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Hello everyone still reading these forums!!!
Anyway, I won’t pull a ‘Dave K-ism’ and go on about basically nothing before I
get to my point (which I’m already doing...) and just post this--
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmeBTQ9z
I’ve been thinking about rebuilding my Space Shuttle for a very long time. It
is, imho, the best ‘classic’ Technic set that TLC has ever produced, and I was
very fortunate to acquire one just by being on LUGNET back in the day...
Specifically about this build--I recently acquired a friends LEGO collection (he
is migrating out of the hobby to pursue other interests) and in his collection
were the parts to his 8480. So I knew I had enough parts for at least 2.
But I also figured that, with the evolution of my ever expanding collection that
I might have enuf parts for 3.
So I decided, without pulling out all the parts before hand, that I’d just give
it a go to see if I could build 3 8480 Space Shuttles, and, to make it more
interesting, build all 3 at exactly the same time--step by step.
Which is what I did. This proved, at least in my mind, more difficult than if I
had built one at a time. But I wasn’t shying away from difficulty, and I rather
enjoyed the challenge.
A few items of note--
I only had 2 solid black technic turntables (my original and buddy’s original),
so one shuttle has a black/trans clear turntable.
I also found out, quite close to the end, that I didn’t have enough white lift
arms for the shuttle bay doors. I had mine, which have yellowed form the first
time my shuttle was together. My friend let me know that he has a bag of lift
arms for me the next time I see him that contain his white lift arms. I’ve also
ordered more from Bricklink to finish the third.
White 1 x 8 axles as well were in short supply so those are on order as well.
I just made it for my amount of white Technic 1x10 beams. I was one short until
I ransacked my entire collection of unsorted bins and found one. So that was a
relief. Finding this beam probably took up half the time of the build.
The original 9v wires, as we know, are in the process of decay. I found some
‘glossy’ wires in my collection and used them where I could, so at least one of
the shuttles has a good wiring setup. The other two will need the 69 stud wires
replaced because some of the rubber insulation is completely missing and
there’ll be shorts. I have started the process of rewiring my 9v connector
wires. That’s a job for another post.
Other than that, this was sheer joy. It’s been a very long time when I just sat
down to build something complicated (albeit ‘old school’. I also didn’t even
bother to dig up the actual paper instructions and just went on Peeron (btw,
Peeron, for the first and original source for these things, has the CLEAREST
instructions uploaded--Brickset, et al, all have grainy/pixelly instruction
manuals that are difficult to build from)
So the plan is as follows--
I am acquiring the missing white pieces, and will be taking all three shuttles
apart. Some of the pieces are very dusty and some are yellowed. I will be
going back into my collection and replacing the yellowed parts, making sure I
used old grey and old dark grey (I tried during the build to make sure, but
think I have a few joiners and such that are the new bley/dkbley) and will
rebuild these 3 shuttles. That time (when it happens) will be filmed using the
GoPros and I will try to get a good video up. 6 pictures and a messy build desk
doesn’t do this justice.
Anyway, hope life finds each of you well in your respective worlds.
Dave K
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