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Monday, December 14, 2020

Estes Saturn 1B, #7251 Build, Part 17, Fill Anchor Slot & Prep RCS Nozzles


The wire anchor slot needed a shot of filler/primer and smooth sanding.

This tube had already been filled with CWF and shot with filler/primer. This was the final fill.

I did mask around the anchor area.







Here's the finished Service Module after spraying with silver paint.
TIP: Leave the RCS nozzles on the trees for easier filling and painting. This one on the left was broken off the tree.

In the center of the RCS nozzle is a molding dent. I squeezed a drop of medium CA on scrap cardboard. A toothpick picked up some of the glue. This small drop of CA is placed in the circle dent. 
It may take a few drop and dries to fill this dent. 
Sand the hardened CA to surface.

The RCS nozzles are sprayed white while still on the plastic trees.
Let dry, then brush paint the nozzles flat black. 

When the paint dries, cut the nozzles off the trees. Sand off any plastic flash. Paint the exposed white plastic on the ends of the black nozzles.

Build time:
Fill & Paint Anchor Wire Area: 20 minutes
Prep RCS nozzles & Paint: 40 minutes
Total build time so far: 10 hours, 55 minutes

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8 comments:

  1. rraefordDecember 14, 2020 at 5:01 PM

    Not to complain, mind you, but why can’t they give us a wrap for the service module? Never have understood that. Seems like it wouldn’t add too much expense and makes the finished model look so much better. My opinion only.

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    Replies
    1. Chris MichielssenDecember 14, 2020 at 6:50 PM

      Hi Rraeford,
      I agree, it would add a lot. It seems like Estes has gone with the solid silver since the original 1/70 scale version.

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    2. rraefordDecember 15, 2020 at 7:55 AM

      Sounds like a good opportunity for the aftermarket to step in. Anyone?

      Delete
    3. Naoto KimuraDecember 15, 2020 at 3:31 PM

      Perhaps there was some worry that due to the orientation of the ridges, there might be some problems getting them wrapped around the SM body (i.e. the ridges would need to be wrapped around the body -- the ridges would probably cause the wrap to want to "straighten out" -- thus causing the ends to constantly "pop off").
      An alternative to an embossed wrap might be to use a wraparound sticker or decal with the ridges being depicted in print (i.e. shading to suggest the presence of the ridges).

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    4. Naoto KimuraDecember 15, 2020 at 3:42 PM

      The shading effect I'm referring to is similar to what is used on the computer screen where different colours are used to represent "lit" and "shadow" areas to give the illusion of "raised" and "recessed" areas on the screen (with the imagined light source oriented to the upper left).

      Delete
    5. Naoto KimuraDecember 15, 2020 at 3:56 PM

      On the aside... have you tried Google with the keywords "ribbon curling science"?

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    6. Chris MichielssenDecember 17, 2020 at 11:20 AM

      Hi Rraeford and Naoto,
      Here's a starting point, from the Semroc 1/70 scale build. I re-drew the Service Module details from the first Peter Alway book. https://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/2018/12/semroc-saturn-1b-build-oop-ks-1-part-43.html
      Some lines and shading could be added, like the corrugation on the Dr. Zooch Saturn kits.
      I know on the Semroc Mars Lander, much of the raised embossed lines can smooth our and disappear when wrapped around the body tube.
      The Apogee Saturn V and Saturn 1B have raised details on their wraps that are subtle, but still visible when wrapped on the body.

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    7. Chris MichielssenDecember 17, 2020 at 11:24 AM

      Hi Naoto,
      I looked at a "Ribbon Curling Science" link - pretty interesting. It might be the same idea I use when forming cardstock shrouds: https://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/2019/05/estes-saturn-v-1969-build-part-9-third.html

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