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Author Topic:   Aviation200 1:200 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and orbiter
press4meco
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Posts: 44
From: Renton, WA, USA
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 12-13-2012 05:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for press4meco   Click Here to Email press4meco     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just received an email from an aviation model retailer mentioning that there will be two 1:200 scale models of Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) N911NA released. One with Atlantis, another with Discovery.

I haven't yet been able to find any additional information online as of yet except for the brand producing them.

This is the first I've heard of these models so I've no idea on how detailed these will be.

Robert Pearlman
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Posts: 42982
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 12-13-2012 06:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It seems an odd choice to do NASA 911 when 905 was just recently so much in the news (and was the first to fly). Wonder why they chose 911...

p51
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Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 12-13-2012 06:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
There's a model just like you described on the Flying Mule site with two different orbiters already for pre-order with photos. Is this what you're talking about?

PeterO
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Posts: 399
From: North Carolina
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 12-13-2012 06:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for PeterO   Click Here to Email PeterO     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I see one problem with the model. The endplates on the horizontal stabilizers should be vertical, not perpendicular to the stabilizers. It looks like a Heinkel He 162 tail the way they show it.

GoesTo11
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Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 12-13-2012 07:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GoesTo11   Click Here to Email GoesTo11     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Couple more obvious issues: The orbiter windows are misshapen, as is the vertical stabilizer. Maybe this is just an early prototype; I'd definitely need to see photos of the production model before I'd consider buying it. With a few tweaks, though, it could be really impressive.

Also, I agree with Robert...911 over 905 is a curious choice, though that wouldn't be a show-stopper for me if they fix the obvious flaws.

press4meco
Member

Posts: 44
From: Renton, WA, USA
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 12-13-2012 11:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for press4meco   Click Here to Email press4meco     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yep, that must be the one. I checked (and wrote to) Flying Mule as soon as I heard about this to see if they were going to carry it. Wasn't on there when I first looked. That's the biggest photo I've yet seen, and agree, not all that flattering.
Interesting take on the payload bay FRSI thermal blanket pattern.

I second pretty much all the comments on here as well: 911 struck me as odd, too, given the recent celebrity of 905. Guess I'm just glad 911 isn't getting forgotten, so good on Aviation200 for that.

I almost pulled the trigger on the pre-order, but like others on here, based on what I see, am going to hold off just a bit longer to see what the final product shapes up to look like.

cspg
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Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 12-14-2012 04:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Are Aviation Models designers reading posts on collectSPACE? Any plans from cS members to contact them so that they fix the bugs? Couldn't find their web site...

And thanks for pointing those out!

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 01-01-2013 09:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The more I think about those two models, the less they make "sense" (since they exist at 1:500 and 1:400 scales; granted not a strong argument since the Saturn V exists in many scales...). 911 with a space shuttle, that's ok, but why not 905 with Enterprise in the ALT configuration? Two similar models at $165 with no "added" value compared to one another and to previously released models aside upscale, seem redundant. Thoughts?

ea757grrl
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Posts: 729
From: South Carolina
Registered: Jul 2006

posted 01-01-2013 10:35 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for ea757grrl   Click Here to Email ea757grrl     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just my two cents here, but for $165 I think it would be a better deal to buy the 1:200 Hasegawa SCA/Shuttle kit and, if you didn't want to build it yourself, hire someone to build and paint it for you. I think you'd be a lot happier with the result - the shapes are much better and there are more markings options in the kit. I know there's an appeal in the die-cast medium and that some folks prefer that, but...anyway, just my two cents.

SuperKungFu
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Posts: 68
From: West Covina, CA USA
Registered: Jun 2011

posted 01-27-2013 07:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SuperKungFu   Click Here to Email SuperKungFu     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Aviation 200 Boeing 747 SCA Aviation 200 Boeing 747 SCA w/Space Shuttle "Discovery" OV-103, AV2OV103.

I know there are flaws but I just provide the pictures.

SuperKungFu
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Posts: 68
From: West Covina, CA USA
Registered: Jun 2011

posted 01-27-2013 07:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SuperKungFu   Click Here to Email SuperKungFu     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

SuperKungFu
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Posts: 68
From: West Covina, CA USA
Registered: Jun 2011

posted 01-27-2013 07:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SuperKungFu   Click Here to Email SuperKungFu     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

jjknap
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Posts: 273
From: Bourbonnais, IL USA
Registered: Apr 2011

posted 02-09-2013 07:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jjknap   Click Here to Email jjknap     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I pre-ordered this, but from these photos, the shuttle doesn't seem that detailed, especially at the tail end. I don't understand the patterns they used on the payload bay/sides either

cspg
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Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 02-10-2013 09:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hence no pre-order for me!

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 03-08-2013 04:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The model, at least one of them, is available here is Switzerland for about $250...so it should be arrive soon in the US.

p51
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Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 03-08-2013 04:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by jjknap:
I don't understand the patterns they used on the payload bay/sides either
That was exactly my first reaction as well...

Jay Chladek
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Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007

posted 03-09-2013 10:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jay Chladek   Click Here to Email Jay Chladek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If this picture is of a production sample and not just a pre-production prototype, the orbiter is a real letdown to me as the patterns on the sides of the payload bay doors are the old "stair step" LRSI tile patterns that haven't been seen since Columbia before its 1988 refit and Challenger. Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour NEVER had that pattern. The elevon flipper doors on the wings are also black like an early orbiter, yet the wing has a NASA meatball logo, so it should have the white covers with black surrounds instead.

