The very small version (7 cm) of the Orion shuttle from Comet Miniatures is false, in the forms as in the details. I thus had fun to modify it so that it is more faithful to the model seen in the movie, and that its presentation reproduces the one built by Jean-Marc Deschamps for the "2001, A Models Odyssey" exhibition. If the doubt remains about the real length of the shuttle, I based myself on the length given by Jean-Marc, 60 m (its 1/100 scale model measures 60 cm), which thus gives a scale of 1/845 (?!) for the small shuttle.
The rough version of Comet Miniatures, out of its paperboard packaging
The Jean-Marc Deschamps' model (60 cm, not really seen with the small size of these photos!), on its Pan-Am colors base
   | First operation, removal by sanding of all the details and too thick forms, as well as wings much too coarse. The original shape being too flat, the higher curvature is represented using a metal resin used in plumbing. The separation between the engine exhausts is remade out of brass, the block surrounding the exhausts being itself remodeled. The decoration details which could not be reproduced in painting because of scale will be printed on special photo paper. So there are cuttings in metal to take into account the thickness of this paper which will be stuck on the fuselage. | |
  | Second operation, after spraying a gray primer coat, surface and proportion defaults appear. They are eliminated with cellulose filler. | |
  | Third operation, spraying of a new primer coat. | |
  | Fourth operation, spraying of a satin white coat. | |
 | Fifth operation, details printing at high resolution (2880 dpi) on photo paper, according to the drawing of Simon Atkinson. The small extra engines are deep-set by driving small metal axis in the paper, their hulls are enhanced by driving the other side of the paper. The wings are built in the same way, a fine brass plate stuck between the top and the lower part will reinforce the assembly and will simulate the depth of the half before wings. The Pan-Am logos are remade to be readable. | |
| Sixth operation, prints and wings are glued on the fuselage. The rest of the plates will be simulated by drawing of lines with a pencil, then painting of different gray tones with a fine brush. The colour difference between the prints and the fuselage painting will be made uniform during the final operation, with a coat of satin varnish. A hole is drilled in the lower wing to fix the base rod. | |
  | Seventh operation, the base is built with a simple metal washer, a print of the Pan-Am logo being glued above. The rod supporting the shuttle is a simple chrome-plated nail. |
The shuttle, rough version of Comet Miniatures and modified final version, the differences in forms are obvious!
There we are! After 28 short hours of work, the shuttle rests on its base.
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Three Orion shuttle, from 1/845 scale to 1/100 scale, |  |
