New Hole Punch

I just got a new hole punch. 

The punches get dull after a few years of use and it's hard to find replacement parts that fit. This is heavier duty and replacement hole punch tubes are included!

Also in the box: A wrench to tighten or change the cutting tubes and a 6" long metal ruler. 

To see it, CLICK HERE

For $13.99 it's probably the best available.

Centering Rings: I use hole punches for engine hook relief notches in centering rings and launch lug holes.

Launch Lugs: Rotated to the largest punch (4.5 mm), it's a perfect friction fit for sliding in a 1/8" diameter launch lug.

Parachutes: Instead of tearing holes with a pencil tip, the smallest diameter punch works perfectly for shroud line holes in a plastic parachute. 

TIP: Be sure to use thin cardstock under the thin chute material for a clean punch. 

Rotary punches are handy for belt holes and many other household uses.

Comparing The Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V with the Dr. Zooch Saturn V, Part 2

The tail end -

Those clear fins on the Estes Saturn have a tendency to pop off on a hard landing.

The balsa fins on the Zooch Saturn V are much larger. No clear fins needed. 

The back end of the Estes Saturn V, empty fairings and those clear fins.

The tail of the Dr. Zooch Saturn V.

The fairing wraps are much stronger, glued onto conical wedges cut from a BT-20.

The F-1 engines are formed from cardstock. The hat band rings are thread. The turbine exhausts are formed out of "Funky Glue Putty". F.G.P. is wood glue rolled and formed between your fingers as the glue dries. 

Notice the engine hook extending far out the back. This keeps the engine bells clear of the motor flame. 

The Dr. Zooch kit is an improved, more detailed version of the Estes Saturn V.

The Zooch Saturn V is one of my favorite builds.

Comparing The Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V with the Dr. Zooch Saturn V, Part 1

In all these pictures - 

The Estes Semi-scale Saturn V is on the left, the Dr. Zooch Saturn V is on the right.

The Estes model weighs 2 ozs.

The Dr. Zooch Saturn weights 2.4 ozs., there is 1/2 oz. preinstalled n the nose section.

Both are about the same height,

The Estes Saturn has the clear fins that extend below the body.

The Dr. Zooch Saturn has cardstock engine bells that extend below the body. The Dr. Zooch model launches with the engine bells in place.

The upper sections - Zooch Saturn on the left, Estes Saturn on the right. The Dr. Zooch nose section has 1/2 oz. of nose weight inside.

The adapter section.

All the Zooch wraps are more detailed and printed in a darker black.

The mid section wraps:

The Estes Saturn V has eight ullage motors,

The Zooch Saturn has four. The later Saturn Vs had half the number of ullage motors.

The Estes kit really needs the UNITED STATES, USA and flag decals.

More in the next post . . .

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Finished

The low points:

I screwed up the black mask on the long tunnels. 

The clear fins didn't fit the fairings. 

The #1 wrap was short!

Lifting a mask tore a small area of a wrap. 

The high points:

It's a challenge to build an older kit.

I was happy with the finished look of all the tunnels.

The nose cone came out well - the folded tower and skirt fit!

Mentioned earlier - This was probably the first time Thru-the-wall fins were used in a kit!

The tunnels and ullage motors - 

The adapter and wraps.

The upper body/nose cone.

Strange Estes didn't include a service module wrap.

What else was missing?

DECALS!!!

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 31, Loose Ends & Edges

The original kit screw was small and tarnished with age.

I switched out a new, larger one.

The instructions have you glue the long launch lug 1/4" to the right of the lower white/black mask below. 

There is a problem - 

At 1/4" spacing, it puts the lug over the side of the fin fairing.

Look close at the left side picture, you'll see two pencil lines. I glued the lug at the 3/16" spacing. 

I scraped paint away down the lug glue line. I didn't apply a glue fillet down the sides of the lug.

Here you can see the lug clearance. If it were set at 1/4" the launch rod would be rubbing against the conical fairing.

You also must clear the feed line and ullage motor tunnels above.

Estes Semi-Scale Saturn V, Kit #K-39, Part 30, The Paper Fin Overlays

The original kit fin stickers had faded and weren't usable.

I re-drew them in Corel Draw.

These were printed on peel and stick paper.

Simply cut out and stick on one side of the clear fins.

Set them in place held on the tip of your knife.

The root edge side of the stickers extended beyond the clear fin gap.

I lucked out - the gray I picked printed up a close match to the silver paint.

Another frustration - 

One of the four clear fins already broke out of the cut slot! I'll re-glue it.

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!