Model Rocket Building Blog
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 2 Engine MountI don't like how far the finger tabs extend beyond the back end of the model. I first saw this tip on TRF, I believe Doug Sams posted about it. TIP: Cut off the finger tab as shown. You might find it easier to use a Dremel and a cut off wheel. Flip the hook over - This rounded end goes ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 3 Engine Mount KevlarHere's the engine mount finished - up to now. I was surprised to see the instructions telling you to slide the rings in place, up to the pencil lines. (Both rings are set 1/2" from each end.) THEN add glue fillets. That's really the best way to glue centering rings. This way you are taking no ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 4 5055 Centering RingsOne side of each of the 5055 centering rings will be exposed. You'll save yourself a lot a sanding and filling problems now - if your sand them smooth now before gluing. Look close at the picture. Nearest the side of the sanding block you can see the right side of the ring edge is smooth and ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 5 5055 Centering RingsThe instructions direct you to glue the 5055 rings onto the body tube then glue the BT-55 tube over the top. I'd recommend gluing the rings inside the BT-55 and sanding the rings flush and even with the BT-55 first. Then - glue to this assembly to the BT-50 tube. If you glued the 5055 rings to ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 6 Nose ConeTIP: To insure your nose cone base fits well against the top of the BT-50 tube, sand the base flat before gluing in the shoulder. The edge of the molded base is usually a little rounded. Sand flat on 220 grit on a block. The nose cone base has a short interior gluing ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 7 Nose ConeSorry, no posts tomorrow. I'll be in transit going back to Orlando from a cruise. The nose cone base was slightly wider than the BT-50 tube diameter. It was sanded down while in a scrap piece of BT-50. You can see the slight molding recess in the plastic near the base of the nose ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 8 Filling Tube and Lug SeamsI've noticed that the narrower the body tube seams is, the CWF stays in better when sanding. I have the best luck using a slightly thicker mixture of CWF on the body tube seams. When it's thicker, the glues aren't watered down as much and the filler seems to stay in the seams. I've ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 9 Balsa Fin FillingOn the forums, some have asked what Carpenter's Wood Filler looks like when it's dry. It is "grainy" and shows the brush strokes. This rough surface is a good guage to tell if the surface is smooth after sanding. The top fin shows the brushed and dried CWF. The lower fin shows ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 10 Fin PrimingIn this picture, the CWF has already been sanded down with 400 grit on a block. All the flat surfaces and edges were sanded flat. Here I'm just "kissing off" the rough corners of the leading and trailing edges at a 45 degree angle. Sometimes the squared edges will be rough, that will ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 12 Fin Fillet TIPA line of Titebeond Molding and Trim Glue was used for the inside fillets. Lonnie Buchanon gave me this tip: TIP: Be sure your fingernails are trimmed close when you smooth a fillet in a tight corner. A long fingernail can easily scar the balsa when trying to smooth out a fillet like ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 11 Fin GluingWhile the instructions don't get into any detail about gluing the outside fins - Alignment of the top of the "T" fins should be straight and centered. The masked strip is your gluing surface for the outside fins. Find the center again and draw a pencil line over the top of the leading and ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 13 BT-55 Section GluingIn the next few posts I'll refer to the lower body tube assembly (BT-55 and 50/55 Centering Rings) as the BT-55 section. The BT-55 section will slide over the lower BT-50 body tube from the rear. You don't want the centering rings to catch and roll over the edges of the BT-50 body tube. ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 14 BT-55 Section GluingWith the BT-55 section in place, slide it to 3/8" from the end and mark with a pencil. Slide the BT055 section away from the pencil line you just drew. Run an even line of glue forward of the pencil line. Slide the BT-55 section over the glue and down to the 3/8" pencil line. TIP: ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 15 CouplerThe two BT-50 body tube sections are joined with a 1" long coupler. I thought this coupler was a little too short. A 2" long coupler was made out of some scrap BT-50 tubing. That blue piece was cut from a thin Estes engine mount tube. It made a good gluing tab. The ends will be trimmed and ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 16 Fin GluingThe fins are glued 3/8" from the front and rear of the BT-55 section. A straight strip of masking tape was set down at the 3/8" mark for position of the front leading edges. The front and rear of the fin root edge was used to mark the gluing surface on the BT-55 section. This area ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 18 White UndercoatThis is the nearly complete Solar Explorer after the first coat of Rustoleum gloss white. This is a great looking - LONG - BT-50 based model. As with most of my models, the entire model gets a white undercoat. If you were to simply spray the final color over the gray primer and brown body tube, ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 17 Fin And Lug GluingThe instructions have you glue the two short lugs centered between two fins. They are glued 1/4" from the top and bottom of the BT-55 section. I don't see any reason for this, I'd rather have them down a fin root edge. This probably should have been a single longer lug instead of two smaller ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 19 White Coat SandLook at your first white coats under a strong light from all angles. Any specs of paint or glue blobs should be sanded down now before any more paint coats. Under the lower 50/55 ring was some glue blobs. Sand these down with 400 grit. Near the lower fin root edge is another rais ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 20 White Coat TroubleThe humidity has dropped in Florida! I was looking forward to the cool weather and faster paint drying times. I had done two light coats of the Rustoleum 2X gloss white. I was following up with my standard heavier final gloss coat. The model was set up for drying. When I returned to check ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 21 Stick On Decals!I hate stick on decals! It would have been easier to scan and print out a set of water transfer decals, but I went with the stickers supplied with the kit. These were very well laid out on the sheet. All the images were in line with each other which cut down on the amount of ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 22 Decals BandsThe decal bands were a little bit of a problem. I tried to set the lower red band against the joint of the 50/55 tube. The fillet got in the way! The end of the band wouldn't close evenly. The decal was carefully lifted and positioned a little higher, away from the fillet. When wrapped ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 23 Sticker DecalsThose wrap around bands were set down first for a reason. You'll be setting the Solar Explorer name stickers centered between them. Mark the centers of the name decals before taking them off the backing sheet. A pencil won't transfer onto the slick decal surface, but mark a crease in the plastic. ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 24 Sticker DecalsLook close and you can see the center pencil marks. The upcoming numbered strips are being fitted into some concave joints. These are the tough ones to place, I saved them for last after getting some practice in on the easier stickers. My knife blade tip is set right under the center mark ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 25 Sharpening the MaskThere was a little bit of white along the body tube edge at the top of the sticker. When the two tubes were coupled together, you could a bit of the white and the color separation wasn't as sharp as I would have liked. The body tube edge was blackened in with a Sharpie marker. This ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer Build Part 26 Loose EndsThe shock cord seemed a little short for me, they usually are. Rather than cut a new piece of elastic, I simply tied on another scrap piece. A square knot was tied and with about 3/8" of loose tail on either side. Don't pull it tight yet! I attach the snap swivel through the back ...[Read More]
Custom Solar Explorer FinishedThis is a great looking model at a great price. All was great except for the short coupler and stick on decals. This should be a good flyer for the soccer field launches. Lessons learned: Be careful when spray the inside fin areas. Don't spray too much! Let the inside surfaces ...[Read More]
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