Semroc Micro Mars Lander, KMX-02, Part 8, Leg Support Gluing

I used the alignment tool to mark the fin locations.

The support housings were glued on using the alignment tool to check the spacing.

On most models I plan ahead for masking and painting. The main body and these support housings are gloss white. The legs are orange or red. Spray them separately and glue the legs in after spray painting. No masking needed!

The engine mount is glued in using the spacing tool to set the upper centering ring depth. The bottom ring also got a glue fillet.





The body wrap pieces were cut off the card stock print piece.

TIP: Use the square corner of a single edge razor blade to press and cut the inside corners sharp and square.

I did a slight pre-curving of the body wrap pieces before the glue was added.

The pieces are a little wide, these were trimmed off down the center line of the support housing.

What's Coming Up?

In the works for the blog:

Estes Colonial Viper (With new, clean decal draw) 

Estes Laser Lance

Fliskits (little) Saturn 1B (I might be regretting this one - )

BT-55 Body Wrap Decals PDF

In the next few months - 

If Estes has me build their new, 1/100 Saturn 1B

a build book should be available for Patreon members.

New BT-50 Sized DECALS for Patreon Supporters!

More decals for Patreon supporters, 
This time to fit a standard BT-50 tube -
Just what you might need to dress up a sport model.

As mentioned earlier - 
Home print decals won't print as dark as a traditional silk screened decal.
NOTE: (Under Printer Preferences) Set your printer to "Card Stock Heavy" and "Photo Paper Printing" for best results.

To get to a full "black" (over a white base) you can double up the decal by using two printed layers.
1. Set one down around the body tube and let dry.
2. Soak the second decal and wet the decal already on the rocket body.
3. Set the second decal down over the first.

The smaller spot art decals - hatches, UNITED STATES, USA and EXPERIMENTAL are smaller and shouldn't need a second layer.

Single layer black decals will work great over colors darker than white - even yellow.

If you would like a PDF of the decal sheet to print at home,
email me at: oddlrockets@bellsouth.net and ask for the BT-50 Decal Sheet.

Semroc Micro Mars Lander, KMX-02, Part 7, Support Housing Assemblies

In the kit instructions-
The lander legs are glued on the body tube, then the triangular pieces are glue around the upper leg.
I thought the leg supports would be easier to smooth out off the model, especially the joint seams at the open slot top.
Glue the small center piece on one side of the larger side supports. Follow with the side support on the other side.






The tops and bottoms were sanded smooth on some 400 grit.

Here's a dry test fit of a lander leg in the support housing.








With the new, even sanded tops on the support housings I had to give them another shot of filler/primer and smooth sanding.

Navigating The SEARCH Function

How you ever been frustrated using the SEARCH function on the Blog?

I'm often asked for construction information in emails.
It's fairly easy for me to find things - BUT- The blog has evolved over the past 11 years and 6,500 posts.

When I first started out, I'd simply type the kit name in the label box. The problem is, different manufacturers use the same kit name on different rockets sizes and designs!
Let's say you were looking for the Semroc V2.

After the first year of blogging I started adding initial before the kit name.
FK = Fliskits, S = Semroc, C = Centuri, S = Sirius and so on.

"S" is for Semroc so a search of "S V2" should bring up just that kit.
You might also get some V2 launch reports along with the build steps.

You will have to scroll down and find a build step for the model variant you want to build.
At the bottom of every build step is the LABEL listings.
Click on the S V2 label, shown in the picture (on the right) with the red box. That should bring up just the Semroc V2 build.

The build will be in reverse order - from finish to start.
It's a blog - I wish there was a function to reverse the build order!
Searching this way isn't perfect, but the extra step at the bottom in the LABELs could narrow your search.

Semroc Micro Mars Lander, KMX-02, Part 6, Engine Mount Assembly

With the nozzle and base disk glued even with the bottom of the motor mount tube, the lower centering ring follows. The lower ring is the one without a hole for the Kevlar line.

The upper ring got a line of glue for a tighter fit on the motor mount tube. After the inside glue ring dried I had a good friction fit.

The Kevlar line is tied around the motor mount tube with the loose end through the hole in the upper ring.

On the leg alignment card stock is a depth gauge for the upper centering ring.
Set it over the top, slide up the ring and glue on the tube. Turn the depth gauge to be sure the ring is even from all sides.







Here's the finished engine mount ready to be glued into the main air frame tube.

Semroc Micro Mars Lander, KMX-02, Part 5, Base Disk Shaping

The base disk has a light line laser cut around the outside to mark the inside of the edge taper.

I sanded the side by holding the piece at an angle and turning against a sanding block.

Here's the shaped piece ready for filling.
Both the formed nozzle and base disk got a coat of CWF and sanding.




On the left:
The shaped pieces are ready for a shot of filler/primer.

On the right:
The pieces after sanding smooth with 400 grit.