Silverleaf
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- Joined
- Feb 22, 2003
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Howdy,
I was cleaning/sanding the Orbiter parts tonight, when I noted something peculiar:
Lay the bottom of the Orbiter body on a flat surface, with the bottom - the side with the slots for the launch lugs facing up.
The Orbiter doesn't sit flat, instead its front end is flexed upwards off the table by 2 MM, and extends back equally along the body 48 MM till the orbiter touches back on the table
The same applies to the left and right wings - each is 2 mm off the table and extends inward (towards the center of the orbiter)30 mm.
See crude drawing attached for clarity
Now I'm not sure if this is supposed to be like this, as I don't remember seeing this on the previous model. BUT if its the case, I'm betting that some of these kits either have more warping in them or less, and this results in the differences in how the orbiter falls/glides etc.
Not to say it'll glide home gracefully..but I'm concerned whether it should be flat - although I'm thinking that this angle is part of the " lifting body principal " and needs to be in the shuttle to help it fly a bit better.
If noone knows, I can contact Estes and ask them what the skinny is.
So, I'd like to ask anyone whom has a Shuttle With Stacks Kit # 1284 unbuilt to please check their orbiter as I have and let me know what you've found.
Many thanks in advance,
I was cleaning/sanding the Orbiter parts tonight, when I noted something peculiar:
Lay the bottom of the Orbiter body on a flat surface, with the bottom - the side with the slots for the launch lugs facing up.
The Orbiter doesn't sit flat, instead its front end is flexed upwards off the table by 2 MM, and extends back equally along the body 48 MM till the orbiter touches back on the table
The same applies to the left and right wings - each is 2 mm off the table and extends inward (towards the center of the orbiter)30 mm.
See crude drawing attached for clarity
Now I'm not sure if this is supposed to be like this, as I don't remember seeing this on the previous model. BUT if its the case, I'm betting that some of these kits either have more warping in them or less, and this results in the differences in how the orbiter falls/glides etc.
Not to say it'll glide home gracefully..but I'm concerned whether it should be flat - although I'm thinking that this angle is part of the " lifting body principal " and needs to be in the shuttle to help it fly a bit better.
If noone knows, I can contact Estes and ask them what the skinny is.
So, I'd like to ask anyone whom has a Shuttle With Stacks Kit # 1284 unbuilt to please check their orbiter as I have and let me know what you've found.
Many thanks in advance,