Sunday, July 15, 2012

Wolverine Rocketry Phoenix AIM-54A Build Part 7 Filling Tube Seam

This is the tube seam after filling. It's ready for fin gluing and color coats.


Before it got to this point: A layer of thinned CWF was brushed over the joint between the two tube ends.
That was sanded to surface with 400 grit on a block.

To be sure that filler stayed in the joint, medium CA glue was applied with a Q-Tip.
That was sanded smooth, again with 400 grit sandpaper.

A heavy coat of grey filler/primer was sprayed on.
After dry, that was sanded smooth, dry sanded with 400 grit.

TIP: Up to this point I'm dry sanding with 400 grit sandpaper.
Don't use wet sandpaper on bare tubes! Even primered tubes should be considered bare as you'll be sanding down to the surface exposing card fibers. If those bare fibers get wet, they'll swell up leaving you with bigger finishing problems.
Save wet sanding for after color coats are applied.

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