Brief:
T' Apogee Saturn V is a 1/70th scale model o' t' magnificent NASA Saturn V moon rocket. A companion kit t' t' Apogee Saturn 1B, me bucko, this is a large rocket standin' over 62 inches tall and 5.6 inches in diameter. Begad! T' large size and high level o' detailin' make this an impressive rocket. I've built two Apogee Saturn V’s - one a ‘flyer’, arrr, t' other a display model which is destined for t' "Man in Space" exhibit at t' Seattle Museum o' Flight. Avast! This review reflects t' combined experiences from buildin' both Apogee Saturn V models.

Construction:
T' Saturn V kit can be ordered directly from t' Apogee web site (or if you prefer, by phone, me hearties, fax, arrr, or snail mail). Ahoy! Blimey! All parts were present and accounted for when me kits arrived, arrr, me hearties, however, arrr, on t' first kit t' shipper apparently got t' box wet and some o' t' parts suffered water damage. Apogee owner Tim Van Milligan was very helpful in obtainin' replacements for t' water damaged parts.

This is a complex kit and t' parts list reflects that. Arrr! In addition t' t' huge main body tube (35.4" long x 5.6" diameter), thar are three other body tubes, ya bilge rat, four coupler tubes, shiver me timbers, 8 sheets o' vacu-form parts, me hearties, two die cut balsa sheets, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, 3 balsa half-round dowels, me bucko, several sheets o' printed or embossed wraps, me hearties, a plastic Apollo capsule kit, arrr, a bag o' cast resin fins and detail parts, ya bilge rat, another bag o' five injection molded plastic F1 engine display nozzles, two nylon parachutes, me hearties, 2 Keelhaul®©™® shock cords, ya bilge rat, clay nose weight, a decal sheet, some miscellaneous parts, and a CD-ROM o' instructions.

As noted, t' instructions are contained on a CD-ROM, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, in PDF format. You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader (to open t' instructions file) and QuickTime (to view t' video instructions). Avast! If you don't already have Acrobat and/or QuickTime, matey, download instructions are included on t' CD.

T' video instructions are very good and informative but have some faults. First, arrr, they are somewhat time consuming--there are four hours o' t' video instructions and they can be occasionally tedious. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! This was definitely t' case while buildin' t' second Saturn. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Since I'd already built one, shiver me timbers, I basically knew how t' kit went together--I just needed a quick reminder o' t' details and sittin' through t' entire videos got old fast. Further, it can be difficult t' find a specific step in t' instructions (e.g. t' double check something) so an index would be helpful. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It would also be nice if in t' step where you add t' nose ballast, arrr, it told you where t' flight prepped CG should be, as it is you need t' go t' t' (included) RockSim simulation t' find t' CG and CP data (this may have contributed t' t' CG problem I experienced). Blimey! Blimey! I found that at least on me computers, t' video instructions ran somewhat better if I downloaded t' entire folder onto t' computer (rather than runnin' it directly from t' CD). Begad! Blimey! I also ended up just puttin' me old laptop next t' t' workbench so that t' instructions were available in 'real time'. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! On t' plus side, this rocket is a complex, ya bilge rat, difficult, time consumin' build, and t' nicely detailed video instructions greatly improve t' odds that you'll get it right. Also, although I'm an experienced model builder, me hearties, arrr, I did learn some useful new tricks and techniques from t' video instructions.

Another unusual aspect o' t' kit is that you need t' 'make' t' tube couplers. Although all t' tubes are pre-cut t' t' correct length, t' coupler tubes are t' same diameter as t' tubes they are intended t' fit inside. It is necessary t' cut and re-glue t' tube couplers t' get them t' t' proper slip-fit diameter. There are nicely detailed video instructions o' this process, and it worked out quite nicely. Although havin' t' make couplers may seem strange in a kit that retails for $225, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, matey, most o' t' tubes used in this kit were custom manufactured t' get t' correct scale diameter. Blimey! Bein' able t' reduce t' number o' custom diameters needed helped Apogee keep t' relatively low volume Saturn kits affordable.

