Mir Rescue Mission, 2000

[scooter]

Very good.  Do the tiles absolutely have to be the colours they are on Burans (and Shuttles) or is there scope for a repaint?

The "real world" reason <<LINK!>> (pertinent extracts below):
Reinforced Carbon-carbon (the grey): protects areas where temperatures exceed 2,300F during entry.
Black High-Temperature Reusable Surface Insulation (HRSI) (the black tiles): protect areas where temperatures are below 2,300F.
Fibrous Refractory Composite Insulation (FRCI) (more black tiles): mostly used on the base of the shuttle; this is where the highest heat is encountered.
Low-Temperature Reusable Surface Insulation (LRSI) (the white tiles): protect areas where temperatures are below 1,200F. The tiles are white since while in orbit the shuttle encounters extremely low temperatures and the white surface provides better thermal characteristics when the temperature is below 0F.
Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation (AFRSI) blankets (more white): used in areas where the temperature does not exceed 1,200F.
Nomex Felt Reusable Surface Insulation (even more white): used in areas where the temperature does not exceed 700F (bay doors and portions of the upper wing)
Of course, this being Whiffworld, there's always a whiffy solution, like Unobtanium, Spackmanium, or Narsesnium, etc. having superior thermal characteristics versus the standard tile/blanket materials, which allows for the shuttle to be painted in a "pattern disruptive scheme".

Thanks Scoot.
I was thinking keep the black parts but give the white areas digital camo in grey.  Or a Tiger Meet scheme?

I did blues and greys to both 144 and 72d shuttles, now long since lost to space and time.

[nighthunter]

Very good.  Do the tiles absolutely have to be the colours they are on Burans (and Shuttles) or is there scope for a repaint?

The "real world" reason <<LINK!>> (pertinent extracts below):
Reinforced Carbon-carbon (the grey): protects areas where temperatures exceed 2,300F during entry.
Black High-Temperature Reusable Surface Insulation (HRSI) (the black tiles): protect areas where temperatures are below 2,300F.
Fibrous Refractory Composite Insulation (FRCI) (more black tiles): mostly used on the base of the shuttle; this is where the highest heat is encountered.
Low-Temperature Reusable Surface Insulation (LRSI) (the white tiles): protect areas where temperatures are below 1,200F. The tiles are white since while in orbit the shuttle encounters extremely low temperatures and the white surface provides better thermal characteristics when the temperature is below 0F.
Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation (AFRSI) blankets (more white): used in areas where the temperature does not exceed 1,200F.
Nomex Felt Reusable Surface Insulation (even more white): used in areas where the temperature does not exceed 700F (bay doors and portions of the upper wing)
Of course, this being Whiffworld, there's always a whiffy solution, like Unobtanium, Spackmanium, or Narsesnium, etc. having superior thermal characteristics versus the standard tile/blanket materials, which allows for the shuttle to be painted in a "pattern disruptive scheme".

Thanks Scoot.
I was thinking keep the black parts but give the white areas digital camo in grey.  Or a Tiger Meet scheme?

I did blues and greys to both 144 and 72d shuttles, now long since lost to space and time.

Don't forget, the Armageddon shuttles had grey on the upper surfaces, instead of white... 😉😁