br />http://us.shuttle.com/Home.aspx<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[usn_skwerl]

Too much money involved with the SFF set up. 1200+ is too much. I've already got 2 160GB HD's, soundblaster audigy card, will be getting another 256mb vid card. I dont want to spend the money for stuff I already have, or dont need.<br /><br />I'll just keep looking into ideas for efficient component placement and orientation. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>