T' rocket is built as three major sections: t' main 1st stage/2nd stage 'booster' section, me hearties, t' S-IVB 3rd stage (which includes t' 2nd-3rd stage transition section), shiver me timbers, and t' LEM Transition/Service Module with t' Apollo Capsule. Most o' t' construction is fairly basic and straight forward, arrr, with t' notable exception o' those notorious vacu-form wraps. Due t' t' problems many people experience tryin' t' use t' thin CA technique for attachin' t' wraps, me hearties, ya bilge rat, Apogee created instructions for usin' double sided tape t' attach t' wraps (some early instruction CDs lack these instructions, if necessary you can find them at http://www.apogeerockets.com/education/newsletter71.asp). Aye aye! Begad! I figured I'm an experienced model builder and I could make t' CA work. Blimey! Ahoy! Wrong, shiver me timbers, at least on me first try. Ahoy! Where t' wrap was simple and straight (such as t' first stage Inter-tank wrap or t' third stage wraps), t' thin CA technique worked reasonably well. Blimey! Aye aye! However, where t' wrap had multiple protrusions along t' edges (the first stage thrust structure wrap and interstage wrap), me bucko, ya bilge rat, it be an entirely different story. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' protrusions simply don't want t' adhere t' t' body tube. Avast! If you get a bit too much CA on t' protrusion and then try t' use your finger t' hold it t' t' body tube, shiver me timbers, you'll glue your finger t' t' wrap (I found it quite interestin' how much better CA seemed t' adhere t' me finger than t' t' body tube). On me first Saturn, I managed t' do an OK job on t' thrust structure wrap, me hearties, arrr, but I seriously botched t' interstage wrap t' t' point thar be no way I was goin' t' get it right. Aye aye! I be so disgusted that t' nearly completed Saturn V sat on t' corner o' me workbench for 3 months before I finally decided t' rip off t' interstage wrap, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, order a replacement wrap from Apogee, and try again. Ahoy! T' replacement wrap went on much better and all be well with world until I started painting. In t' course o' primin' and sanding, me hearties, I accidentally crushed one o' t' interstage wrap ullage motors. As this is rather easy t' do, ya bilge rat, t' instructions include a step on how t' repair this type o' damage usin' epoxy clay. T' repair technique worked well until I sprayed t' next coat o' primer. Ya scallywag! Apparently I did nay seal well around t' repair and when t' primer seeped underneath, it caused a large section o' t' wrap t' melt. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! (Expletive deleted!) So I ordered another interstage wrap. This time I filled t' ullage motor and external H2 line details with epoxy clay before attachin' t' wrap. At least with me previous practice this wrap went on relatively easily, matey, allowin' me t' finally finish t' model.

Apogee uses very thin plastic for t' vacu-form wraps. Ya scallywag! This be done t' help preserve a high level o' detail on t' wraps, shiver me timbers, me hearties, arrr, but I think they may have overdone it. Ahoy! It is characteristic o' vacu-forms that t' plastic gets thinner when formed, especially around large details, matey, and t' resultant wraps can be extremely fragile (I literally had one wrap crack when I picked it up). Begad! Fillin' t' large details with epoxy clay be a big help -- I recommend this step (it doesn't add much weight) - but thar be a large amount o' handlin' involved in buildin' and paintin' this model, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and even after fillin' t' large wrap details with epoxy clay I still had problems with t' interstage wrap splittin' and tearin' around t' large details. Well, blow me down! Personally, I'd trade a little loss in surface detail for t' increased durability and strength o' a thicker plastic wrap.

