I posted this on the Space forum but got no responses.
For a future project, I am collecting info on the two Boeing 747s used to carry the Space Shuttles. I have a few photos, but what I really need are clear drawings of the modified horizontal stablizers and the struts used to hold the Shuttle on. Any info on engines used would be helpful as well, websites, books etc. I am contacting Boeing as well.
Any help is much appreciated. Thank you.
Wikipedia;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuttle_Carrier_Aircraft
has info & additional link regarding these aircraft. You just have to love the warning text on the Shuttle mounting point;
So easy, A caveman can do it![(-D]
I found a kit of the composite NASA contraption at Viking Hobbies in Sacramento, CA USA, last year and gave it to my friend down the road, the rocket scientist. It’s pretty rough… some off-brand, I think it may be AMT or something. A good modeler could build a fine example from it with a little TLC.
I’m thinking a display of NASA’s pair would be really impressive, especially if they’re depicted whilst hauling!
Good luck with your project!
PS: On the stencil… You never know when a Shuttle attacher might call in sick and they don’t want the sub to flub up.
I cant remember the machines registration but they will be N something. If you search for them on either of these websites you may be able to find some photos to help:
That warning has just got to be a little inside joke.
It should possibly rear;
ATTACH ORBITER HERE
NOTE: BLACK SIDE DOWN, POINTY END FORWARD.
If in doubt, please refer to instructional manual. If training requirements are identified, please consult supervisor, in the event of supervisor being unavailable, please consult line manager, in the event of line manager being unavailable, please consult operations manager, in the event of operations manager being unavailable, please consult the on-site training facility, in the event of the on-site training facility being unavailable, please re-consult the training manual, in the event of further assistance being required, please use the secure on-line training module, in the event of the on-line training module being un-available, you are in the shit.
By now, you are on write up for pissing around for three hours without any plausible gain, you will receive formal notification of a hearing reagrding your poor performance & productivity. At the hearing you are informed that Joe the floor sweeper (NASA have some large places to sweep, hence have a floor sweeping staff of around 45,000) managed to get the whole “mounting the shuttle thing” sorted so that he could get the 747 out of the way for sweeping the floor. Your contract is terminated there and then, you try to explain yourself - but their server shows that at no point did you try to log into the on-line training system, you mention that the on-line training facility was of-line at the time , so you couldn’t log in - you are now officialy classified with several goverment bodies as being a liar & untrustworthy - because you know as well as I, that large organisations servers NEVER go down, its simply not possible due to their network topography & infinite redundance features (Yea-right).
A few weeks later, while flipping burgers for a living, Joe the (now EX) floor sweeper pops in, he tells you that he also was terminated as, without seeking permission he had carried out work he had not formally been trained to do. You feel bad now, as he has only told you this AFTER you have done some unmentionable things to his cheeseburger.
Milairjunkie, You are here-by nominated to chief stencil proofreader for NASA. Oh… the prestige!
This link may be of help.
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/Photo/SCA/index.html
905 in her earlier scheme just before conversion to SCA#1 she flew in there colours with the orbiter prototype Enterprise mounted on top.
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/Photo/B-747/Medium/ECN-4243.jpg
All the best.
Greg
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Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Very helpful. I’ve no doubt these sites and links will fill out my sparse research file.
Trexx, I think I know which kit you are talking about. Imai I believe, either 1/144 or 1/200. I almost bought it on sale to use as a study model.
Unfortunately, I have a particularly perverse form of the modeler’s sickness. Any sane human being would have opted for a smaller scale, say 1/144, because that is a common airliner and space scale. That would be too simple! Instead, I have spent numerous hours on Ebay searching for kits that fit in my established collection of Mistel/Composite/Piggyback/Symbiote aircraft. I just had to have it in 1/72 scale. So next to the vacform of the Shorts Mayo composite, the Italeri Bf109/Ju 88 Mistel, and the Testors SR-71 with D-21 drone stands a large bag with one of the few AIM Transport Wings injection moulded Boeing 747. I’m looking forward to smoothing those fuselage seams out with Bondo. With luck, I might actually complete it before Trumpeter releases one for Christmas 2012!
Wasn’t there an aditional pack available from that 747 manufacturer with the bits for a shuttle carrier?. I’m sure I saw it on the Hannants site.
All the best.
Greg