Estes Colonial Viper #1310, Part 9, Tube Prepping

 I mentioned earlier how there wasn't much difference in the diameter of the BT-50 and BT-52 tubes. 

In the right side picture, the BT-50 H slides right into the BT-52.

I ordered the BT-52 tube from Balsa Machining Service. Instead of shipping in a long box (the tubes are 24" long!) I told Bill he could cut the tube into smaller segments, send in a smaller box and save on shipping costs. Bill asked if he could rough cut the tube using a band saw. I said: "Sure!"

It was very easy to sand the ends clean and even with some 220 grit on a block. 

The inside of the three outside tubes can be seen on the finished model. On the left, some CWF has been rubbed into the interior seams with a fingertip to keep the fill light and close to the interior wall. You only have to fill about 1" in from the ends.

On the right, the interior filler is sanded down with 400 grit wrapped around an engine casing.

Here's the filled tube - 

You can see the CWF filler in the interior seam.

After that, the interior lip and edge got a wipe of CA on a Q-tip. Light sanding with 400 grit smoothed it out.