Gern's Pegasus Mercury 9

[Gern]

OK. Having 'bucked' up somewhat, I had a thunk about cranes and tractors. I wasn't happy about the clunky appearance of my tower crane and the idea that there would be multiple vehicles at the landing field. I've changed things around and come up with this:

A tractor crane and trailer:



Not many parts actually assembled yet, but I think this looks better. I'm going to add some weight at the back of the tractor to stop it tipping and there's still an issue with the height of the crane, but I think I've got that sorted with my ideas for the base:



Onwards and upwards!!

[Gern]

Finally! I think I've finished with the rocket part of this build.

The trailer (it does actually hook up to the tractor but the coupling is a bit delicate so they will stay separated 'til it's time to fix them to the base:



The pod looks a bit lopsided here, but that's just the camera angle. It is upright and level:



I'm quite pleased how my crane turned out. Much better than my first attempt (Speaking of which, I'll have to have a go at finding a suitable opportunity to use the first crane base I made):



A three-way thingie for lifting the pod - there are three connector whatsits that the crew of the pod release from the hull and hook up to these (notice how much clearer the explanations are using the correct technical terms instead of trying to use basic English?):



Closer views of the crane body:



And of course, no self-respecting crane would be without stabiliser arms:



Only on one side but for a simple job, a simple solution!

A good blast of primer next then paint which will hide LOTS of niggly bits, then I can make a start on the base.

Just as a side note, it took me an hour to fix the three bits of EZ line I used for the rigging. I hope the Gods are feeling generous with their help as I've just ordered a 1/700 sailing ship!

[Mini Me]

That's what you get for playing at being a crane "Rigger". Nothing like a 1/700 string tying nightmare. Cheers, Rick H.

[Gern]

Thanks guys.

First off, an apology to Pegasus! The rocket pod does sit quite nicely on top of the booster. I don't know why it didn't fit when I first tried it, but it's OK now.

On to the base. You know I said my new crane isn't quite tall enough? I was right - it isn't quite tall enough by about 100mm!! So a massive re-think was needed on the base. Sorted though. I'm gonna have my rocket sat in a silo! I got an old biscuit tin which is about 220mm diameter, the base of the rocket is roughly 170mm so it's a reasonable fit. Don't forget, the pilot has to line up his fins with those tiny clamps, so he's got plenty of clearance! Think of Alan Tracy guiding Thunderbird 3 down through the observation walkway, back under the swimming pool!

I'm making a 'wall' around my MDF base from insulation foam which is 80mm high. That plus two flat layers of 20mm thick board gives me the 100mm I need. Does anyone know where I can get that pink foam the Americans use? That comes in much thicker sheets. The only thicker sheets than 20mm I've found so far are unbelieveably expensive!

The height of the tin is only about 60mm, so my plan is to line it with some thin card 100mm high to match the surround. I'm almost forced to line the inside anyway as I don't want to leave it bare, smooth metal. It will be easier to add a few details if I'm fixing them to plastic rather than metal. Don't get carried away folks, the details will only be some reinforcing ribs - absolutely nothing like the tunnels under Tracy Island! I'll have to use three sheets anyway, so there will be three joins I'll need to hide with some thin strips. That and a few horizontal strips will be about it!

I bought some foam sheets a few years back which are really soft. They're about 2mm thick so if I can cut them straight enough, they will be perfect, although I'm going to check they'll stick using ordinary glue. I don't want to be messing around with PVA!

I blame Ron for all this! He introduced me to the fun of dioramerering, now it seems I can't do even a simple build without doing something to it!

[boatman]

OH DAVE youre getting mixed up with:thinking: Thinkin of Alan Tracy guiding Thunderbird 3 down through the observation walkway, back under the swimming pool! THAT'S SCOTT in thunderbird 1 lol :rolling: :smiling:
CHRIS

[Gern]

OH DAVE youre getting mixed up with:thinking: Thinkin of Alan Tracy guiding Thunderbird 3 down through the observation walkway, back under the swimming pool! THAT'S SCOTT in thunderbird 1 lol :rolling: :smiling:
CHRIS

Can I have 50% please Chris? You can have the other 50% 'cos like me, you're only half right!

