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   Despite earlier difficulties with paints, and having now produced a smooth finish on the white parts, it was time to concentrate on other things while the bodywork cured for 24hrs... More parts from Small Art Works. If you've already spent $300+ on this kit, then there's little point skimping on accessories!  Despite being aluminium, they are still quite weighty.  Later on in the build, I added ballast to the front end to compensate for these parts Weathering the rocket bells presented a challenge.  How to achieve that 'feathered' soot effect on the exterior? My technique here may seem odd but, as you can see above, it worked a treat!  Pictured here is a paint tinlet with a rubber ring around the top (to prevent scratching and/or chipping of the interior sooting).  On this was placed the rocket bell and on top of the bell I rested a spray can lid.  I then sprayed (in very light bursts) a flat black almost horizontally to the bottom of the spray can lid More jewels from Small Art Works - the eight VTOL thrusters! A different technique was employed here to soot-up these VTOLs.  The eight peices were attached to a stiff peice of card with adhesive putty ('Blu-Tak') and stood on end to be parallel with the spray can.  Again, very light bursts were applied until the insides were jet black.  Overspray here has caused the 'dirtying' of the exterior but this was the desired effect.  Unlike the main rocket bells, in everyday use the underside of the craft would be prone to foreign material being blasted around Modifying Jim Small's remastered companionways.  These mods are very simple to do and enhance the realism that little bit more.  Please note that they are only notional and are not intended to replicate anything on the actual studio models...they're just there for fun! Note cables and aluminium 'pressure hoses' The 'hoses' are just small lengths of plastic coated wire robbed from a box of computer spares More hoses... ...and a pressure hose on the underside All imagery copyright Eagle Imagery (PhotoGraphics) unless otherwise stated Unauthorised use is illegal