1:16 Space Shuttle flight deck

Looking great Tonino!! You could reinforce those pieces with strips of Balsa which will give you a good surface to glue or locate pins off of. I do not think those windows on the outside right and left are the correct shape. This becomes difficult because the heat tiles, and the cloth that insulates and is made to take the heat, and fill the space between the tiles and the windows frame really make it difficult to determine the final shape. I am of the opinion is build it up, and the real shape will present itself to you. You'll be the final judge, and I believe it will be fine. ;)
 
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Thanks to all of you for your feedback!
Really this one I'm doing is just a test to determine general shapes and fitting of the parts as well as figure how the final build will be composed and divided in many sub-assemblies. I'm thinking about placing some LEDs inside the consoles so I have to study a compromise between structure stiffness and light paths. I think I'll have to draw several layers and open holes in strategic points without weakening too much the panels also considering that I'll have to nail all the switch guards through them (IF I'll have the heart to face the challenge ... but I'm afraid I already know the answer to this question!)... they will be one of the major challenges. Another one will be to figure the way to couple the modified external fuselage with the internal one in a way the original model wasn't intended to be realized. I'll have to invent a way to access the inside to appreciate the work on the panels (removable/hinged upper section?). I don't want to look inside only through the windows.
Lot of decisions to take... well: I'm starting to enjoy a lot this project! :D
 
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Ever consider fiber optics, instead of LED's? With Fiber Optics, you can light up a whole switchboard with pin holes, and split the other ends, and light them with multi colored LEDs, to give a varied look. My 1973 450SL Instrument pod is lit with a big far Fiber Optic strand and the bulb is in the center counsel, under the center counsel, that is.. ;)
 
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Zathros, it's an interesting idea, I'll have to think about it a bit. Anyway I think fiber optics are best to realize light points, good to simulate little lights or real LEDs... Here I need, I think, a more diffuse light source as I want to light from behind all the CRT screens and point-like lights would be too ... concentrated?
Perhaps a mix of both?
 
Tonino said:
Zathros, it's an interesting idea, I'll have to think about it a bit. Anyway I think fiber optics are best to realize light points, good to simulate little lights or real LEDs... Here I need, I think, a more diffuse light source as I want to light from behind all the CRT screens and point-like lights would be too ... concentrated?
Perhaps a mix of both?
Click to expand...

A mix is a must to get the result your aiming for. Since the Fiber optics can be lit with LEDs, your circuit will not be difficult to design. It will probably be a series-parallel set up, but there are many ways you can go. Conductive Silver glue could be used for making "fabricated" circuit boards, for tight spaces. Seeing how LEDs come in all shapes and sizes, you could glue a LED to a piece of paper, and use Silver conductive glue to wire it in, allowing for paper switches the really work.
 
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Fiber optics are best glued into place with Elmer's glue. Do not use solvent-based glue or they will be damaged (super glue makes them brittle). Cut it flush with the surface with a side cutter.

(Of course, you may even be bold and shorten them by using the flame of a lighter..! :D ;) )
 
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As promised here I am with my first completely redesigned panels. I decided to start with overhead panels O1 O2 and O3.

OVR.TOT.jpg
Above is the original Thorst 1:48 panel. Perfect for that scale but not enough detailed for my 1:16 cockpit. Below is my brand new panel. I started from scratch pasting a collage of NASA original schemes from the "Main Shuttle Crew Operations Manual" to act as a reference.
OVR.WIP.jpg
Drawing on it I recreated every single gauge, every screw, every writing that I was able to reproduce.
Another great reference was the complete 360° Endeavour cabin you can find at Gigapan website.

OVR.Z1.jpg
As you can see from a closer view I choose the hardest way to do this work...

(BTW, some of you may have noticed I put only black dots in the place where switch guards are to be placed instead of drawing them... :D)

Let's go closer...

OVR.Z2.jpg

Compare with a real photo of the same spot.

O2.img.jpg

OK I know the detail I'm putting in is too much for the dimension it will be printed and the great part of this work will be invisible once completed... But as this is fully vector file it will be scalable to any size you want so, if you want to realize a real size model of the cockpit - 1:1 - you'll be able to make it without any loss of detail.

Well, this is only the first piece of the digital work... much more to come... this will be a LONG way to walk... ;)
 
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This is greebler pornography!! Incredible! Claphands
 
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Actually the more detail you have in a vector, will show up better when you down size your print!! so as a perfectionist I say " Your getting there"!! ;)

Let me know when you get ready to cut out all your toggle guards...I have an idea for you!! :)
 
A little update.
Texture work is going on, slowly! As I feared this is a HUGE drawing work.

This is to show you how I'm workingO6_O9.WIP.jpg
I have reduced to scale the original NASA diagram and then I put all the objects on it. The various components have to be drawn only once, then I can copy and paste them repeatedly. This speeds up the whole process but it's equally a long work. Then I have to make all the writings and lines one by one. Finally I add the fill color to the panels, turn text and lines color to white and... that's it!

These are the completed panels so far...
O5.jpg O9.jpg
O6_O7_O8.jpg
And, finally, a complete view of all the overhead section as it appears once assembled

FRONT_OVR_TOT.jpg

See you soon for the next update...
 
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What a "Greebling" canvas you have presented. The cluttered nature of all those toggle switches, dials, needles, and LEDs would make it look like the real one! :)
 
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I've just finished drawing overhead panels.
Here are the last ones, the aft section.
O13.O14.jpg
O13 and O14

O15.O16.O17.jpg
O15, O16 and O17

O19.jpg
and, last but not least, the little O19.

All NASA schemes I have show TACAN commands. I have substitued all of them with GPS commands that was in use in during late missions (like the STS134 I'm working on)
TACAN.jpg
TACAN commands on O7 in NASA handbook scheme

GPS1.jpg
The corresponding spot on Endeavour panel

GPS2.jpg
And my panel...

Finally a complete view of all overhead panels in their respective positions
OVR.FINAL.jpg

Now let's go with left panels...

I start wondering if - after all - this was a good idea!

Just kidding! I'll go straight toward the end of this epic work... :)
 
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