I'm sharing my journey (odyssey?) attempting a build of this superb model from UHU02. Spoiler: my novice skills do not do it justice - but I'm hoping my experience may serve as useful guidance to others doing this project...
UHU02's 2001 EVA Pod - Cautionary Tale
- Thread starter Jacopo1969
- Start date
You'll want to make sure you have a copy of UHU02's one sided instruction page for the model, which shows pictures of the completed phases of the model, showing where each part fits.
The interior is a rewarding start and enjoyable to see how the parts build up the geometry. Very straightforward to assemble. All make a superb fit as you would expect. I'd just want to point out it's worth considering the upright which will join the outer shell of the pod (mine was quite flimsy - it's paper!). I suspect some reinforcement (to the blank side of the upright) might make a smoother line for a better finish - but I'd be wary of making it so reinforced it becomes inflexible - you might need some flexibility to make sure it can be secured flush to the aperture of the outer doorway. (Just my (in)experience so interested to see what others think of that...)
The interior is a rewarding start and enjoyable to see how the parts build up the geometry. Very straightforward to assemble. All make a superb fit as you would expect. I'd just want to point out it's worth considering the upright which will join the outer shell of the pod (mine was quite flimsy - it's paper!). I suspect some reinforcement (to the blank side of the upright) might make a smoother line for a better finish - but I'd be wary of making it so reinforced it becomes inflexible - you might need some flexibility to make sure it can be secured flush to the aperture of the outer doorway. (Just my (in)experience so interested to see what others think of that...)
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- Apr 5, 2013
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Look pretty good. As you will be gluing these to othr parts, that will add some rigidity. You'll know better than anyone else as you're actually building it! 
Next stage is the roof of the interior - and this provides some initial practice for the outer shell. Pay attention to the console which sits at the centre of the 'ceiling'. I wished I'd watched the movie before making that part - the instrument lights are not flush with the rim of the console, they are slightly recessed and will fit better as a result, I'm sure. Search for a pic of Frank and Dave sat in the pod discussing disconnecting Hal and you should see what I mean. Apart from that, this section is pretty straightforward.
Then it's the door and your first taste of UHU02's exterior artistry. Note that the left hand side of the door should be as straight as possible when you view it from the outside. This will help make a more polished model later on... (Mine ended up with a concave profile which wasn't too good - this edge will meet the upright from the interior which I drew attention to earlier (which in turn will be finally determined by the aperture of the outer shell). Might be crucial to focus on how the interior and the door meet when attaching the interior to the outer shell - will find out for sure on the next attempt!
Then it's the door and your first taste of UHU02's exterior artistry. Note that the left hand side of the door should be as straight as possible when you view it from the outside. This will help make a more polished model later on... (Mine ended up with a concave profile which wasn't too good - this edge will meet the upright from the interior which I drew attention to earlier (which in turn will be finally determined by the aperture of the outer shell). Might be crucial to focus on how the interior and the door meet when attaching the interior to the outer shell - will find out for sure on the next attempt!
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The main event. Cutting the next part gets really heart in mouth when you get near the end. I really took my time with this. Some of the cuts make the piece really delicate so I found myself beginning to glue some of those pieces together even before cutting the whole piece free. I also used the edge of my knife blade to file away some of the guide lines which remained on the long cuts in an attempt to go for a pure white shell.
When I started this part, I hadn't realised the piece which sits below the window actually fits behind the shell - you end up making a kind of grille through which you see the part on which HAL's 'eye' is printed. I'd have paid a bit more attention to eliminating the guidelines around this grille if I had realised this from the start. Try to do better next time!
When I started this part, I hadn't realised the piece which sits below the window actually fits behind the shell - you end up making a kind of grille through which you see the part on which HAL's 'eye' is printed. I'd have paid a bit more attention to eliminating the guidelines around this grille if I had realised this from the start. Try to do better next time!
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Ity looks like you are off to a very good start! I will be following this thread closely.
Turns out assembling the outer shell is a bit of an art and I got it wrong first attempt. I ended up attaching the runner for the door flush with the outer door frame, but that's wrong and you have to get that so that it is below the edge of the threshold of the door. Here's a picture of the wrong assembly...
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I decided I couldn't live with the shell as it was. I'd tried sealing the door to see if that could correct things, but that was no solution for such a fine design.
I managed to undo my error and in doing so had to sacrifice the door, and runner assembly. Another door had to be made for the next attempt. I managed to retrieve the interior to have another go.
I would suggest the following order of assembly for the outer shell:
Hope that is helpful!
I managed to undo my error and in doing so had to sacrifice the door, and runner assembly. Another door had to be made for the next attempt. I managed to retrieve the interior to have another go.
I would suggest the following order of assembly for the outer shell:
- Attach the front and rear halves at the top, leaving the base 'open'.
- Attach the door, being careful only to apply glue sparingly so that it can swivel
- Attach door runner to rear floor of the interior. This is an edge to edge join but pretty straightforward.
- Attach the interior to the shell aligning the window first. Next, align the bottom edge of the door so that the floor is flush with the threshold. This will align the runner in the correct position as having the door 'open' so you can see to get the floor flush will mean the runner finds the right place. Last of all attend to the upright tabs at the left hand side of the door when viewing from the back. Mine did not end up flush with the left hand side of the door aperture, but I don't think this was too bad as it made a neater job overall.
- Attach the bottom edges of the shell together.
Hope that is helpful!
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Now to the last items to complete the shell - the small cone, and the ridged assembly over the door.
Here's some pics for the back. I really wish it looked better than it does, but who knows, it may look better once the base is fixed and the sides come along. Then again... At least it's looking ok from the front for now.
Here's some pics for the back. I really wish it looked better than it does, but who knows, it may look better once the base is fixed and the sides come along. Then again... At least it's looking ok from the front for now.
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Very kind words Rhaven Blaack and Revell-Fan. I hope it turns out ok. Would be happier if those ridges above the door were more uniform - but this is only my 2nd paper model so I guess I can't expect too much...
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For your second it looks really good! My first was Martin Saenger's Thunderfighter - a model that changed my life (it brought me to papercrafting and Zealot).
That sounds a brave place to start! It was the 'Discovery' that UHU02 had even produced a model of the longest and most delicate of spaceships that brought me to Zealot - and after some agonising sleuthing brought me to unlock his treasure trove. Oddly though, I was able to get to the PDFs of the Orion 3 and the Pod without opening his Aladdin's cave... (For anyone still pursuing the means of opening up his Library, I've not included any clues, cryptic or otherwise here!).
Confession time - I still can't get the door to slide as well as I'd hoped so here's one last peek inside before I close the door. It moves freely but snags on the left hand side of the interior door frame. If I was doing this again I'd take a bit more of that side off to ensure freer movement. Sounds like the EU!
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I've yet to attach the base because I've still to sort out what I can only assume is some form of propulsion underneath - to lift off that pod bay door platform no doubt. This is a straightforward bit but I couldn't find any pics for guidance, so here you go...
You'll see I've also completed the rear panel in these photos. Again, straightforward going but I recommend plenty of dry fitting to the shell of the pod before you glue, as this fitting is a bit tricky if you ask me.
You'll see I've also completed the rear panel in these photos. Again, straightforward going but I recommend plenty of dry fitting to the shell of the pod before you glue, as this fitting is a bit tricky if you ask me.
