Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 29, The Clear Fins

I remember attaching clear plastic fins on the old Thor Agena B and Gemini Titan kits. They were never a strong hold, often popping off at the root edge on landing.

The instructions call for clear dope to attach the fins. 

With the way this build is going, I'm not ordering any expensive "adhesive".

Beacon Fabri-Tac has acetone and should be able to hold tight enough. A bead of Fabri-tac was applied down the root edge tab.

In addition to the Fabri-tac, I ran some medium super glue applied with a toothpick.

Squeeze a drop on scrap cardboard - 

Dip the toothpick tip in the drop of glue - 

Run the toothpick tip down the root edge spreading the glue in a controlled line.

Another concern - while the tab fit well into the slot,

there is a visible gap down the fairing.

I could spend time making the fin fit better, but with all the other problems with this build, I'm not going to bother!

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 28, Oops! I Screwed Up!

I usually have good results using the Scotch tape masks. Not this time!

The instructions said to "use a very fine brush" to paint the areas where the system tunnels are into the black areas. I decided to mask for the black areas.
 

Scotch tape was used for the borders of the black areas. The rest of the larger white areas were covered with brown tape and copy paper. 

I got paint bleeds at the tunnel ends. A glue fillet would have blocked the the paint. The off-white cardstock absorbed the black paint.

Bits of the cardstock wraps were torn off when the tape was lifted. I was careful - I removed some of the tape tackiness before sticking it on the model by pressing and removing it on my pantleg. 

I didn't apply glue fillets on the long system tunnels. The side  edges weren't smooth and the paint got underneath.

On the left you can see where the cardstock was lifted.

The mask in the right side picture came out okay. 

I'm not happy with the way it turned out. There's really no way to fix it unless I pulled off the old cardstock and tunnel details and tried again. I won't be doing that.

 

After the problems cutting the fin slots and this bad mask, this build is a "bust". 

Another glitch in a future post.

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 27, Tunnels, Fairings & Ullage Motors

Paint was scraped off where the glue would contact the body.

Tape held the tunnel in place while the glue dried.

Use white glue which dries clear. Yellow glue would dry yellow.

The short ullage motors can be glued directly onto the cardstock wrap. The masking tape strip is a lower alignment line guide.

The longer feed line fairings need the cut out recesses like the longest system tunnels.

Interesting - 

The original rubber shock cord showed no deterioration! It is still stretchy.

I would have liked to use it, but I wanted a longer shock cord.

I did use the kit shock cord mount. Note the old shape.

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 26, The Long Tunnels

The instructions show tunnel recesses cut into the wraps. Notice the top and bottom of the cut outs - they are square, the dowel tunnel ends are tapered.

I'll cut the section ends the same shape as the dowel ends.

The 5" long tunnels were taped to the body and carefully cut around the dowels.

The tape was placed between the wraps.

Here is a closeup.

I used a new, sharp blade tracing around the tunnels.

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 25, Fairing Wraps

Each #7 fairing should be marked for positions and individually trimmed.

Center and press the fairing piece between the fins, noting how the outside edges but up against the fin fairings. 

Even though I tried to get straight sides on the fairing, the conical shape flared out a bit.

The sides of the #7 pieces had to be cut in a slight arc to fit the sides.

On the right shows how many narrow trims were made on the sides to fit the open area.

Before spraying with adhesive, 

The fairing were given a slight curve. I didn't want any adhesive on the printed, visible side.

Here's one of the #7 pieces in place, the sides are almost tucked into the root edges of the fairings.

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 24, Body Wraps

The backs of the body wraps got a shot of adhesive spray while lightly held down on masking tape.

Here's both sides of the upper body with the wraps in place.

Turned around - The upper #1 wrap was short and didn't match up.

The adapter wrap needed a cardstock "shim" around the bottom for a better fit.

This is the back side of the wrap ready for a shot of adhesive spray.

I made a small patch out of a scan print.

It's darker than the original kit wrap print but works in a pinch.

Not perfect, but better than the gap.

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 23, Silver Fairing Paint

I used Scotch tape masks.

Scotch tape isn't very flexible - so the only way to get the curved line is to set down a piece of tape, then draw an arc with a wide point Sharpie. Wipe off the excess ink with a paper towel.

Cut a smooth arc thru the middle of the ink line.

Here I'm lifting the masking strip off my cutting glass.

On the left, the Scotch tape mask is in place for the silver spray.

On the right, the rest of the body is masked off.

Seal the tape edge with a Q-tip.

It's softer than a fingernail.

Here's the silver paint after the tape was pulled.

I got some good, sharp lines.