With the engine mount glued up, it still won't slide through.
On the right, I've marked the top (outside) that needs to be tapered. The (bottom) inside surface also needs tapering, a mirror of the upper taper but inside.
Inside view: Here's the better fit of the centering ring.
I finally got the lug to slide in but for the best fit the centering ring might need some contouring.
In the left side picture, there are three pencil boxes marked with pencil. I made the marks wide so it would be easier to see in this blog pic.
The centering ring is making good contact against the inside body wall at the pencil marks. The ring sides were sanded where the contact points were.
With the high spots sanded down, wider areas of the centering ring made better contact with the inside walls of the plastic shroud.
The picture on the right shows the final upper taper to fit the angled lug. The pencil arc shows the outside taper. There is a "mirrored" taper arc inside the shroud on the low end of the hole.
Outside view: The lug slide is clean and straight with no tension or distortion.
Years back I built a Mars Lander kit. It was never flown because the long (through the body) launch lug was crooked. The finished model wouldn't slide down a launch rod.
Be sure this lug is straight and won't bind when slid down a rod.
Initial impression someone might get (when not thinking too hard):
ReplyDelete"The 'lifting body' is a pre-formed plastic part -- you don't have to form it from cardboard. How hard could it be? Shouldn't this be a skill-level 1 kit?"
Your build log reveals many of the "oh dear, I hadn't thought of that" items, and explains why it's rated level 3.
Hi Naoto,
DeleteIt's not an easy build - Cutting through all the plastic, especially the launch lug hole takes a while. To me, it should be a Skill Level 4.
Some of the challenges that this kit presents reminds me of the types of challenges one might expect with building garage kits (i.e. model kit produced by fans at home in small quantities). Not unusual to do a fair amount of test fit, cut/sand, test fit again, adjust, and repeat this several cycles.
ReplyDeleteThis model definitely doesn't fall in the "shake-n'-bake" category (i.e. relative easy assembly, with parts often appear to self-align - almost as if you could take the parts, throw 'em into a box and shake, and out pops the assembled model).