A Perfect (Snow) Storm

MODEL BUILD A Perfect (Snow) Storm

70 Andy Davies has a blast building and detailing ARK Models’ 1/144 Soviet space shuttle, Buran

uring the 1970s from the US Space Shuttle. the space industry, the Soviet the development of the system, and ’80s, the USSR Development was conducted government decided to respond which had by now gained developed a winged within the Reusable Space System to the ‘Shuttle threat’ with a the name Energia-Buran. spacecraft known as programme, or MKS, which similar spacecraft. NPO Energia From the beginning, however, DBuran (Snowstorm or Blizzard), included the winged orbiter in Kaliningrad, Moscow Region, uncertainty surrounded the which was designed to serve itself and the Energia heavy- subordinated to the Ministry issue of possible roles for the as a parallel response to the lift vehicle. In 1976, despite of General Machine Building, Buran orbiter. Potential tasks perceived military threat apparent scepticism within took overall responsibility for concentrated around hypothetical

Above • One of three large styrene runners provided an overview of Above • There was a complete lack of any thermal tile representation on components: while the parts count was low, the crisp detail of the mouldings the exterior surfaces, although recessed detail for the control engines was was excellent, particularly given the scale. present. These were also incorporated on the decal sheet.

Scale Modelling Real Space www.airfixmodelworld.com Soviet Space Shuttle Buran

Above • The forward payload bay bulkhead featured impressive raised Above • Several ejector pin marks were evident on the payload bay door detail, which represented various electrical control boxes plus a crew panels. As their removal would prove difﬁ cult, 20-thou (0.5mm) plastic card access door. strips were ﬁ tted and blended using liquid glue and a damp sanding cloth.

Above • Other components that suffered ejector pin marks included the Above • Buran featured a split rudder which could also act as an airbrake. main undercarriage doors. These were removed via a fresh scalpel blade, Parts were scored carefully using a scribing tool before being removed via a before being smoothed with various grades of sanding pad. fresh scalpel blade; this allowed them to be ﬁ tted in the deployed position. military roles and support for the Curate’s egg antennas, undercarriage legs very little would be seen through manned space station program, The large top-opening box and wheels. No detail was the small cockpit windows of one goal being the delivery and contained three medium-grey included within the wheel-bays the finished model. Something assembly of the Mir-2 space styrene runners and single or crew compartment, although, that struck this modeller station. The Buran flew just clear example, with a total of in fairness regarding the latter, immediately was the complete one unmanned orbital flight in 73 parts. Also included was a November 1988, strapped to a basic eight-page instruction powerful Energia launch vehicle, pamphlet that featured several and the project was finally 3D views but often failed to abandoned in 1993 owing to explain where many of the the loss of funding following the smaller items were to be located. collapse of the Soviet Union. No colour guide was included, this being left to the modeller

Buran Soviet Space Shuttle to work out – fortunately, there are excellent internet websites By: ARK Models covering all aspects of the Buran Stock Code: AK14402 programme, including detailed Scale: 1/144 schematics for the placement of Price: £21 all relevant markings. The only references supplied with the kit

MODEL SPEC Available from: www.ark-models.org were two small photographs on the side of the box lid and an artist’s rendition of the vehicle in space on the lid. The styrene components appeared to be shaped accurately and were The payload bay was supplied in six parts, including two bulkheads, moulded crisply, with finesse Above • two side walls, base section and an upper plate. The base had a cut-out for on items such as the directional the nosewheel bay, while the upper represented the multi-faceted ﬂ oor itself.