The centering ring with the "O" burned into it is the larger disk, the one that fits into the top wide end of the shroud.
For a better fit and no edge bulge, a slight taper (at the same angle as the shroud side) was sanded into the outside edge using a sanding block.
TIP: It takes very little glue when adhering card stock pieces.
A light line of glue was run around the top of the shroud. The ring was pressed into the shroud top - evenly using my block to press it into place.
The second smaller ring is slid down the BT-20 tube and glued onto the ring already in place.
The second ring makes a shoulder lip for the BT-55 main tube to slid over. The third ring at the top of the BT-20 tube is not shown here.
The BT-55 main air frame tube is glued over and onto the rings.
TIP: While the glue is still wet, you can form the shroud edge to the tube by rolling a smooth dowel or a pen barrel over the wet, softened edge. Sometimes you can get a near perfect molded fit.
Is that furry bt-20 stronger than the normal tubes?
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous,
DeleteIt's a regular BT-20 without the clear glassine final wrap. It doesn't feel as stiff as a regular BT-20. I emailed Estes and John Boren wrote back saying it has held strong through many test launches. It's also an interior tube and can't be seen.