The shuttle tail shape is also VERY odd when viewed from the side. They also didn't put a dragchute housing on the base of the tail either.

SuperKungFu
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Posts: 68
From: West Covina, CA USA
Registered: Jun 2011

posted 03-10-2013 03:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SuperKungFu   Click Here to Email SuperKungFu     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I'm not going to sugarcoat this... I was really disappointed with it because I've waited so long for one and it was completely messed up. So now I have to find a way to make it the way it should've been made. The problem is... my modeling skills is zero to none so I have to commission someone to help me fix this bird - please let me know if you can assist. Here are the main problems associated with this model:

Regarding the 747 SCA:

  1. The Front strut that connects to the shuttle is far too back, it needs to be removed and repositioned more towards the front -which might break the original piece in the process but it won't matter since I recommend replacing it with the piece from Tree L - Part 11 of the Hasegawa 10680 kit (747 with Space Shuttle). The Base of the strut is incorrect anyway as seen in the picture below and it's too thick so mind as well be replaced. Some repairs might be necessary since the original strut might leave a hole or paint scuff that needs to be patched up/repainted.

  2. The Vertical stabilizers in the rear of the aircraft comes slanted

    You could break it off and reglue them straight but then you are faced with two problems:

    a) Even if you reglue them, it would be straight in terms of the head-on view, but when you look at it from the side, it is still slanted because the original Inflight200/AV200 mould for the 747 horizontal elevator is slanted. In order to fix this, you would have to cut a slanted oval shape (without going through the plastic piece!) to make it adaptable to the elevators. Sadly even the Hasegawa kit cannot help here because the problem is with the elevators being slanted, not the vertical stabs.

    b) The other thing is since you repositioned the vertical stabilizers, the piece that connects it to the horizontal elevators has been moved so you have a scuff mark. That needs to be repairs to cleaned up.

SuperKungFu
Member

Posts: 68
From: West Covina, CA USA
Registered: Jun 2011

posted 03-10-2013 03:34 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SuperKungFu   Click Here to Email SuperKungFu     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Now regarding the shuttle, basically it needs to be replaced completely. Everything is wrong: the nose, body, tail, decals...etc.

If you saw early, I did have a wooden space shuttle model in 1:200 scale but that won't work because it doesn't have the tail cone. So I need to commission someone to make one like the Hasegawa kit

Hopefully they could make it as good as this example:

I don't need the landing gear, payload interior, or nozzles to be detailed because it will be covered up. I got the tail cone from Tree L of the Hasegawa Kit - basically it has everything to repair the AV200 model: the struts, the tail cone, and an extra pair of vertical stabilizers.

Anyway, hope this outline helps anyone out there that wants to do the same thing and fix AV200 747 with shuttle - again, I'm looking for someone that can help me do repairs to the 747 vertical stabs and front struts as well as help me built a new shuttle model. Please PM me so we can work out the details.

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 03-11-2013 05:56 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I hope you'll find the talented people required to fix this model.

I'm quite baffled that it went into production with such obvious flaws.

PeterO
Member

Posts: 399
From: North Carolina
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 03-11-2013 09:07 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for PeterO   Click Here to Email PeterO     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I have built the Hasegawa 747SCA kit, and it is excellent. The build is featured in the current issue of Airfix Model World magazine.

From my experience with both building kits and modifying diecast models, it would be better to find a modeler to build the Hasegawa kit for you rather than try to fix the Aviation200 model.

SuperKungFu
Member

Posts: 68
From: West Covina, CA USA
Registered: Jun 2011

posted 03-24-2013 12:37 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SuperKungFu   Click Here to Email SuperKungFu     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Anyone know where I can get shuttle tiles decals in 1/200 scale?

PeterO
Member

Posts: 399
From: North Carolina
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 03-24-2013 01:12 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for PeterO   Click Here to Email PeterO     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Keith McNeill keithmcneill@blueyonder.co.uk makes tile decals in 1/200 (and all the other shuttle scales). I have a set in 1/144, and they're extremely well done. I would certainly use his decals if I ever build an operational orbiter in 1/200.

Since he produces them himself, they are not always in stock, so you'll have to check and see.

Myron
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posted 04-09-2013 05:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Myron   Click Here to Email Myron     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I finally completed my Revell of Germany 1/144 scale Space Shuttle/747 SCA kit. I know the kit has mistakes but I love the scale and the supplied decals. All this for about $60.

The big problem was the provided struts, which are supposed to secure the orbiter to the 747. The parts snapped like wishbones and couldn't be fixed. I finally had to make my own struts.

p51
Member

Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011

posted 04-09-2013 06:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for p51   Click Here to Email p51     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Good pointers on what needs to be changed in the model, but I have to ask why you'd bother buying this model if you have to completely change the orbiter entirely and some of the 747, too? Why not just build the kit you used to modify this 'ready built' one instead?

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 04-10-2013 01:45 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The model seems difficult to find. Limited production run or sold very well?

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 06-26-2013 04:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The models are available from the Flying Mule although Aviaition200 has added Enterprise and Endeavour to the other Altantis (almost sold out). Discovery is not available.

cspg
Member

Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006

posted 07-04-2013 03:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for cspg   Click Here to Email cspg     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Enterprise is already sold out. Only Endeavour is left. I'd be curious to know who's buying those models...

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