International Space Station Model

This is the model by Intermountain Railway. It's the most expensive of the ISS models currently on the market, but is probably the most accurate (it should be, as it was apparently designed to be used in planning the real thing!). It is also currently the only version which contains the parts needed to mate a same-scale space shuttle (even the Revell ISS model doesn't do this, which is strange because Revell makes the most common STS models). The single best thing about the model is its adaptability: the individual modules can be assembled and reassembled in virtually any configuration imaginable, and can be completely broken down for storage or transport. Click here to go to another page where I post the assembly notes supplied by Jorge R. Frank, and make a few comments of my own.  Click here to go to photos of the Assembly Complete version.
 
This is the STS 102 docked configuration. The STS came from one of the Revell kits, and has had the ISS kit's extra ODS parts inserted so the two can be mated.

Note the black crossbar: The combined models are balancing on this bar because the only part of the current configuration wide enough to span the display base is the large solar panel array. Fitting them to the stand supports, however, would lower the forward part of the station too far to allow the STS docking. After shooting these pictures I installed the Main Truss so the model(s) will have more stability (see below).
Look closely and you can see a tiny little astronaut "floating" above the MPLM. He came with the STS model and I have hopes of finding a few more so I can have a full EVA construction crew.

Haven't painted him yet, but I'll get around to it.
Looking forward from the Port quarter. In this and the top picture I used a graphics program to erase the attachment posts at nadir and zenith which don't yet support modules.
Trying for a closeup of the ODS, here. As per Jorge Frank's suggestion, I substituted the model's US Habitation module for the US Lab module, for asthetic reasons; the Lab has a slot in the top to attach the Main Truss. These US modules should be repainted silver, but I'm waiting to see if I can get additional decals before I do anything irrevocable. 

Currently, the MPLM cannot fit into the STS cargo bay; I'll have to do a little whittling on the bay's ribs.
Looking from zenith to nadir. The cockpit "windshield frames" are from the decal set supplied by Glenn Johnson at Realspace Models. Glenn does terrific work with resin models and accurizing kits, but I am not very happy with his decals; they are the least adhesive of any I have ever used. In place, they certainly look better than those supplied by Revell, but two have already fallen off. I think I'm going to have to replace them with the Revell decals.
I tried here for another look at the ODS.
This is what the station looks like when sitting properly on the display stand. Just try to imagine the Main Truss isn't there (work with me, here).

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