I think I’m finished with the Base and Flame Trench. A few water supply pipes for the deluge system were added.
Now it’s time to move onto the catch and lift arms known as “Chopsticks” and the Quick Disconnect “QD” Arm.
I think I’m finished with the Base and Flame Trench. A few water supply pipes for the deluge system were added.
Now it’s time to move onto the catch and lift arms known as “Chopsticks” and the Quick Disconnect “QD” Arm.
Yep, even in 1/72nd scale it would be five feet tall…
The chopsticks have been assembled, they were cut up into three pieces each in order to fit on my printer’s build plate.
I temporarily mounted them to the tower while the center support bar is still being printed.
I can now see why they cut the real ones shorter. The mass these things must have is incredible.
It’s incredible what you’ve done with this build. I hope to see it in person someday!
Gary
Full test stack complete and I didn’t knock it over.
Chopsticks work and line up correctly.
I met my neighbor who lives down the street the other day, he worked on the International Space Station. He’s coming over in the morning to check it out, so I had to make it look presentable. ![]()
BTW I installed a “C” clamp on the garage door track (see lower left hinge) so that it doesn’t get inadvertently opened and cut this thing in half.
Having your neighbor who actually worked on the International Space Station come over to see it would certainly give you a good reason to make sure everything is looking just right.
You’ll have to let us know what he thinks of it.
The full stack looks impressive, George. Seeing the whole thing together really puts the size of this project into perspective.
And installing a C-clamp on the garage door track may turn out to be the most important piece of engineering on the entire project. ![]()
Here’s the main SQD Arm printed out,…and I’ve officially ran out of black filament. More is on the way but won’t be here until Thursday.
Here are some service platforms added as well as the part of the propellant QD mechanism
It was getting kind of sketchy balancing on the step stool while trying to mount the SQD Arm, so I decided to place the model on the floor and work on terra ferma.
More details added to the SQD Arm, more to come after I go through my screen captures from YT videos.
This thing is getting heavy, hope my brackets hold.
This thing is just amazing, George. Every time you post another picture, the sheer scale of what you’re building gets a little harder to comprehend, and the amount of detail you’re putting into something this enormous is really impressive.
I think when “put it on the floor so I don’t fall off the step stool” becomes part of the build instructions, you’ve officially crossed over from model building into construction. ![]()
I don’t remember if you’ve said this already, but what are you going to do with this monster when it’s finished? Does it have a permanent home planned?
Gorgeous photo George, convers the sheer scale very well… I have one question, what filament did you use to get that shiny rocket hull?
I have a corner spot all picked out which I already test fit with the base. The final touch will of course be the sign.
" filament did you use to get that shiny rocket hull?"
I used Eryone Silk Silver.
This has gone way beyond just building a model. Between the size of it, the lighting, and the incredible amount of detail you’ve put into it, you’re basically creating your own little museum exhibit. ![]()
So the obvious question is, when are you going to start charging admission?
At this point, it might be time to call SpaceX and let them see what you’ve built. They’d probably want one for their lobby. ![]()
Seriously, though, photographs are impressive enough, but at 1/60 scale this has to have a completely different presence when you’re actually standing in front of it. This is really turning into something special.
Don’t sell yourself short. Go for at least two million. They’ve got the money.
And while you’re negotiating, throw in a consulting deal for future projects and make sure they keep you on retainer. At this point, you might as well turn this build into a retirement plan. ![]()