TB1 descends an escalator to it's launch pad under the pool (I was wrong, you were right) but only passes in front of the main staircase leading to the pool area when it takes off. BUT TB3 takes off and goes through the centre of one of the buildings (I was right, you were wrong). I can't remember how TB3 is hidden from view when people visit the round house? Is it under the false 'floor' of a volcano, or am I getting mixed up with James Bond?

[Tim Marlow]

There you go lads...T3 goes up through the pool house...

[Gern]

One silo:



"But the walls don't go all the way to the top" I hear you say! Don't panic - I have a cunning plan!

I was originally hoping to fit everything on to a 24"x9" board, but as usual with me, things got a little out of hand, so I've had to step up to up to one 24"x18" -but only because I can't use Steve's shelf!

My cunning plan (just a rough mock up so far):



Gerry Anderson didn't have to worry too much about exhaust and jet wash from his tiddly little overgrown firework - aka Thunderbird 3, but this Mercury 9 is humungous!

It's not .... actually it IS rocket science .... but those fumes and gases have got to go somewhere! Three exhaust vents which will have some sort of mesh cover - (i) To stop larger animals getting into the silo - anyone remember the fun and games we had with that bear last year? - and (ii) it will add some much needed detail. As this hole is a scale 35m deep, there will also be a safety fence around the top - to stop those pesky tourists falling in and breaking their fool necks!

Off to do some mejuring up and some sums to work out stuff!

[spanner570]

Nice start on the silo, Dave...

Oh, and luuurve the sandal(s)!

[Gern]

Nice start on the silo, Dave...

Oh, and luuurve the sandal(s)!

I don't know! Working my butt off here to try and produce something interesting, and all you can come up with is some cobblers about shoes!:tongue-out2::tongue-out2::tongue-out2:

[spanner570]

Upon my sole, laced with humour now!

[boatman]

I don't know! Working my butt off here to try and produce something interesting, and all you can come up with is some cobblers about shoes!:tongue-out2::tongue-out2::tongue-out2:

Upon my sole, laced with humour now!

HONSTELY you two make me have a good laugh at your antics very witty both of you :rolling: :thinking::smiling2::smiling2::smiling2::smiling2: :smiling2:

chris

[Mini Me]

Good bit of progress there Dave.........Aren't you glad you have 570 along to keep you focused and on task LOL:tongue-out3: Too bad about Steve's shelf being unavailable but it looks like you are getting along well with out it. Keep it coming. Rick H.

[Gern]

Good bit of progress there Dave.........Aren't you glad you have 570 along to keep you focused and on task LOL:tongue-out3: Too bad about Steve's shelf being unavailable but it looks like you are getting along well with out it. Keep it coming. Rick H.

Well now Rick, I been thinking about that. Even though the building is a LONG way away, it still looks ridiculously tiny against everything else. I've also been thinking about the size of my crane and trailer. They don't look too bad against the rocket until you remember it's supposed to be in 1/350 - then you realise that crane jib is a scale 350ft high! That's big for a mobile crane!

As this is a purely fictional build, I've decided that actually it's 1/144 scale! That brings everything back into some reasonable sort of limits. But even though it's much closer now, that building still looks tiny and ridiculous! The things I do for this hobby. If I scrap the kit supplied building, I really need to make one of my own. I can make it bigger and a more reasonable size - even though it will still be a LONG way away!

I got plans for another half a dozen little dios, but at the rate this keeps changing, only the Gods know when I might be able to start them.

I have made some progress though and I'll have some pics this weekend.

PS You're right. Without Ron's help and encouragement I wouldn't be doing any of this dioramerering and not having half as much fun in my life!

PPS Tell you how daft some of my ideas get. You know the sort of zig-zag line breaks you sometimes see printed in documents and tables to indicate they've cut some bits out of the middle? I was tempted to put one of those breaks on my base so I could show that the building was a long way away - even though it's right next door!

[Mini Me]

Sounds like a plan Dave, I like the idea of adjustable scale also. Rick H.