Command Module  Pod 1  Pod 2  Pod 3  Pod 4  Pod 5  Pod 6  Pod 7  Pod 8  Pod 9  Pod 10  Pod 11 Epilogue  The Hangar  Moonbase  Back to Main Mission   I first drilled some holes in the ends of the framework where the parts would meet the frame and cut some 'pegs' from styrene tubing The confusing part of the build - pipes, pipeage and more piping!  I've seen different orders of construction for this part and i still found it difficult to get a feel for what was going on in there.  In the end I just used my reference pics and went with what felt right.  So, here's how I did it... I didn't have the correct diameter pipe ready for this accurizing part so I improvised and used a section of plastic coat hanger cut to size Stage two.  Not sure what happened but I didn't seem to have these rods available either (I think I used then for accurizing the spine) so I just cut them from my supply of styrene tubing... Still not easy to see but we now have a further four struts in place.  Whether by fault or design, the top and bottom fuel cells 'rest' on each pair... The final stage in the main pipework is the placing of the angled struts.  The gaps you see at the base of the struts are actually filled with thin CA and when painted will, to a degree, look like welding Note use of brass bolts to attach the fuel cells.  These parts, distributed by Expo Tools, were purchased from my local model shop Note also that the gaps in the fuel cells have been filled with thin CA...this will be sanded down before painting Adding the pressure tanks to the assembly.  I deviated from the plan here slightly in that I drilled through two of the pipe sections on either side in order to mount a rod for each pressure tank pair The assembly, as pictured, would be a nightmare to paint so I stopped short of glueing the pressure tanks on to the rods so that they ware removable.  I fully accurized the fuel lines later on once the model was almost complete I also drilled holes in the fuel tank ends for the fuel lines to connect to... The final stage (for now) was the addition of the 'ring piping' at the rear of the assembly.  This was a real pig to make but very satisfying when completed.  In my opinion, this is an essential accurizing step Not brilliant modelling by any means but I was quite pleased with how this section built up.  It also looked ten times better when painted and further accurized This promised to be quite a simple part to construct, however a few niggles cropped up that would need attention... Putting the two halves together with two-part epoxy.  Deceptively awkward to match up - these strong clips were invaluable Once the epoxy had set to a reasonable strength (a good hour or so) I matched up the pod ends and pinned them in all four corners for added strength.  The pins were made from ordinary paper clips and were sunk a fraction below the surface.  A dot of CA was then added to hold it securely in place.  The CA was sanded down to a smooth finish before painting The internal pod corners were then glued, again with epoxy for strength Parts mastering here is quite sloppy.  The pod ends are quite a lot narrower than the pod itself making it necessary to either sand down the centre joins considerably or, as I did, whack on some putty and reshape ...and here is the finished result For some bizarre reason, the pod doors have been cast in reverse.  I later realised that the eagles had different doors in seasons 1 & 2.  I prefer the 'outy' so this was just screaming to be rectified... I printed off four copies of one of Roberto Baldassari's door graphics (first ensuring they were resized to scale) and used these as a template to bash the doors out of thin sheet styrene ...and I was very pleased with the result! Leaving the pod to set/cure overnight, I set about accurizing the spine.  I cut ten rods to size and added them to the underside directly beneath the top ones The dining room table...pressed into service as a workbench (wife not impressed!) All imagery copyright Eagle Imagery (PhotoGraphics) unless otherwise stated Unauthorised use is illegal