Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 21, Parachute

The edges on the eight sided 32" plastic sheet parachute (picnic tablecloth material) were roughly cut. No chute assembly instructions were provided.

The material seemed very thin. I'll assemble the kit parachute but will probably use two 18" Odd'l Rockets parachutes (side by side) on the finished model.

I had to clean up most all the edges.

TRIVIA: Some rulers have a cork backing to raise the edge. If you were drawing lines with an India ink Radipograph pen, the slightly raised ruler prevents the ink from running under the edge.

TIP: When cutting a thin plastic sheet, turn over the ruler with the cork side up. Press down fairly hard on the ruler when cutting. With the edge touching the sheet, the thin plastic won't flex. You won't end up with a jagged cut edge.

TIP: Sometimes tablecloth material has a textured side and the other side is smooth. When you can, stick the tape disks on the smooth side of the sheet.

This sheet was textured on both sides. There were enough tape disks to apply a disk on both sides. These are clear plastic disks, hard to see on the backing paper.
After you stick a disk on one side, flip over the sheet. Press on the disk again and you should be able to see it to position the second disk.

Ugh! Has this ever happened to you?
This took twenty minutes to untangle.

I'm very careful when unraveling a long, one piece shroud line. This was a long single string, twice what was needed to assemble the parachute. What a pain!

Build time this post: 1 hour, 00 minutes
Total build time so far: 24 hours, 10 minutes

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 20, Antennas Paint

After all the prep and paint -
The laser cut box lines were longer than all the antenna pieces!
These low end lines will be visible.







I had to go back and and fill the low end. Damn.
CWF, paint, sand and a last shot of white.







The yellow antennas were set next to the top of the peeled slots.
The new back end length was scored with a knife.






The scored box was peeled up and lifted out.
This leaves a slight recess for the antenna root edge to glue into. It's a stronger bond over a flat glued surface.



Here's the finished antenna assembly.
I still have to add a small (clear) white glue fillet to clean up the edges.
As it turns out, the width of the laser line box was a little wider than the yellow antennas.

Build time this post: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Total build time so far: 23 hours, 10 minutes

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 19, Antennas Prep

To avoid confusion, I suggested joining the two antenna base sides suing a strip of paper on the back.
Well, I got one wrong! The first base on the left is incorrect. The right side should be longer like the others. I went back, peeled off the paper strip and joined them correctly.

Small pieces are to be glued on the laser cut marks on the bases. These will end up being yellow so the dark laser burns should be cleaned off.
On the left is the piece right off the master sheet. On the right is the piece after sanding with 400 grit on a block.

All the edges (except for the long root gluing edge) and flat side faces got a wipe of medium CA glue.

You'll probably have to hold the antennas with tweezers to wipe on the CA glue. The parts are very small.
Smooth sand with 400 grit.

The laser cut positioning lines look like they are deeper on the small sides. I went back with my knife and cut the lines a bit deeper.

TIP: After the bases are painted white (and the small antennas painted yellow) the center strips will be peeled leaving a very shallow trough to glue the yellow antennas in. This is not something the instructions say to do, but I'm painting before gluing and wanted a stronger bond.

You could glue everything up and paint the yellow antennas afterwards. You'll get a cleaner color separation gluing up the separate color pieces afterward painting.

Build time this post: 1 hour, 0 minutes
Total build time so far: 21 hours, 40 minutes

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 18, Antennas Prep

While the paint on the capsule and tower dry - 
The antenna parts are laser cut on thick fiber board.
There were some antenna pieces not on the master sheet. They weren't found in the bag, I thought they were missing. There were more parts on a smaller piece of fiber board.

Each antenna base is made up of two side by side long rectangle pieces. I wish the centers weren't cut all the way through. After the sides are removed from the master sheet you have two separate pieces.
TIP: Trust me - Mark the backs. It is confusing to get the right pieces together again.

The antenna bases got a wipe of medium CA glue.
Just the side edges were treated. The flat faces should be smooth enough after a shot of gloss white and sanding.









The CA'd sides were polish sanded with 400 grit on a block.



TIP: To keep the pieces together a piece of 20 lb. copy paper to the backs. A glue stick was used to attach the strip of paper.

On the left is the front, notice the laser cut lines for the antenna pieces. The picture on the right shows the back glued paper strip.

Build time this post: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Total build time so far: 20 hours, 40 minutes

Coming Soon - Estes Saturn V, Kit #1969

Now on the Estes "Coming Soon page - CLICK HERE

"Once again, Estes has brought back the famous Saturn V! This famed rocket was the first vehicle to send man to the moon and is one of the finest 1:100th scale models kits ever produced. Scaled from official NASA drawings, the finished model is 43.25 inches tall and lifts off to about 350 feet on a E30-4 composite motor.

We have updated every plastic part in this kit and you won't be disappointed! Accurate Apollo II body wraps, detailed blow molded transition, easier to assemble escape tower, injection molded fins and highly detailed removable display nozzles that doubles as a stand.

FOR A LIMITED TIME, WHILE WE CELEBRATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SENDING MAN TO THE MOON, WE'VE INCLUDED A "BONUS!"

Estes is no longer recommending the D12 for this model. The E12-4 and E30-4 are now the engine suggestions.

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 17, Seam Filling

I know I'm not finished with the capsule and tower, but to work around paint dry times I'll probably have to jump around a bit.

The large diameter tubes had some rough edges. It's understandable, big thin tubes are hard to cut. A few passes with a sanding block easily cleaned up the edges.

Filling all the tube seams wasn't going to be fun, but it is necessary.

The seams were traced with a pencil line so they were easier to see.
A knife blade tip is dipped in thinned CWF and one side is wiped off on the jar.
The remaining CWF is dragged back and forth in the pencil line seam. The knife edge guides the filler into the seam. Don't cut into the tube, just drag the blade and place the filler in the seam.
I no longer scrape down the excess filler, the raised bead is sanded to surface after it dries.

That's a LOT of tube seams to fill!

Build time this post: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Total build time so far: 19 hours, 25 minutes

Semroc Saturn 1B, Build, OOP #KS-1, Part 16, Escape Tower Decals

I never understood how Estes expected anybody to draw these lines and details on the escape motor assembly. Both Estes and Semroc Apollo Capsule instructions suggest this trim. I have plenty of experience using Rapidograph pens and don't know how to pull this off. Straight lines around curved surfaces are very difficult.

Here's a screen grab of the decals I drew up for the trim lines.

If you would like a copy of the decals to print your own, Patreon members can email me at:
oddlrockets@bellsouth.net
and request the Saturn 1B Escape Tower Decals.
I'll send it right out!

The decals take up 1/2 sheet, there are extras so you can practice the soak times and transfers.

The decal sheet got three coats of Krylon UV Clear.

Here's how to cut the decal to prevent tearing. The inside corners are rounded. The top is cut out so it won't overlap the nose cone tip.
For an easier transfer I cut off the lower wrap for a second application.



The top and lines below the pitch control motor (upper circle) is applied first.
The lower section with the jettison motor (oval) and lines are applied second. EDIT: Add a second jettison motor (oval) to the opposite side. Cut it from one of the extras on the decal sheet.
The long vertical lines decal goes on last.

This is one of those rare home print decals that really worked well.
I did have to make some adjustments and fixed the decal PDF.

Build time this post: 2 hour, 00 minutes
Total build time so far: 17 hours, 55 minutes