Here are a few tips if you choose t' use t' thin CA method: instead o' your finger, ya bilge rat, use a small steel ruler (or somethin' similar) t' hold down t' wrap protrusions while applyin' t' CA--the steel is far less apt t' end up glued t' t' wrap (and if it does, ya bilge rat, me hearties, it’s much easier and less painful t' remove). Ya scallywag! When applyin' t' CA, arrr, me hearties, if a wrap protrusion doesn't adhere, arrr, arrr, don't keep applyin' more CA (it’s likely you already have too much). Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Use a piece o' maskin' tape t' tape t' wrap protrusion down, and leave it alone t' allow t' CA t' cure. Carefully remove t' maskin' tape after 15 minutes or so -- usually t' protrusion will be glued down. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! If nay then try t' CA again. Begad! Tim Van Milligan recently informed me that thar be a new type o' CA glue available that is specifically formulated for use on plastics and won't melt t' wraps. Avast! I haven't been able t' find t' stuff yet, arrr, but if you can it is probably worth a try.

Finishing:
Paintin' and finishin' o' t' Saturn V is also challenging. Avast, me proud beauty! T' video instructions have all t' right steps and procedures for gettin' a good paint job, along with a multitude o' detailed drawings and pictures showin' t' paint scheme and decal placement. But t' bottom line is that this is a large rocket with a complex paint scheme, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and gettin' it right takes lots o' time, shiver me timbers, patience, shiver me timbers, skill, me bucko, and perhaps a little luck. Arrr! As I noted earlier, arrr, me hearties, finishin' tasks such as fillin' t' body tube seams, matey, priming, sanding, ya bilge rat, and maskin' off t' roll patterns take a lot o' handlin' o' t' rocket, and it is agonizingly easy t' damage t' wraps durin' all o' this handling. Begad! T' only defense is t' use extraordinary care and maybe a soft towel or blanket t' set t' rocket on while workin' on it. On t' plus side, me hearties, t' fins are removable (they are a simple friction fit into t' fin-fairing) which simplifies t' paintin' o' t' fins and fin-fairings. Blimey! T' kit includes decals for all t' various Apollo/Saturn V flights. T' water slide decals are very nice, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and were easy t' apply without tearing. Ya scallywag! A few finishin' tips: Fine steel wool works better than sandpaper when finishin' t' corrugated wraps, me bucko, and be sure t' apply several coats o' primer t' t' cast resin parts (e.g. t' fins) t' seal t' resin and provide a proper paint surface before t' color coat. Avast, me proud beauty! Oh, and don't use Rustoleum primer on t' wraps. Aye aye! Rustoleum is a fine primer, arrr, but t' stuff hates plastic--I've actually had it melt a plastic nose cone. Begad! Arrr! Those thin plastic wraps wouldn't stand a chance.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
While t' kit does nay include a list o' recommended motors, such a list would be real short--Tim Van Milligan recommends t' AeroTech G80-4T. Begad! However, shiver me timbers, as o' this writing, me hearties, shiver me timbers, G80-4T motors are in very short supply so I tried some alternatives usin' RockSim (if you don't already have RockSim, t' instructions CD includes a demo version which is good enough for evaluatin' various engine options for t' Saturn V). Ya scallywag! Realistically, ya bilge rat, t' only other "standard" rocket motor that was suitable was a G64-4W RMS, and even that required an extended launch rod. This rocket is heavy, almost into high power territory. Apogee quotes 39 ounces (w/o engine), me flyer came in at 42 ounces, almost exactly 3 lbs flight prepped. Aye aye! I should note that t' lower booster section o' t' display Saturn V came out nearly 3 ounces lighter than t' flyer, so perhaps I got a little carried away with t' epoxy clay and glue fillets on t' flyer. Arrr! At any rate, thar are only a few acceptable mid-power engines for t' Saturn V. Blimey! Ahoy! Someone who has a high power certification might want t' consider modifyin' t' engine mount t' accept 38mm motors.

