|
Author
|
Topic: Flown space shuttle tile preservation
|
AirmanPika
Member Posts: 21
From: Aurora, CO
Registered: Jul 2010
|
posted 01-14-2012 02:26 PM
  
Looking for some advice. I recently purchased a flown tile from Challenger (scrap paperwork confirms source) on eBay but it's in a rather sorry state. Any sort of movement tends to cause it to shed small bits (not good for it or my health). I need to stabilize it for display. Would it be best to get it encased in lucite? If so, anyone know if there are kits for this or if local shops commonly could do this? Otherwise what would you suggest? Thanks. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 01-14-2012 03:47 PM
Our tile is broken in about four places and all that was keeping it whole was the felt layer on the back. Jackie cut cardboard to match the size. She then placed the tile on the cardboard and then wrapped it in one layer of stretched plastic wrap. No more loose fibers and it is now easy to display. |
AirmanPika
Member Posts: 21
From: Aurora, CO
Registered: Jul 2010
|
posted 01-14-2012 05:40 PM
Well I could definitely secure it. The problem is I need to prevent it from shedding anymore material. If I wrap it up in plastic, bits can still come off, and then they rub like sandpaper and cause more damage. This is why some kind of lucite or acrylic coating would be best. I'd just be worried about shrinkage of any encasement doing more damage as it dries. I know lucite doesn't have this issue, or at least it can be abated seeing how much stuff gets put in it. Also I forgot to post pics so you can see its state. I've added below.  
|
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 01-14-2012 05:52 PM
How much do you plan to handle it? One idea might be to mount it in a shadow box for display on a wall or table top. Another, working off Fred's experience and mimicking what NASA did to distribute its tiles to teachers, would be to shrink wrap it. I'd recommend against acrylic encasement because of its permanence. Future extraction would be difficult and given its already fragile state, could end up damaging the tile further. |
AirmanPika
Member Posts: 21
From: Aurora, CO
Registered: Jul 2010
|
posted 01-14-2012 06:01 PM
Well not too much, but since I do have to move it from time to time even slight motions seem to jar things loose. If you would advise against lucite, then shrink wrap may be the best bet. I have easy access to that kind of stuff. The other tile I own from Atlantis is in a much more solid state. I just couldn't pass up on this one because of its origin. I think my goal is now to find a flown tile for each orbiter. |
Spaceguy5
Member Posts: 427
From: Pampa, TX, US
Registered: May 2011
|
posted 01-14-2012 08:15 PM
I just put my shuttle tile inside an acrylic display case, mounted on top of a display that I made out of craft foam (carved to fit the tile perfectly. I lined the inside of the display with a plastic bag since plastic is much less damaging). Although my tile is unflown and only slightly damaged. I'm still on the hunt for a flown one. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 01-15-2012 01:54 PM
If you pull the plastic wrap tight it basically the same as shrink wrap and you can control the pressure. As long as the tile is for static display there should be no abrasion issues. 
|
AirmanPika
Member Posts: 21
From: Aurora, CO
Registered: Jul 2010
|
posted 01-15-2012 06:07 PM
All, thanks for the feedback. quote:
Originally posted by Spaceguy5:
I'm still on the hunt for a flown one.
Keep an eye out on eBay. Though rare, flown tiles do occasionally appear. That's how I've managed to snag the two I have now. Flown ones seem to average $500ish for a full tile. You just gotta be patient and check often. |
DEE
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
|
posted 01-15-2012 07:38 PM
I made a holder for my tile that was fairly inexpensive. I used two pieces of plexiglass. If you would like more information just email me. |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2474
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 01-16-2012 08:40 AM
See my above post for added photos.I wanted to add that the tile is sitting on a clear plastic plate holder. You can pick those up at most craft type stores. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
|
posted 01-16-2012 03:03 PM
Concerning shrink wrapping tiles, are there any shrinkwraps recommended? Some shrink wraps have an annoying habit of continuing to shrink for years after they are applied (I've seen it happen with model boxes anyway). I suppose the newer stuff is better, but I am curious as to if the topic has ever come up before. |
AirmanPika
Member Posts: 21
From: Aurora, CO
Registered: Jul 2010
|
posted 02-19-2012 12:48 AM
Well I'm going the shrink wrap route but haven't recieved the wrapper just yet. In the meantime I went ahead and displayed my 3 tiles in the new display case I got. Half tempted to leave the tile as is now that its in place. We'll see what the shrink wrap is like when it arrives. |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
|
posted 02-19-2012 05:42 AM
Beautiful presentation. I don't think it needs anything else.Please contact me. Click the email (envelope) icon above this post. Thank you. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 02-19-2012 07:38 AM
Custom casing is also an option..1/4 inch UV rejecting lucite sheeting and soft pads were used to encapsulate this Apollo TPS artifact. |
AirmanPika
Member Posts: 21
From: Aurora, CO
Registered: Jul 2010
|
posted 02-26-2012 02:06 AM
Well just as a final heads up, the shrink wrap worked like a charm. It sealed up nice and tight (but not so much that it causes any further damage) and the tile can be handled again. I avoided PVC and used Polyolefin instead. PVC sometimes can leave behind a residue as it ages so I wanted to avoid that. |
advertisement