Discovery - 2001: A Space Odyssey - scale 1/144

Model of the Discovery One spacecraft, featuring its front sphere and long dorsal structure, against a black background

“That's the prototype of a cell phone!”

Moebius model kit of the Discovery XD-1 spacecraft from *2001: A Space Odyssey* at a scale of 1/144Le kit à l'échelle 1/144ème - 1,10 m de long. Bien sûr, contrairement à la présentation, le pod et l'astronaute ne sont pas fournis...

Assembly instructions for the Discovery model kit, including unpainted parts and diagrams of the cargo modulesLe plan, bien présenté, demande quand même beaucoup d'attention pour le montage des éléments de la "colonne vertébrale"...

Model parts sorted and numbered on a sheet next to an assembled moduleTravail de longue haleine, pas pour les pressés... En dehors des parties centrales (4F) en deux morceaux qui vont supporter par collage tous les conteneurs, tous les autres sont en quatre éléments. Une fois que tout ce monde a été collé, il faudra mastiquer les joints puis, après séchage, les poncer !

You need to carefully check the color-coded map to see exactly where the containers are placed, because they have a specific orientation that isn't always the same...

The manufacturer had the good sense to include metal rods that slide into the 4F parts as well as the antenna base (at the bottom, between the rods) to reinforce the assembly once it’s glued together—which measures over one meter...

The engine block isn't difficult to work on, except that you need to coat the gaskets with liquid sealant and sand down the smooth surfaces...

 

A model of the Discovery spacecraft being assembled, with gray parts laid out in order and blueprints on the workbench

A view of the column secured on each side, ready to hold the components...

Model of the Discovery spacecraft under construction, showing the detailed hull and engine nozzlesA noter qu'ils existent plus kits en photodécoupe et résine pour améliorer les détails. L'impasse est faite ici sur ces éléments qui n'apportent pas grand-chose à cette échelle et sont relativement onéreux pour leur petitesse (on pourra penser que plus c'est petit, moins c'est cher, fatale "error" ! N'oublions pas que nous somme à l'Ere du profit !)

The appeal of this model—which would be more than enough—would be its simple lighting, achieved by installing one white (or yellow) LED in the sphere and three blue LEDs in the reactors...

Curiously, the photos from the film show tubing at the rear of the engine block and a few small details that resin and photo-etched parts manufacturers don't mention—even though, unlike the interior details of the sphere (which are abundant), these are clearly visible...

 

Detailed model of the Discovery spacecraft showing its rear thrusters and copper-colored fuselage

So they are made of piano wire and Evergreen plastic...

Model of the Discovery spacecraft, currently under construction, resting on supportsLe vaisseau assemblé sur ses trois supports (livrés dans le kit), prêt pour la peinture...

Installing the spherical section poses no particular problems. The antenna has been improved...

 

Painting

 

 

A model of the Discovery spacecraft being assembled, resting on supports on a workbench

After applying the essential white primer to cover up imperfections, apply a coat of white...

Gray model of the Discovery spacecraft with parabolic antennas and modules, set against a rocky backgroundA model of the Discovery spacecraft, currently being assembled, resting on a workbenchModel of the Discovery spacecraft with its sphere and long spine mounted on standsLa sphère comporte sur son ensemble des panneaux ainsi que sur les trappes de sortie de tons de gris différents qui sont peints au pinceau...

Top view of the Discovery spacecraft model, showing the detailed hull and the three rear enginesL'ensemble du modèle est ensuite recouvert d'un jus à 70% de gris de payne - Winsor & Newton (huile) dont on essuie aussitôt, certaines surfaces planes. Ainsi, tous les petits détails sont mis en valeur...

Model of the Discovery spacecraft on stands, placed in front of an orange wall

Black pastel will simulate the soot coming out of the engines...

Model of the Discovery One spacecraft, viewed in profile against an orange background

The Setting

Model of the Discovery spacecraft, featuring its spherical nose and long fuselageIl sera à la mesure de son modèle. Un panneau de mdf de 6 mm d'épaisseur de 1,30 m x 0,50 m...

The hemisphere of Jupiter measures 0.67 m. The panel is painted with white Gesso paint for canvases...

Tip: To draw a circle—if you don't have a very large compass—take a pencil, tie a string to it that's as long as the circle's radius, and draw the circle...

A semicircular model piece protected by newspaper on the workbenchOn peint en premier la planète. On protège la zone hors peinture...

A painted circular porthole revealing a landscape in shades of ochre against a white backgroundLa peinture est réalisée à l'acrylique - pinceau & aérographe à partir de divers documents photos...

Painted depiction of the planet Jupiter on a black panel mounted on trestlesPuis, on met un cache sur la planète, et on peint le fond - ici à la bombe, noir mat...

Then, white, blue, and yellow paint will be brushed on to simulate distant stars that are invisible in the photos...

Painted model of the planet Jupiter with its Great Red Spot against a starry backgroundDes retouches sont faites sur la surface de Jupiter (on ne voit toujours pas les étoiles)...

 We finish by adding a shadow around the celestial body to make it look more realistic...

Model of the Discovery spacecraft in front of Jupiter and the black monolith on a dioramaThe black monolith, made of plastic card, is glued to the bottom...

The model will have a Plexiglas cover and will be hung like a painting...

Model of the Discovery One spacecraft in a diorama in front of Jupiter, with the black monolith

 

 

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