Estes Saturn V Build Part 33 Glue Fairings and Fix

In step 12, you are to apply a reinforcing coating of liquid cement to the fin joints.

I was apprehensive about this, thinking it would leave melted plastic and glue trails.

It didn't! I would just recommend going light with the glue until you get a feel for how it flows from the cement bottle brush.

After brushing on the cement, everything was taped down to hold the joints.

After all that previous trimming and sanding, I really thought there would be a better fit on the back end! The flat plate (rear of the fairings) that butts up against the body tube end was warped from the pressure of the fairing side joints. While the four were close to being flush with the tube end, the plastic was too thin to give a gluing surface.

To get the flat ends flat, I had to cut a "relief" down and through the center of the fairing back. This flattened out the warped backs.

Still, there is no way to glue these two sides together.

Simple solution - cover them up!

I cut cardstock half disks and rubber cemented them to the backs of the fairings.

These were cut taller than needed and the inside edge was trimmed after gluing.

This actually worked better than I'd hoped. It covered up the back end and strengthened an otherwise weak point.
Who'll know the difference? - you and me!

Time spent on build: 1:00 Glue Fairings
Total time on build so far: 32:45