It took t' better part o' a year for me t' build up t' nerve t' actually fly me Saturn V (and t' find a G80-4T engine). Ya scallywag! Although I provisioned me Saturn V for 29/240 motors, I don't yet have me Level 1 Certification (it’s on t' "to do" list), me bucko, so t' maiden flight used t' one G80-4T engine that I be able t' find. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! RockSim said 470 feet and ejection 0.2 seconds after apogee, but t' results didn't exactly live up t' that. Ya scallywag! Initial liftoff be fine, but up and away t' stability was marginal, and t' Saturn V did a large, lazy corkscrew t' an estimated 300 feet. Avast! Ejection occurred well past apogee and at a fairly high speed, me bucko, at which time t' upper and lower sections collided. Begad! T' escape tower punched a hole in one o' t' booster fin-fairings before breakin' off, while t' two parachutes became entangled with t' rocket body and only partially opened. Ya scallywag! Begad! Fortunately t' partially deployed chutes provided enough drag t' slow t' tangled mess and overall damage be minor. Aside from t' hole in one fin-fairin' and broken escape tower, me hearties, me bucko, one fin be broken off, and all t' OMS units were lost from t' service module. Begad! Blimey! Concerned over t' apparent marginal stability, matey, matey, I did a quick CG check after I'd completed repairs. Avast! Arrr! Lo and behold, me hearties, me bucko, t' CG was a full two inches aft o' where it should have been. Well, blow me down! With t' long delay betwixt when I finished t' Saturn V and its maiden flight, ya bilge rat, I don't remember enough about addin' t' nose ballast t' figure out how I fouled it up, but at least addin' some more nose ballast t' get t' right CG was an easy fix.

For t' second flight I was unable t' find any G80-4T motors, so I decided go with a G64-4W RMS. RockSim predicted 475 feet and ejection 0.4 seconds after apogee, shiver me timbers, however o' greater concern was that RockSim did nay predict stable flight until 84 inches after liftoff. Ahoy! Aye aye! Fortunately, six foot long launch rods were available, shiver me timbers, so I thought I'd give it a try. Ya scallywag! T' result be magnificent. Avast, me proud beauty! Apparently t' extra nose ballast did t' trick, ya bilge rat, since t' flight was near arrow straight, shiver me timbers, with t' Saturn makin' a bit o' a tail slide at apogee before t' ejection fired. Once again, thar be contact betwixt t' sections as t' parachutes deployed, ya bilge rat, matey, but this time contact was slight and t' chutes deployed beautifully. I actually think t' G64-4W RMS is a better match for this Saturn V--it simply looked and sounded more impressive than it did on t' G80-4T (as long as you have a long launch rod available).

Recovery:
Recovery is by two large nylon parachutes, me bucko, with t' ejection break at t' 2nd stage/3rd stage transition. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' lower main section uses a massive 60" octagon parachute, shiver me timbers, attached by a short Keelhaul®©™® shock cord. Avast! T' upper portion makes use o' 36" hexagon parachute, attached by a Keelhaul®©™® harness that holds t' Apollo and 3rd stage horizontal (to help protect t' relatively fragile escape tower from damage on touchdown). Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' parachutes are generously sized for t' weight o' t' rocket -- note that on t' maiden flight landin' damage be minimal even though t' parachutes never fully deployed.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall, this is an absolutely spectacular model o' t' Apollo Saturn V moon rocket, me hearties, but it is nay for everyone. Arrr! I've built a lot o' rockets (includin' over a dozen o' t' various iterations o' t' Estes 1/100 scale Saturn V), arrr, and this is far and away t' most difficult rocket kit I've ever built. Blimey! A fellow Northwest rocketeer joked that he spent 1000 hours buildin' his Apogee Saturn V, arrr, and while that number is certainly excessive, I'm sure I spent well over 100 hours buildin' each o' me Apogee Saturn Vs. Ya scallywag! But if you are prepared for a challengin' build, this Saturn V has a jaw-droppin' presence that is difficult t' describe or explain. Begad! Ahoy! It looks magnificent and massive just standin' there, arrr, and it simply dwarfs t' Estes 1/100th scale Saturn V model, arrr, which isn't exactly a small rocket! While it is difficult t' put so much time and effort at risk by flyin' this Saturn V, t' result can be extremely rewarding, and even seductive. I expect me flyer t' make regular appearances at our (recently re-opened) high power launch site.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5